When Recycling Starts with Design

Another episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland is out! This time, we look at why successful recycling often starts long before a product reaches the end of its life — at the design stage. We speak with Dr. Alexander Azzawi from Evonik about the technologies that can make plastics easier to separate, repair and recycle. From inks that can be washed off packaging to adhesives designed to debond on demand, Alex shows how innovations at the design stage can enable higher-quality recycling and more circular material flows. We discuss: How de-inking technology can improve the quality of recycled plastics How “debonding on demand” can make products easier to repair, disassemble and recycle Why circular solutions require collaboration across the entire value chain Why designing for recyclability is becoming increasingly important as circularity requirements reshape the market Circularity doesn’t begin at the recycling plant. Increasingly, it begins with the choices we make when products and materials are designed. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!