Sustainably Speaking

Biodegradable water-soluble films. Recycling that reuses molecules over and over. AI that can develop more sustainable polymers. In this conversation, Sustainably Speaking host Mia Quinn sits down with Anne Kolton, Chief Sustainability Officer at SK Capital Partners, to explore the next wave of innovation in manufacturing and materials. Anne shares how her team invests in companies developing breakthrough products, how U.S. manufacturing can launch smarter, more efficient processes, and why engineering and AI will transform the materials we all use every day.
 

What if your car was easier to recycle? Hyundai’s Amanda Nummy is helping make it happen.  In Episode 52 of Sustainably Speaking, we explore how biomimicry, recycled plastics, and smart design choices are helping the auto industry tackle its waste footprint — and what that means for the next generation of our cars and trucks.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

         •           How Hyundai’s goal is to use 20% recycled plastics by weight in vehicles by 2030

         •           Why designing for disassembly is key to making cars easier to recycle

         •           What we can learn from beetles and tree bark about sustainable design

         •      

Greenwood Cemetery is the final resting place of over 50,000 African Americans whose legacies stretch back generations. But for years, erosion and neglect made the site nearly impossible to access. That changed when a group of volunteers decided not to let history disappear.

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we visit with the Greenwood community about how they worked with engineers, nonprofits, and recycled materials to reopen the cemetery's main road and preserve the stories buried there.

In this episode, you'll hear:

● How recycled materials and permeable pavers were used to restore the cemetery fo...

Recorded live at SXSW, this episode brings together leaders from Van Dyk Recycling Solutions, Dow, and Greyparrot to explore how AI is reshaping the recycling system. From real-time data and material tracking to smarter packaging design and policy reform, it's a conversation about what's working, what's broken—and what could finally close the loop.

In this episode you’ll hear:

In the second installment our SXSW conversation with Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel from Google X, we explore what it looks like to build ambitious ideas from the ground up. This episode dives into early ‘Moonshot’ experiments with textile recycling, the role biology could play in the future of materials, and how big ideas move from the whiteboard to the real world.

We also go behind the scenes of Moonshot Madness — a company-wide tradition at X to identify big ideas that could change everything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What if the future of recycling isn't just about managing 'waste'—but unlocking its value? At Google's X, the Moonshot Factory, turning moonshots into reality means rethinking the impossible. And in this episode, you'll hear how that vision could help build a smarter, more circular world—one molecule, algorithm, and bold idea at a time.  

Recorded live at SXSW, this episode features Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel - two of the brightest minds of Google's X, the Moonshot Factory. They're leading a bold effort to change how the world uses and reuses materials, starting with plastics. With help...

Live from SXSW in Austin, Mia sits down with Rich James of Dow and Gina Oliver of the American Chemistry Council to talk all things automotive recycling. They break down how new plastics are making vehicles safer, lighter, and more efficient—and discuss breakthroughs that are keeping valuable materials out of landfills. This episode explores the path to sustainable automotives and why America has a real opportunity to lead the way.

To kick off this season of Sustainably Speaking, we welcome Ross Eisenberg, President of America's Plastic Makers, back to the podcast. In this episode, Ross and Mia reflect on the challenges and successes of the plastics manufacturing industry throughout 2024, as well as highlight industry goals to advance sustainability and innovation, this year and beyond.

When Matt Campana saw a YouTube video of a 3D printer creating prosthetic hands, what he really saw was an opportunity to make a difference. Little did he know how big a difference he would make.

As Matt tells us, “The whole thing has been organic—from finding clients to participate to finding recipients. It's just happened exactly the way that it was supposed to.”

It’s true, cutting-edge technologies and giving back to those in need are not often associated with one another. However, as 3D printing technologies advance and become more accessible it has open...

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and an ever-increasing reliance on electronic devices, the need for effective recycling has never been more crucial. But how do we go about recycling our electronic devices? Leaders in sustainability like Cody Oliver from evTerra are working to make that easier than ever before by improving and developing the technology to enable more recycling in this space.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Cody shares how the old electronics collecting dust in our junk drawers can be given new life.  

