Hardware Podcasts

131 - Fair Trade Certified Recycled Plastics?!? Andrew Almack from Plastics for Change

People of Packaging · 5 May 2022 · 35m

What this episode covers

Andrew Almack, founder of Plastics for Change, explains how his company created the world's first Fair Trade Certified recycled plastic supply chain in India. He details the transition from ocean cleanup to engaging the informal waste economy, using an app to ensure transparency and fair wages for waste collectors. Almack discusses how this model helps major brands meet sustainability goals by providing high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials like PET and HDPE. The conversation highlights the social impact of formalizing the informal sector, including providing identity cards, healthcare, and banking access to marginalized workers.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Plastics for Change, The Body Shop
Materials
PET, HDPE
Also
World Fair Trade Organization, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Indiegogo

Related episodes from other shows

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.

    Starting a product companySourcing & supply chain
    9 chapters

  • How I Built This · 28m

    HIBT Lab! UNLESS Collective: Eric Liedtke

    Eric Liedtke, former Global Brand President at Adidas, explains his transition from revitalizing a major sportswear brand to founding UNLESS Collective, a startup creating 100% plant-based, biodegradable apparel. He details the environmental failures of the fashion industry, specifically the persistence of plastic waste and the limitations of recycling, which drove his decision to leave Adidas. Liedtke discusses the technical challenges of sourcing non-plastic materials, such as cellulose-based threads and water-based inks, and the supply chain complexities of manufacturing in the US and Portugal while maintaining a zero-waste ethos.

    Sustainability & circular productsMaterials & manufacturing processes
    6 chapters

  • Hardware to Save a Planet · 44m

    Groundbreaking Solutions for Reducing Plastic Pollution and Improving Ocean Health with Doug Woodring, Founder and Managing Director of Ocean Recovery Alliance

    Doug Woodring, Founder and Managing Director of Ocean Recovery Alliance, discusses the systemic drivers of plastic pollution and the hardware solutions needed to address it. He explains that most ocean plastic originates from land-based runoff and inadequate waste management in developing regions, rather than direct dumping. Woodring highlights the critical need for decentralized hardware, such as small-scale shredders and grinders, to densify waste at the community level, making it economically viable for recycling. He also details emerging technologies like chemical recycling and plastic-infused concrete as key components of a global circular economy.

    Sourcing & supply chainMaterials & manufacturing processes
    9 chapters

  • 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.

    Sustainability & circular productsMaterials & manufacturing processes
    8 chapters

  • Product Startup · 27m

    088: The Importance of Sustainable Product Manufacturing

    Jacob Rothman, CEO of Platform88 and Velong Industries, explains how startups can integrate sustainability into their first production runs in Asia. He details the shift in buyer expectations at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Metro, who now prioritize sustainable materials such as ocean plastic, algae, and recycled stainless steel. Rothman emphasizes that sustainability must be considered from the ideation stage, covering not just materials but also manufacturing processes and community impact, such as building schools in Cambodia.

    Sustainability & circular productsManufacturing partners & offshoring
    8 chapters

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.