Life in Plastic

What if the word "audit" is the problem? After 25+ years in supply chain due diligence, social auditor Ajay Datt has worked with some of the world's biggest fashion brands: Gap Inc., Tommy Hilfiger, Fruit of the Loom. And he's learned one thing: the moment you call it an audit, you've already lost the room. In this episode, Ajay Datt breaks down why the shift from "socia...

Sustainability vs. Quality: A Masterclass in CPG Strategy with Mike FataIn this episode, we sit down with legendary health food entrepreneur Mike Fata to explore the evolving landscape of sustainability, wellness, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) in 2026.With nearly three decades of experience pioneering the organic space, Mike shares his unique insights on why a "great product" must al...

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind regulation in the European Union that is set to fundamentally change the packaging industry globally. In this episode, we sit down with industry expert Neirin Jones to discuss how this law impacts brands, producers, and retailers both inside and outside the EU. What You’ll Learn: The Shift from Directive to...

Tackling Plastic Pollution at a Global Scale | Clemence Schmid on GPAPIn this episode, we dive into the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), the world’s largest initiative tackling plastic pollution, currently covering 20% of the global population. Convened by the World Economic Forum, GPAP brings together governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to create actionable natio...

Every brand spent the last decade claiming they were saving the planet. Consumers stopped believing them. Long story short: Consumer trust in sustainability messaging is at an all-time low. After a decade of brands positioning themselves as planet-savers, greenwashing scandals, and purpose claims that didn't hold up to scrutiny, most consumers have tuned out and most brands have followed by go...

in this episode, host Joel Tasche sits down with packaging technologist Dan Coppins to unpack the reality behind “sustainable packaging” in the cosmetics industry, and why it’s far more complex than most founders expect. Together, they break down the core framework of packaging—the Three Ps: Protect, Preserve, Promote, and explain why sustainability can’t be separated from product performance, bra...

Sustainable Packaging Explained: EPR, Consumer Behavior & The Future of Packaging What does truly sustainable packaging look like, and why is it so complicated? In this episode, we sit down with Caroline Deloach , Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging, to unpack the reality behind plastic, recycling, and the future of packaging in the U.S. From the “say-do gap” in consumer behavior...

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 discard...

Everyone that cared about plastic pollution started this decade full of hope. It was labeled as the Decade Of Action. YAAAAY LET'S GOOO! And now, half-way through? What did we achieve? Enough, nothing, maybe a little bit? We unpack this today with the OGs of plastic podcasting. Matt & John from plastic.climate.future. They observe the plastics space since 2021 on their podcast. They interv...

Disclaimer: The conversation was originally recorded in German. We dubbed it with AI to make it accessible to non-German speakers. And since we're discussing legal topics, please be extra careful. If you have any doubts regarding translations or content, please reach out to us. Green Claims & Greenwashing: Why “Climate Neutral” and “Sustainable” Will Be Banned from September (with Christin...

Should your brand become a B Corp? Or is it just expensive “greenwashing”? It’s B Corp Month, and in this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood certifications in business. I’m joined by Armelle, who leads the B Corp community in Germany, to answer the questions founders, startups, and operators are actually asking: 👉 What does B Corp really mean beyond the logo? 👉 How long does ce...

Burning plastic sounds wrong. But what if the real problem isn’t plastic — it’s the fact that half the world isn’t connected to waste collection at all? In this episode, Axel Pieters — former executive at GeoCycle, one of the world’s largest waste treatment companies — explains co-processing: how cement kilns use waste as fuel at extremely high temperatures, leaving zero residue behind. We talk ab...

Episode Summary From German punk dropout to Indonesia's most influential plastic pollution educator, Benedict Wermter has lived multiple lives before turning 40. In this conversation, Benedict shares his journey from anti-establishment teenager to investigative journalist to social media educator reaching 5+ million Indonesians monthly. He reveals shocking realities of waste management in Indonesi...

Green Claims & Greenwashing: Warum „Klimaneutral“ und „Nachhaltig“ ab September verboten sind (mit Christina Kufer) Ab September ändert sich alles für nachhaltige Marken. Die EU macht ernst im Kampf gegen Greenwashing. Begriffe wie „nachhaltig“, „umweltfreundlich“ oder „klimaneutral“ landen auf der schwarzen Liste, wenn sie nicht niet- und nagelfest bewiesen sind. In dieser Episode spreche ich...

Get ready to sail the high seas of policy and pollution! This episode features the amazing Dr. Hannah Dijkstra, a plastic solution researcher, consultant, and communication whiz who has seen the plastic problem from the most remote beach on Earth to the painfully slow United Nations negotiation rooms. Host Joel Tasche and Dr. Dijkstra dive into the high-stakes drama of the UN Global Plastics Treat...

What can the waste industry learn from decades of social compliance in global supply chains? Join Joel Tasche and Kate A. Larsen as they explore the journey of improving labor standards, ethical sourcing, and worker dignity: from sweatshops in Asia to waste management facilities today. Kate shares her experiences on the ground, the toughest dilemmas she has faced, and how collaboration, codes of c...

In dieser Folge sprechen wir über eines der kontroversesten Themen der Circular-Economy-Debatte: chemisches Recycling. Zwischen großen Zukunftsversprechen, harten Realitäten und hitzigen Diskussionen in sozialen Netzwerken schauen wir gemeinsam wissenschaftlich fundiert auf den Status quo. Unser Gast Dr. Alexander Hofmann vom Fraunhofer Institut erklärt: Welche Technologien es überhaupt gibt Wo di...

In this episode, John Chweya, Kenya’s leading waste picker representative, explains how the informal recycling system really works. From child waste picking to leading an association of 36,000 workers, he breaks down the hidden economics of waste: who earns, who exploits, and what waste pickers actually need to improve their lives. We cover:• How middlemen capture up to 80% of the value• Health ri...

Summary In this conversation, Colm Jordan from Indorama Ventures discusses the company's role in PET recycling and the broader implications of plastic waste management. He highlights the importance of circular economy practices, the challenges faced in recycling economics, and the need for effective policies like the plastic treaty. Colm emphasizes the shared responsibility of corporations and soc...