# From Make-Use-Throw Away to Circular: Plastics Manufacturing’s Next Chapter w/ Ross Eisenberg

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2026-06-03
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 312
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-3eef3467-8369-421f-b993-c48869958966

## Summary

Ross Eisenberg, President of America’s Plastic Makers (the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council), discusses the industry's shift from a linear 'make-use-throw away' model to a circular economy driven by advanced chemical recycling. He explains how chemical recycling processes like pyrolysis and depolymerization can handle flexible plastics and contaminated waste that mechanical recycling cannot, effectively 'unbaking' plastic back to its molecular building blocks. Eisenberg highlights the regulatory hurdles facing the industry, specifically the need for federal legislation like the Recycling Technology Innovation Act and the Recycle Materials Attribution Act to clarify permitting and grant credit for recycled content to brands.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=4) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=253) Drivers for Circularity and Consumer Expectations
- [7:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=426) Advanced vs. Mechanical Recycling Technologies
- [10:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=636) Environmental Opposition and Political Hurdles
- [14:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=854) Industry Innovation and Economic Impact
- [18:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=1100) Federal Policy and Legislative Solutions
- [21:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross#t=1298) Future Vision and Global Plastic Treaty

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- America's Plastic Makers (company)
- American Chemistry Council (company)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)
- Pyrolysis (other)
- Depolymerization (other)
- Recycling Technology Innovation Act (other)
- Recycle Materials Attribution Act (other)
- Lego (product)
- Dasani (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [280 - Plastic Pacts?!? We have the new CEO of the US Plastics Pact on the show!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-08-23-280-plastic-pacts-we-have-the-new-ceo-of-the-us-plastics-pact-on-the-show) (People of Packaging)
- [304 - What exactly happened at the Plastic Treaty in 2024? What is the future of circularity in packaging? - Jon Smieja](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-02-12-304-what-exactly-happened-at-the-plastic-treaty-in-2024-what-is-the-future-of-ci) (People of Packaging)
- [22 - Kate Christian from Eco-cycle LIVE The Ms. Frizzle of Recycling!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-02-22-kate-christian-from-eco-cycle-live-the-ms-frizzle-of-recycling) (People of Packaging)
- [Threading the future of circular fashion with Peter Majeranowski of Circ](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-07-threading-the-future-of-circular-fashion-with-peter-majeranowski-of-circ) (How I Built This)
- [10 - Jonathan Quinn "Buy Plastic Live Fantastic"](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2019-11-12-10-jonathan-quinn-buy-plastic-live-fantastic) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-06-03-from-make-use-throw-away-to-circular-plastics-manufacturings-next-chapter-w-ross. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Manufacturing Executive.