While advancements in electronics typically take center st...

Adam Minter has been traversing the globe throughout his career as an award-winning journalist and author of two best-selling, critically acclaimed books, “Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade” and “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”.

His objective? To uncover the facts about recycling.

In the second installment of our two-part episode, Adam weighs in on the nuances that determine what makes something sustainable. Throughout our conversation, Adam shares several anecdotes to show how he makes sense of recycling and offers advice for his fellow reporters.

 Adam shares why the unprecede...

From scraps to facts. How does a kid who grew up working in his family’s scrap yard become an award-winning journalist and author of two best-selling, critically acclaimed books about recycling?

“They always say, write what you know about. It turned out I knew something about scrap!”

Adam Minter’s career trajectory is undoubtably a fascinating story in and of itself, but his reporting on global recycling is equally as intriguing. Both “Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade” and “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale” flipped the script on the discussion aroun...

The recycling industry is going beyond high-tech. Scientists and inventors are working on cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of the industry and increasing opportunities for circularity. For example, how do we take used fishing nets and turn them into new materials for automobiles? It’s something that may have been unimaginable years ago, but not anymore thanks in part to innovators like Brian Schmatz from BASF's subsidiary trinamiX.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Brian shows us an innovative recycling technology that could one day soon end up in the palm of your hands. His te...

Everything’s bigger in Texas—and Austin’s ambitious zero waste goals are no exception. The city is blazing a trail when it comes to transforming traditional waste management into sustainable resource recovery. On this episode, Maddie Morgan from Austin’s Circular Economy Program shows us how the city is creating a more sustainable future. As you’ll find out, Maddie’s approach to improving the circular economy in her hometown is emblematic of Austin’s innovative, creative, and collaborative culture. We hope her outside-of-the-box ideas and success stories might spark solutions in other communities. 

Maddie knew she had her dre...

Are you curious about the recycling industry? Have you ever wondered how you can get involved? In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership, shares advice for anyone who feels inspired to have a positive impact on the planet. Keefe also brings new data to the table as we learn about the current state of recycling in the U.S. and how you should really recycle plastic.

Keefe’s career trajectory reads like a true love story. After all, it was a boy who eventually led her to pursue a career in the...

Jeremy DeBenedictis is on a mission to change the future of recycling. Advanced recycling technologies, like those used at his company Alterra, have potential to fast-track recycling and keep more plastics in the circular economy. 

Alterra’s disruptive technology breaks down hard-to-recycle plastics and converts them back into materials that can be used to make new plastic. By doing this, Jeremy and his team are reducing the need for fossil resources to make new plastics and creating value for used plastics that might otherwise end up going to waste.

In this episode, Jeremy also shares hel...

Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimeters. They are challenging to detect and can have primary or secondary origins. Studying the life cycles of plastics is crucial for reducing microplastics and allows the industry to develop more durable products and design items that degrade under controlled conditions.

The journey towards safeguarding from microplastics in our environment is a process that demands global collaboration. Our guest, Dr. Jeanne Hankett, Sustainability Lead, North American Biodegradation & Microplastics Center of Excellence at BASF, shares valuable insights from her extensive work in this field. Dr. Hankett also provides practical...

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Ross Eisenberg, president of America's Plastic Makers® at the American Chemistry Council delves into his journey, sharing his experience advocating for circular and sustainable solutions and looking at priorities for this year and beyond. He also shines a light on the challenges of implementing federal and international policy on sustainability. Ross and Mia also go head-to-head on a game of sustainability trivia, sharing fun facts about the history of recycling, sustainability, and plastics.

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn explores innovations in sustainable architecture with guests Heidi Kujawa and Jordan Goldman. Heidi, CEO of ByFusion, discusses their innovative approach to using plastic waste to create building materials, highlighting the need to reduce environmental impact. Jordan Goldman, Engineering Principal of Zero Energy Design, sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in designing high-performance, energy-efficient homes, emphasizing the value of long-term thinking.

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn hands over the mic to Susan Jackson from BASF Corporation to talk with two prominent political pollsters who explored people’s perceptions around recycling. 

