Are you ‘Looped In’? Circular Economy Leaders Share Their Latest Solutions

At Dow, we believe in a stronger, more circular future; and we are always looking to highlight the latest innovations and advancements that contribute to the elimination of plastic waste. Whether it’s rethinking packaging design for increased recyclability, expanding material lifecycles beyond end of life, or developing a totally new recycling technology, there are many ways we can all collaborate to help minimize the impact on the environment and contribute to a circular economy.

Listen to Jeff Wooster speak with sustainability thought leaders about the circular economy:

• Episode 1: Making Packaging More Sustainable with Linda Roman, The Kraft Heinz Company — Food packaging isn’t just about keeping our food safe. It’s about designing accessible materials for recyclability, as well as maintaining the quality of the product. Jeff catches up with Linda Roman, Head of Packaging Growth & Technology for Kraft Heinz, to discuss the importance of working within the supply chain, thinking outside the box, and leveraging partnerships and collaborations to achieve these kind of sustainability goals.

• Episode 2: Expanding Material Lifecycles with Helen Sahi, Armstrong World Industries — The lifespan of building materials doesn’t have to end with wear and tear. Used materials can be recycled and turned into new products, kicking off the start of a new lifecycle. Jeff chats with Helen Sahi, Director of Sustainability for Armstrong World Industries, about how resilient supply chains create end-of-life solutions for used products and ensure the use of materials that reduce a building’s embodied carbon.

• Episode 3: A New Kind of Recycling with Sina Hilbert, Gerber — Gerber’s sustainable solutions and the launch of its recent IncrediPouch™ product enabled the curbside recycling of flexible plastic packaging with its first-to-market, single-material design. Jeff sits down with Sina Hilbert, Brand Manager and Sustainability Lead at Gerber, to discuss the company’s approach to a circular economy, its partnerships with Gualapack and Materials Recovery for the Future, and more.

• Episode 4: Reducing Waste Through Innovation with Ron Cotterman, Sealed Air — Eliminating plastic waste is about more than just recycling and reusing; it’s about creating sustainable solutions and investing in a circular economy through recyclability and efficiency for plastic packaging. Jeff speaks with Ron Cotterman, VP of Innovation and Sustainability for Sealed Air, about collaborating with partners across the value chain, designing circular materials, and the importance of continuing to innovate product and packaging design to reduce waste.

• Episode 5: Technology’s Role in Developing Sustainable Plastics with Yuko Koshiishi, Suntory — Plastic bottles don’t have to end up in landfills. Suntory’s Flake-to-Preform (FtoP) Direct Recycle Technology creates new PET bottles from used PET bottles, minimizing the impact on the environment and contributing to a circular economy. Jeff chats with Yuko Koshiishi, Senior General Manager of Corporate Sustainability at Suntory, about how this kind of technology can further advance a circular economy, and how Japanese industry approaches bottle-to-bottle recycling through partnerships and understanding consumer behavior.

This year, we hope to continue the conversation with those making a significant strides toward enabling a circular economy. Our guest experts will highlight scalable solutions and tangible results to some of the biggest challenges the sustainability industry faces.

Have a question or want more information about Dow’s approach to a circular economy? Connect with Jeff Wooster, our Global Sustainability Director, on Twitter or LinkedIn.