In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Rich Bulger and Victoria D’Arcy sit down with James Lancaster, CEO and founder of Renew IT, to explore one of the most overlooked challenges in the circular economy: what happens to the plastics inside our electronic waste.

James shares the story behind Renew IT, an Australia-based company that began processing returned IT equipment, laptops, servers, hard drives, and networking gear and has since evolved into a circular innovation platform focused on extracting new value from e-waste materials.

At the center of the conversation is Renew IT’s groundbreaking microfactory model, developed in partnership with the University of New South Wales. These microfactories convert waste ABS plastics from electronics into high-quality 3D printing filament, transforming discarded materials from printers, monitors, and servers into usable manufacturing inputs. Instead of creating more virgin plastic, the technology focuses on repurposing the valuable materials that already exist in the global waste stream.

The episode dives into the scale of the plastic problem and the opportunity that comes with solving it. With massive volumes of e-waste plastics currently ending up in landfills and oceans, Renew IT’s approach demonstrates how localized circular manufacturing can create new products, new revenue streams, and new jobs while keeping valuable materials in circulation.

Rich, Vic, and James also explore the role universities and research institutions can play in advancing the circular economy. Through hands-on collaboration with students, research labs, and STEM education programs, Renew IT is helping bridge the gap between academic research and real-world commercialization, turning sustainability ideas into scalable industry solutions.

The conversation also tackles a persistent myth around sustainability and innovation: that research and development is simply a cost center. James argues that when done correctly, R&D is one of the most powerful investments companies can make, unlocking entirely new markets and business models in the circular economy.

Whether you're working in reverse logistics, sustainability, manufacturing, or resale, this episode offers a fascinating look at how waste materials can become the feedstock for the next generation of circular products and why the future of manufacturing may be smaller, smarter, and far more circular.

Visit our website to learn more:https://allthingscircular.com

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger/

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/

Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-james-lancaster-6924156/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on:Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, host Rich Bulger sits down with Stephanie Beringhele, VIP Buyer Relations Director at ASD Market Week, to explore how one of the largest retail trade shows in the world is becoming a powerful hub for the circular economy, liquidation, and secondary supply chains.

Stephanie shares the story behind ASD’s evolution from a surplus show founded in 1961 to a massive marketplace connecting more than 30,000 buyers, sellers, and entrepreneurs across retail, wholesale, liquidation, and reverse logistics. The conversation dives into why events like ASD bring together the people who actually move products in the secondary supply chain, from retailers and brands to liquidators, bin store operators, and resale entrepreneurs.

Rich and Stephanie also break down the growing importance of what Rich calls “circular logistics,” the full lifecycle of a product after first use. As returns, excess inventory, and secondary markets continue to grow, understanding how products move through resale, liquidation, and redistribution channels is becoming a major competitive advantage for retailers and entrepreneurs alike.

The episode also highlights the upcoming All Things Circular masterclass at ASD Market Week, a hands-on educational experience designed to help operators better understand reverse logistics, resale strategy, and inventory monetization. Through expert panels, interactive discussion, and a guided walk of the show floor, attendees will see how circular supply chains work in the real world and how to apply those lessons directly to their businesses.

ASD Market Week takes place March 17–19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, bringing together thousands of buyers, suppliers, retailers, and secondary market operators for three days of networking, sourcing, and education. Whether you're looking to grow your resale business, source new inventory, or better understand how reverse logistics fits into modern retail, ASD offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from the people shaping the industry.

If you’re attending ASD Market Week in Las Vegas, be sure to check out the All Things Circular panel and masterclass and connect with the community that is redefining how products move after first use.

Visit our website to learn more:

https://allthingscircular.com

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger/

Connect with Steph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-beringhele-5403a863/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on:

Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Rich Bulger and Damian Polak come to you live from NRF Rev in New York City for a fast-paced, on-the-ground recap of one of retail’s most important reverse logistics gatherings. Joined by leaders from the liquidation and bin store world, including Tom Schultz of Liquidation Motivation and Ben Davis of Bin Mania, the conversation unpacks what really happens when returns, excess inventory, and secondary supply chains collide with technology, retail, and opportunity.

Broadcasting straight from the show floor, the group reflects on why NRF Rev matters for anyone operating in resale, liquidation, or reverse logistics. From networking with retailers and tech providers to understanding how major brands think about returns, the episode highlights how being “in the right room” can completely change the trajectory of a business. In an industry with no formal degree path in reverse logistics, events like this become the classroom, where operators trade insights, share hard-earned lessons, and sharpen their strategies.

Rich breaks down one of the core themes of the discussion: the difference between the linear supply chain and the secondary supply chain. While traditional retail follows a make, distribute, sell model, reverse logistics operates under entirely different pressures, incentives, and value drivers. The group explores tiered return streams, the economics of large-lot versus small-lot sales, brand protection concerns, distributor realities, and the strategic decisions that determine where and how returned product ultimately lands. For liquidators and resale entrepreneurs, understanding these tiers is the key to unlocking reliable supply and long-term profitability.

The episode also tackles a persistent myth in the industry: that buying through liquidation or secondary channels automatically results in a poor customer experience. Drawing from real-world bin store operations, the conversation emphasizes that customer delight, operational discipline, and brand identity matter just as much in discount retail as they do in traditional storefronts. From front-line staff culture to repeat foot traffic strategy, the panel shows how resale businesses can compete and win by delivering memorable, positive experiences.

By the end of the episode, listeners gain a clearer understanding of how reverse logistics education, strategic networking, and a deeper grasp of secondary market dynamics can transform liquidation from a hustle into a scalable business model. Whether you’re a retailer, brand, tech provider, or resale operator, this live NRF Rev recap offers practical insight into how inventory moves after first use and why mastering that movement creates real competitive advantage.

