Signed by CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies including Novo Nordisk, Merck, AstraZeneca, and GSK, the letter makes it clear: suppliers must prioritize sustainability or risk getting left behind. Pharmaceutical companies are setting firm expectations for their supply chains to reduce carbon emissions and align with net-zero targets, signaling that sustainability is no longer optional, but a critical business requirement.
Tackling Difficult-to-Manage Waste Streams with Hannah Julian from G2 Revolution
Difficult-to-manage waste streams are a hurdle for corporations to overcome in their pursuit of reducing waste. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Hannah Julian, Environmental Project Coordinator at g2 revolution, to discuss g2's work with managing materials that are traditionally difficult to recycle, managing pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, working with retailers and manufacturers to establish recycling programs for their materials, giving materials a second life through their Second Life® Solutions, working with small businesses in the beauty sector through their brand GLO™, the drivers behind pursuing and achieving GreenCircle certification, and more.
Textile Waste Innovations for Achieving a Circular Economy with Raymond Randall from WM
Textile waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Raymond Randall, Sr. Manager of Textile Recycling at WM, to discuss what WM is doing to drive circularity with textile waste, why textile waste is such a big problem for both the environment and for business, how fast fashion plays a role in textile waste, the textile recycling program at WM, and more.
An Overview of Carbon Offsets: Are They Right For Your Company?
Many companies have been purchasing carbon offsets to achieve their Net Zero goals. Are carbon offsets right for you and your company? Are carbon offsets actually effective and how should they be used? In this episode, Tad and Julianna answer these questions and discuss decarbonization, science-based targets, and the steps in the decarbonization roadmap. Tad also explains what carbon offsets are, the standards and requirements for carbon offsets, and what the future could look like for carbon offsets.
Incorporating the Circular Economy Mindset into Product Packaging with Kelly McBee from As You Sow
Optimizing product packaging is essential for reducing waste and driving the circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Kelly McBee, Circular Economy Sr. Coordinator at As You Sow, to discuss the mission of As You Sow, the Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard they developed to rank companies on their progress toward plastic goals, how companies can get better scores in the future, why third-party certifications are so important to the achievement of corporate plastic reduction goals, and what’s next for As You Sow.
Battery Recycling: The Key to Achieving Electrification Goals with Joe Day from Li-Cycle
Recycling lithium-ion batteries is the key to achieving electrification goals. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Joe Day, Commercial Manager – Midwest and Northeast Regions at Li-Cycle, to discuss how Li-Cycle manages batteries at the end of their life, the type of batteries they take at their facilities, how much lithium, nickel, and cobalt are able to be recovered and integrated back into new batteries, how the battery recycling process works, and how Li-Cycle collects their batteries. We also answer an audience question at the end of the episode about extended producer responsibility.
Infinitely Recyclable: How Aluminum is Contributing to the Circular Economy with Suzanne Lindsay-Walker from Novelis
Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable material and an important part of the circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Suzanne Lindsay-Walker Vice President, Sustainability, for Novelis Inc., to discuss the type of products that Novelis’s aluminum ends up in, the life cycle benefits of aluminum versus other materials, how aluminum is contributing to the circular economy, Novelis’s closed loop system with Ford Motor Company and Ball, the key focus areas in Novelis’s sustainability strategy, the value of their GreenCircle Recycled Content certifications, and how Novelis empowers their employees to embrace sustainability.
Developing a Circular Economy Plan for Building Materials with Dennis Wilson from CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain
As Earth’s population grows, building construction and maintenance will continue to increase. Building products present one of our greatest opportunities for circularity. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Dennis Wilson, VP, ESG & Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Circular Economy Solutions NA, to discuss his priorities in his new role as Managing Director of Circular Economy Solutions, the key focus areas for CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain’s sustainability activities, how they’re reducing their company’s carbon footprint and minimizing the embodied carbon in their products, and the path toward circularity for building materials.
How to Revolutionize Your New Product Development Process with Sustainable Product Innovation
Sustainable Product Innovation (SPI) is the key to driving new product development teams toward developing more sustainable products. In this episode, Tad and Julianna discuss an overview of the new product development process that most companies go through, explain how SPI works, the steps companies need to take to integrate SPI into their new product development process, and examples of companies that have had success with SPI.
Circularity 101
Have you ever wondered if we can actually achieve circularity? In this episode, Tad and Julianna discuss the basics of the circular economy, whether or not it is actually achievable, if it is possible for a product to be 100% closed loop, and what changes need to be made in order to achieve the circular economy on a large scale.
A Roadmap to Reducing Waste with Denise Coogan from Subaru
Manufacturing cars can produce a ton of waste. Reducing manufacturing waste is essential for all companies in order to decrease environmental impact and save money. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Denise Coogan, Environmental Partnership Manager for Subaru of America, Inc, to discuss Subaru’s journey to reducing waste, how they got their employees on board with their zero waste to landfill journey, how they are supporting National Parks in minimizing their waste, how they have helped Subaru Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union, become the first Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium to achieve zero waste to landfill status, and what’s next for Subaru.
Everything You Need to Know About Reverse Vending Machines with Mike Noel from TOMRA
Reverse vending machines help contribute to the circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Mike Noel, Governmental Affairs Manager at TOMRA, to discuss how reverse vending machines work and how they contribute to the circular economy, how regulatory trends are creating risks and opportunities for businesses, the core pillars of TOMRA’s business, and how TOMRA’s sensor-based sorters are reducing carbon emissions related to mining.
Driving Sustainable Innovation in the Footwear Industry with Andy Polk from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
The global footwear market is a multi-billion dollar industry that has a huge carbon footprint. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Andy Polk, Senior Vice President at the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), to discuss FDRA’s sustainability and innovation working groups, how FDRA is working with members to drive product innovation in footwear, how you can access FDRA’s Digital Shoe Sustainability Summit, and more.
Managing Your Company's Assets to Contribute to the Circular Economy with Tom Fecarotta from Rheaply
Most companies have various assets that need to be managed regularly, and proper management of these materials can actually contribute to the circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Tom Fecarotta, Chief Marketing Officer at Rheaply, to discuss Rheaply’s approach to asset management and Total Resource Efficiency, documenting and measuring the embodied carbon savings from material reuse, how material reuse contributes to the circular economy, and how to get started with Rheaply’s platform.
Designing Recyclable Packaging with Steve Alexander from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)
Designing recyclable packaging is essential for achieving a circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Steve Alexander, President and CEO of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), to discuss the importance of the APR PCR Certification program, APR’s Design Guides for plastics recyclability, APR’s mission, the benefits of being an APR member, the necessity for recovering plastics, and the growing trend of polypropylene collection.