# 20 - Steve Steele from Recapture Technologies

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2020-05-26
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies-cd2

## Summary

Steve Steele, founder of Recapture Technologies, explains his polymicrobial bioproduct system that produces pure cellulose from atmospheric carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. He argues that current packaging sustainability efforts, like reducing plastic straw usage, are insufficient to address the scale of climate change and that Recapture’s technology offers a carbon-negative, price-competitive alternative to wood pulp. Steele highlights the supply chain stability of manufacturing cellulose in bioreactors versus relying on agricultural variables, positioning the product as a solution for industries like cellophane production. The company is currently bootstrapped and seeking partners in the cellophane and raw material sectors to pilot their beta plant.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=6) Introduction: Steve Steele and Recapture Technologies
- [2:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=178) Steve Steele's Background: From Computers to Microbiology
- [7:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=441) The Scale of Climate Change and the Failure of Incremental Solutions
- [17:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=1053) Critique of Packaging Efficiency and Recycling Myths
- [26:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=1618) Recapture’s Solution: Carbon Capture and Sequestration vs. Utilization
- [33:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=1987) The Polymicrobial Bioproduct System and Artificial Symbiosis
- [39:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=2349) Supply Chain Stability and Price Competitiveness vs. Wood Pulp
- [45:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-05-26-20-steve-steele-from-recapture-technologies#t=2724) Current Status: Seeking Cellophane Partners and Funding

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Recapture Technologies (company)
- Carbon Engineering (company)
- Ski Institute (company)
- Apple (company)
- Amazon Smile (company)
- Cellophane (product)
- Cellulose (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Re-imagining the Future of Packaging with Insiya Jafferjee, Co-founder & CEO at Shellworks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-09-29-re-imagining-the-future-of-packaging-with-insiya-jafferjee-co-founder-ceo-at-she) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Fostering a Circular Carbon Economy with Direct Air Capture: Insights from Rob van Straten of Skytree](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-11-21-fostering-a-circular-carbon-economy-with-direct-air-capture-insights-from-rob-va) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Building a decarbonization army with Shashank Samala of Heirloom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-08-building-a-decarbonization-army-with-shashank-samala-of-heirloom) (How I Built This)
- [Alex Blum: $1200 Houses, Plant-based Plastics, Political Activism, and BioFi | Hard Tech Podcast #11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-20-alex-blum-1200-houses-plant-based-plastics-political-activism-and-biofi-hard-tec) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Seabound’s Bold Approach to Carbon Capture in Shipping with Alisha Fredriksson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-24-seabounds-bold-approach-to-carbon-capture-in-shipping-with-alisha-fredriksson) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

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