Tackling the Plastic Waste Challenge Through Design

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)