Jackson is joined by polling experts Cornell Belcher, president and founder of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies and best known for his polling work for former President Barack Obama, and Brenda Gianiny, president and founder of Axis Research, who’s best known for the work she does with Senator Mitch McConnell. 

Belcher and Gianiny emphasize the importance of accurate polling for driving strate...

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we’re discussing how the world of sports and entertainment can become more sustainable. We’re joined by Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team Sofi Armenakian who helped the Hawks’ State Farm Stadium become the first sports and live entertainment venue in the world to receive TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) platinum certification.

On the next episode of Sustainably Speaking, we’re revealing how the world of sports and entertainment can become more sustainable. We’re joined by Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team Sofi Armenakian who helped the Hawks’ State Farm Stadium become the first sports and live entertainment venue in the world to receive TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) platinum certification.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn uncovers how innovations in plastic recycling are paving the way for more durable and sustainable roads. To learn more about the latest developments in asphalt technology, we’re joined by Bill Buttlar, the Glen Barton Chair in Flexible Pavement Technology at the University of Missouri.

Up Next: The Road to Sustainable Infrastructure with Bill Buttlar, Glen Barton Chair in Flexible Pavement Technology, University of Missouri Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Join host Mia Quinn as she sits down with guest co-host Stew Harris and Martin Koehring, Global Director of Impact at Forum for the Future, who will apply an economic lens to improving sustainability in our oceans.

Up Next: Sustainability Through an Economic Lens featuring Martin Koehring, Global Director of Impact at Forum for the Future; Former Head of World Ocean Initiative; and Senior Manager for Sustainability, Climate Change, and Natural Resources at Economist Impact.

In this episode, we’re joined by Stan Chen, CEO of Recycle GO, and Douglas Johnson-Poensgen, CEO of Circulor, to discover how Blockchain can help facilitate a more reliable and transparent circular economy through traceability.

Up Next: Blocking and Tackling: The Keys to Solving Traceability and Resiliency in Recycling featuring Stan Chen, CEO of RecycleGO and Doug Johnson-Poensgen, CEO of Circulor.

In this episode, Ocean Recovery Alliance Founder, Doug Woodring—one of the top 50 ‘Water Men of the World’ and International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee—shares how collaboration from all sides is needed to keep plastic out of the ocean. And how a global agreement could help shape a circular economy for plastics.

Up Next: Beneath the Surface: Solving Ocean Plastic featuring Doug Woodring, Director/Founder, Ocean Recovery Alliance.

When it comes to the apparel industry, sustainability isn’t so black and white. As Techstyler co-founder Brooke Roberts-Islam reveals in this episode, there are plenty of emerging trends in the fashion world that are turning heads and growing interest.

“For every t-shirt in your closet, there exists a t-shirt worth of scraps,” says Dr. Julie Willoughby of Circ. In this episode, Dr. Willoughby brilliantly explains how her company is working towards tackling the fashion industry’s sustainability challenge. It turns out advanced recycling is an emerging trend in the industry.

Up Next: a very special two-part series threading the needle on sustainability and circularity in Fashion.

Making sustainable change comes from discovering your purpose and passion. Hear from trailblazing women on how they found their north star working on plastics sustainability and are now helping shape a brighter future.

Connectivity is critical to driving equitable economic growth, yet 2.7 billion people still cannot access the internet. And many struggle with slow, costly and unreliable connections. Greater connectivity and innovative solutions for a resilient infrastructure can unlock opportunities in education, healthcare, business and other sectors. This episode features the tools – and the experts – helping foster healthy connections between people, greater equity across the globe and more efficient use of resources.

On This Episode:

Dr. Rennisha Wickham, Senior Marketing Manager, Dow

Rennisha Wickham is a Senior Marketing Manager in Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics busine...

To take recycling to the next level, we’re going to need new technologies that can process the plastic that is not recycled today. Technologies such as robotics that can sort used plastic better and faster. And advanced recycling that can break down used plastic into its building blocks so it can be remade, again and again. This podcast episode digs into these and other technologies that are revolutionizing the way we recycle, helping us build a circular economy in which plastic is reused instead of discarded.

