Expert explains: How to end single use and make reuse work

I’ve always believed that no brand would package their goods in plastic if there was a sustainable alternative at the same price point. But as Dr. Dagny Tucker (Co-founder of Perpetual) explains in this episode, moving to a circular economy isn't a moral challenge. It’s a systems failure.We have spent over 50 years optimizing for a single-use economy, making once-absurd behaviors like discarding resources after a single use seem normal. Now, we’re future-casting a world where reuse infrastructure is as seamless as throwing something away. If you are a founder or brand manager navigating new mandates like California’s, this is your roadmap for making reuse and refill work at scale.🕒 Timestamps00:00 – The "Waste Picker" Story: Why individual efforts can’t fix a broken system.04:28 – Refill vs. Reuse: The critical distinction regarding container ownership.09:09 – The Burden Shift: Why refill systems often fail by asking too much of the customer.18:34 – Case Study: Hilo, Hawaii: Launching the first U.S. municipal reuse system in 2026.21:40 – The Infrastructure: Industrial washing, high-volume machines, and 100+ return bins.30:04 – Legislation Alert: How SB 54 (California) and French laws are mandating 10% reuse.37:59 – The LCA Truth: Is stainless steel actually better for the environment than plastic?.44:28 – Why "Pilot" is a five-letter word in the sustainability world.