111 - Packaging News with Cory and Evelio

People of Packaging · 7 Mar 2022 · 17m

What this episode covers

Hosts Corey Connors and Evelio Matos discuss recent packaging industry news, highlighting the Pent Awards' global judging panel and Liquid Death's brand community built through distinctive aluminum can packaging. They analyze Absolute's paper bottle initiative, debating its sustainability claims against the reality of recycling infrastructure and multi-material complexity. The conversation concludes with a focus on circular economy models, specifically TerraCycle's Loop program, as a superior alternative to single-use paper packaging.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 43m

    Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle

    Tom Szaky, co-founder and CEO of TerraCycle, recounts his journey from a Princeton dorm room to building a multimillion-dollar recycling enterprise. He details the early pivot from selling worm poop fertilizer in reused soda bottles to solving the broader waste crisis by partnering with brands like Stonyfield and Clif Bar to collect non-recyclable packaging. Szaky explains the economics of voluntary funding for waste management and introduces Loop, TerraCycle’s reusable packaging initiative, which aims to make traditional recycling obsolete by enabling infinite reuse of containers from brands like Tide and Häagen-Dazs.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 31m

    40: Agglomerated Cork

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production status of their Mark One pen, detailing the transition from prototype to manufacturing with a Chinese factory. They explain the decision to use molded agglomerated cork for sustainable, reusable packaging and the logistical challenge of sourcing cheaper custom-branded Schmidt refills directly from the manufacturer rather than through US distributors. The episode covers specific engineering tweaks, such as testing nickel plating for lubricity and final assembly strategies in Austin.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 33m

    31: Retweeting Praise

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the fulfillment of their Kickstarter campaign for the Panobook, detailing shipping logistics and minor packaging snags. They reflect on the high accuracy of paper manufacturing processes and their strategy for promoting the product via press and social media. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Dan's controversial decision to retweet praise for the Panobook, sparking a debate on brand authenticity and marketing tactics.

  • Go/No-Go · 1h 04m

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

    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.

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 24m

    40. Why Plastic Eating Enzymes Will Save Our Oceans

    Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss two sustainability initiatives: Patagonia’s partnership with startup Bureo to upcycle abandoned fishing nets into the 'NetPlus' material for apparel, and Samsara, a spin-out from the Australian National University, which uses enzymes to achieve 'infinite recycling' of polyethylene. They highlight how enzymatic digestion preserves polymer strength compared to mechanical recycling, allowing for true circularity in products like water bottles and textiles. The episode also touches on the economic and environmental failures of current plastic recycling infrastructure.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.