Rob Writz, Director, Business Development, AMP Robotics

Craig Co...

We call them America’s Change Makers. On this episode, hear a few of the personal stories and motivations of these innovators working to create a more sustainable future.

On This Episode:

Dell, Senior TS&D Scientist, Dow

Learn more about Dell: The Advocate here.

Kait, Technical Service Representative, Covestro

Learn more about Kait: The Environmentalist here.

Natalie, Value Business Manager, ExxonMobil

Learn more about Natalie: The Finder here.

Raul, Senior Manager, Reaction Engineering, Technology and Innovation, SABIC

Learn more about Ra...

More than ever, organizations are recognizing sustainable practices as a business imperative. 

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, hear about the Sustainability Leadership Award winners who are making groundbreaking innovations in circularity, education and sustainable investment. 

Monica Ellis, the CEO and founder of the Global Environmental Technology Foundation, and Rob Westervelt, editor-in-chief of Chemical Week, served as two of the judges for ACC’s Sustainability Leadership Awards. They join Mia Quinn to tell us about a few of the award winners and trends, including the creation of a first-of-its-kind graduate program at a major national univ...

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of the 17 U.S. Department of Energy laboratories. It has the largest multi-program science and energy research lab in the U.S. 

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss the new partnership between Oak Ridge and the American Chemistry Council. The partnership looks to answer the question of what to do with materials from our old cars and trucks once they reach the end of their useful life while exploring ways to capture, recycle and remake more plastic and plastic composites from these vehicles. 

Together, the two...

U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Rich Anderson discusses efforts to address America’s failing water infrastructure.

Have you ever taken a trip abroad and wondered whether it’s safe to drink the water? What about right here at home in the U.S.? 

In America, we often assume our tap water is safe and healthy to drink. However, for millions of Americans, safe drinking water is a luxury due to the current state of our water infrastructure which is primarily made off corroded pipes. Just think of Flint, Michigan, which brought to light a community’s tragic...

Dr. Albert Woo, Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Director of the Lifespan 3D Printing Lab, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University 

Albert S. Woo, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in the treatment of cleft and craniofacial anomalies. This work has led to a particular interest in three dimensional imaging and printing of complex surgical models. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics and Neurosurgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and serves as the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Director of the Cl...

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss the emerging generation of thinkers and doers, Generation Z, a group notoriously passionate about building a bright and sustainable future for humanity and the Earth. 

Host Mia Quinn and Gen-Z co-host Carly Zaccaria, sustainability coordinator at the American Chemistry Council talk with noted leader in sustainability Gulay Serhatkulu, senior vice president of performance materials for the North American division of BASF Corporation and mother of an 18-year-old future engineer. 

Tune in to hear this discussion on how Gen-Z’s heightened environmental awareness and demand for positive chan...

On this final episode of Sustainably Speaking Season 1, we dive into the complex and crucial role of sustainability related to plastic, building upon conversations we have had over the last several months. As our nation seeks to modernize U.S. infrastructure, expand sustainable technologies, and find ways to prevent waste, plastic industry leaders continue to elevate sustainability in their business models to create a better world today and for future generations.

Host Joshua Baca highlights the best of our conversations from Season 1 as our guests share perspectives on the often-overlooked role of plastics in building a m...

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we dive into the importance of national legislation for creating a circular economy in the U.S. to prevent waste from entering the environment. From modernizing our infrastructure and enabling next generation automobiles, plastics play a critical part in a lower carbon future. But given that plastics’ national recycling rate is low, how can we move the United States toward a more sustainable, circular economy? 

Host Joshua Baca is joined by Chris Jahn, president and CEO of ACC, and Laura Chamorro, general manager of polyethylene at Shell Polymers, to di...

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss critical issues related to community health and sustainability — food waste and food insecurity. Every day, millions of Americans lack access to fresh, nutritious food, yet each year 30 to 40 percent of food is wasted on average. One of the major contributors? Insufficient or improper food packaging. However, support from local food banks and advancements in sustainable plastic packaging can help delay spoilage across the production cycle, bringing fresh meats, produce, and dairy products to underserved communities.

