Tackling the Plastic Waste Challenge Through Design

from Plastics Unwrapped · host Julie Zaniewski, Jay Fitzgerald, Kathleen Liang, Judy Hicks

This episode explores the role of design in enabling a circular economy for plastics, by delving into the challenges and opportunities of scaling designing for recycling solutions. Julie Zaniewski is joined in this conversation by Jay Fitzgerald from the US Department of Energy and Kathleen Liang from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The panel discusses the role of individual businesses in advancing plastics recycling and set out their own company goals, including objectives for improving waste management, reducing greenhouse gases, and increasing the recyclability of products. Key discussion points: Dow’s commitment to ensuring all products sold into packaging applications will be recyclable by 2035 (04:00)The Department of Energy’s 2030 goals on energy saving, end of life solutions, and the reduction of greenhouse gases (29:10)US businesses focus on waste management (28:45)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 11, 2022

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

What this episode covers

In this episode, Dow’s Julie Zaniewski, North America Sustainability Director for Packaging and Specialty Plastics, is joined by Jay Fitzgerald from the US Department of Energy, and Kathleen Liang from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Together, they look at the challenges of innovating, encouraging investment, and working in partnership to scale solutions that will ensure that plastics can be part of a sustainable future.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

Tackling the Plastic Waste Challenge Through Design

0:00 31:07

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Recycled Content Association of Plastic Recyclers Where is plastics recycling really headed? Recycled Content, brought to you by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), goes beyond the headlines to unpack what's driving progress in plastics recycling. Each month, we sit down with industry leaders across the value chain, including brand owners, recyclers, policymakers, and innovators, to discuss the breakthroughs, roadblocks, and market shifts reshaping sustainable packaging. From design for recyclability to EPR laws and emerging technologies, this podcast offers real-world insights and honest conversations for anyone working to close the loop. New episodes drop monthly. Subscribe to stay informed and stay in the loop. Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information. Designing in the Wild: The Industrial Design Podcast Robert Irwin Designing in the Wild is the podcast where industrial designers, inventors, and changemakers reveal how they turn messy, real-world constraints into market-ready solutions. Each episode unpacks the mindsets, methods, and aha-moments behind sustainable innovation—whether it’s re-thinking plastics, hacking circular supply chains, or simply sketching faster under pressure. If you’re passionate about design’s role in a resilient future (and can’t resist a good behind-the-scenes story), this is your campfire.“Real-world design stories for a world that needs better ones.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Plastics Unwrapped?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this Plastics Unwrapped episode published?

This episode was published on May 11, 2022.

Can I download this Plastics Unwrapped episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!