# Spencer Wright traces the evolution of the plastic bottle; why defective airbags still aren’t fixed; and how the Tylenol murders redefined packaging.

- Show: [Go/No-Go](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go)
- Published: 2025-12-16
- Length: 1h 04m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/go-no-go/2395232

## Summary

Spencer Wright, Editor-in-Chief of Scope of Work, traces the evolution of the plastic bottle, detailing the shift from early acrylonitrile designs to modern lightweight PET systems and the engineering breakthroughs in petaloid bases. The hosts discuss the business and engineering implications of these changes, including the rise of bottled water brands like Aquafina and Niagara, and the logistical trade-offs of box water and canned water. The episode also covers industry news, including Boeing's acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, the persistence of unfixed defective airbags, and the strain of AI on the US power grid.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=0) Introduction: Spencer Wright and the Evolution of the Plastic Bottle
- [2:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=145) Early Plastic Bottles: Acrylonitrile, Glass, and Aluminum
- [8:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=494) PET Bottle Engineering: Multi-piece Bases to Petaloid Designs
- [15:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=948) The Rise of Bottled Water: Aquafina, Dasani, and Niagara
- [26:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=1605) Future Packaging: Box Water, Canned Water, and Logistics
- [34:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=2055) Headlines: Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Airbag Recalls
- [41:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=2493) AI Power Demand, Grid Constraints, and Battery Storage
- [51:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=3071) Returns Logistics: Mystery Pallets and Reverse Supply Chains
- [56:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-12-16-spencer-wright-traces-the-evolution-of-the-plastic-bottle-why-defective-airbags#t=3366) Reconstruction: The 1982 Tylenol Murders and Packaging Safety

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Scope of Work (other)
- Coca-Cola (company)
- Pepsi (company)
- Monsanto (company)
- DuPont (company)
- Aquafina (product)
- Dasani (product)
- Niagara (company)
- Box Water (product)
- Liquid Death (company)
- Spirit AeroSystems (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Airbus (company)
- Tylenol (product)
- Johnson and Johnson (company)
- Lumafield (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [195 - Women owned Sustainable Packaging conversation with CEO Heather Fritzsche](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-05-25-195-women-owned-sustainable-packaging-conversation-with-ceo-heather-fritzsche) (People of Packaging)
- [40 - Santiago Navarro, CEO of Garcon Wines](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-12-08-40-santiago-navarro-ceo-of-garcon-wines) (People of Packaging)
- [Hydro Flask: Travis Rosbach. How a thirsty surfer changed the water bottle industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-24-hydro-flask-travis-rosbach-how-a-thirsty-surfer-changed-the-water-bottle-industr) (How I Built This)
- [114 - Packaging News Live - Cory and Evelio talk about paper bubble wrap, daylight savings, London design agency](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-03-16-114-packaging-news-live-cory-and-evelio-talk-about-paper-bubble-wrap-daylight-sa) (People of Packaging)
- [111 - Packaging News with Cory and Evelio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-03-07-111-packaging-news-with-cory-and-evelio) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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