Host Joshua Baca is joined by John Kreger, Chief Operating Officer at...

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss how companies are ramping up their efforts to reduce plastic waste by investing in and innovating for a circular economy. How is this happening? Companies and funds are accelerating investment in recycling infrastructure and innovative technologies (like advanced recycling), with the goal of increasing the amount of plastic that can be recycled into new products and materials, again and again. 

Host Joshua Baca is joined by Julie Zaniewski, North America Sustainability Director for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, and Bridget Croke, Managing Director of Closed Loop Partners, to discuss private s...

On the last episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discussed how advanced recycling helps communities find new uses and value in used plastics while keeping plastic waste out of the environment. How does this process work? Advanced recycling companies rely on scientists to help inform their technologies, processes, data and analysis... all necessary to creating a circular economy for plastics. 

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Joshua Baca is joined by Dr. Rachel Meidl of Rice University’s Baker Institute and Dr. Marco Castaldi of City College of New York to dive into the science behind advanced recycling, how it d...

Many plastics can be recycled through familiar methods – throw it in the bin at the curb and it gets ground up and reformed into something new. But what about other plastics that can’t go in the bin, like flower pots, CD cases, and chip pouches?

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Joshua Baca talks with GreenMantra Chief Commercial Officer Domenic Di Mondo and Cyclyx Senior Vice President Bill Cooper about advanced recycling – emerging technologies that are converting hard-to-recycle plastics into new products, keeping more waste out of the environment and creating jobs right here in our commun...

Did you know that your empty yogurt cup or takeout container may have a second life as a suitcase or playground slide? As our society evolves toward treating waste as a valuable resource, used plastics are making a growing contribution to sustainability. Companies and brands are increasingly giving waste another life, harnessing the power of innovation to make new products using recycled plastics, including foam insulation for more energy-efficient buildings. Not only does use of this insulating material help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it also can help save money on our utility bills.

On this episode of S...

Lowering carbon emissions and supporting company pledges to improve sustainability are a big challenges, and we’ll need cutting-edge, 21st century infrastructure and supporting technologies to achieve these ambitious targets. Fortunately, the world has seen a rapid increase in the development of these technologies over the last decade. While you may not realize it, some important forms of renewable infrastructure, such as solar panels and wind turbines, depend on plastic to produce sustainable energy more efficiently.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca, American Chemistry Council’s vice president, plastics, speaks with Christine Bryan...

Circularity and sustainability go hand in hand. As America’s Plastic Makers® continue to work towards a circular economy for plastics, a major focus will be on innovating to achieve carbon reductions and recycling and remanufacturing used plastic so it doesn’t end up in landfills and oceans. One  of America’s Plastic Makers, Eastman Chemical, is  developing high performing products that can be recycled again and again – keeping more plastic out of the environment and lowering their carbon footprint by up to 30%.  

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca speaks with Eastman Chemical CEO...

Each year, we've seen automakers add more electric vehicles to their lineup as they transform cars into high tech and low impact mobility masterpieces. But did you know plastic is already playing a major role in this transition? Durable, lightweight plastic materials are enabling our shift to a low carbon future by helping to increase fuel efficiency and enabling the production of electric vehicle components.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca speaks with Dr. Debra Mielewski, Technical Fellow of Sustainability at Ford, and Paul Snyder, Chairman of the Transportation Design Department at the College...

What is sustainability, what is circularity, and how do they impact your daily life?

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca of America’s Plastic Makers®, NOVA Chemicals Director of Sustainability Sarah Marshall, and McKinsey Partner Jeremy Wallach discuss the importance of reducing plastic waste by creating and maintaining a circular economy for plastics. Listen in as they dive into what it means to create a system where no plastic materials are wasted and how America’s Plastic Makers are making it possible through our Circular Economy Goals and Roadmap to Reuse.

What does it take to create a sustainable world?  On Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca, ACC plastics division vice president, speaks to leaders working to create sustainable solutions across every industry touched by the plastics market. They share personal insights and creative solutions to our world’s biggest challenges, and their vision for our collective future.