Visit our website to learn more:

https://allthingscircular.com

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger/

Connect with Damian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianpolak/

Connect with Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-shultz-mba-a1a8b378/

Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-davis-172047188/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on:

Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Rich Bulger and Vic D’Arcy sit down with Melissa McDermott, founder of Reclaim, to explore how AI, resale, and digital product passports are transforming the fashion industry from the inside out.

Melissa brings more than 20 years of experience across luxury, high street, and fast fashion, with leadership roles spanning the US and Europe at brands like Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch, and major European fashion houses. After witnessing firsthand the inefficiencies, overproduction, and mounting return volumes inside global fashion supply chains, she shifted into technology, launching early blockchain and digital product passport initiatives before founding Reclaim, an AI-powered operating system designed to extend product lifecycles through intelligent resale, reuse, and recycling.

The conversation dives deep into the cultural and economic shifts reshaping fashion. Melissa unpacks the stark differences between U.S. and European resale adoption, the growing influence of Gen Z and millennial consumers who buy with intent to resell, and the powerful statistic that 70% of secondary market buyers are new customers to a brand. Together, they examine how resale is no longer a threat to brand equity but a strategic lever to reduce customer acquisition costs, increase lifetime value, and unlock new revenue streams.

Rich and Vic also explore the surge in returns, reaching as high as 40% in some cases during the e-commerce boom and the hidden downstream costs that brands must now manage. Melissa explains how Reclaim bridges supply and demand by aggregating fragmented data, dynamically valuing garments based on condition, brand perception, and market trends, and enabling consumers to see resale or take-back value at the point of purchase.

A major focus of the episode centers on digital product passports, what they are, what they are not, and how they must evolve beyond compliance tools into practical enablers of authentication, resale, repair, and recycling. Melissa shares candid insights into the operational complexity of implementing traceability across global fashion supply chains and why true circularity requires ecosystem-wide collaboration.

Finally, Melissa busts one of the biggest myths in circularity: that it isn’t profitable. She argues that circular models are not only viable, but increasingly essential and that AI-driven data aggregation is the missing link to making circular strategies both financially and environmentally sustainable

By the end of this episode, listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how resale technology, reverse logistics optimization, and digital product intelligence can help brands turn regulatory pressure, shifting consumer behavior, and supply chain inefficiencies into strategic opportunity.

Visit our website to learn more:https://allthingscircular.com

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger/

Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamcdermott/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on:Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Peter Evans and Rich Bulger reflect on the major circular economy trends shaping 2025 and the innovations poised to accelerate change in 2026. From the rapid growth of resale marketplaces to the emergence of circular fintech and digital product passports, they explore how technology, data, and shifting business models are transforming the economics of ownership and asset recovery.

Peter and Rich dive into how brands like Peloton and IKEA are embracing secondary markets not as threats, but as strategic opportunities to extend product lifecycles, increase customer engagement, and unlock new revenue streams. They introduce the concept of the “circularity delta,” a powerful metric that helps organizations measure the gap between the purchase cost of an asset and the value recovered at resale, revealing how companies can reduce losses and improve financial and environmental performance.

The conversation also highlights how advancements in AI, computer vision, and digital marketplaces are making resale faster, more accessible, and more profitable for both businesses and consumers. With platforms enabling instant product identification and valuation, companies and individuals alike are gaining unprecedented visibility into the hidden value of their assets.

Looking ahead, Peter shares insights on emerging innovations, including circular fintech solutions that enable secondary market financing and digital product passports that improve transparency, traceability, and trust throughout the product lifecycle.

By the end of this episode, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how circular economy strategies, resale ecosystems, and emerging technologies are reshaping supply chains, strengthening financial outcomes, and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and efficient global economy.

Visit our website to learn more:https://allthingscircular.com

Connect with Peter:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-c-evans-phd-217b8/

Connect with Rich:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on: Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Peter Evans and Vic D’Arcy sit down with Steve Carter and Dan Hall of Unipart, a global supply chain performance improvement partner operating across 22 countries. Together, they explore how circularity manifests in real, complex supply chains, where reducing waste, reusing assets, and designing smarter processes yield measurable financial and environmental benefits.

Steve and Dan break down why “reduce” is the most powerful and most overlooked element of circularity. They share how Unipart helped major UK telecom providers eliminate single-use plastics across field operations and warehouse networks, and how a simple process redesign removed five tons of paper per year by shifting dispatch notes to digital systems. 

The hosts also dive into Unipart’s extensive reuse programs, including the repair of more than 40,000 printed circuit boards for an energy customer, saving over £3 million and avoiding the heavy embedded carbon associated with manufacturing new components. Dan highlights how rethinking mobile device trade-in packaging reduced cardboard use by two tonnes annually, cut 13 tonnes of carbon, and saved roughly £250,000 per year by consolidating 

In one of the episode’s most compelling moments, Steve reflects on his early skepticism of circularity, once assuming it was “just a marketing word for recycling,” and how deeper exposure to embedded carbon, repairability, and full end-to-end supply chain thinking transformed him into a committed circularity advocate.

By the end of this conversation, listeners will understand how thoughtful reduction, scalable reuse, data-driven measurement, and collaborative design can turn any supply chain into a circular engine, one that lowers cost, avoids carbon, and strengthens long-term business performance.

Visit our website to learn more: allthingscircular.com

Connect with Peter:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-c-evans-phd-217b8/

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/  

Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-j-hall/

Connect with Steven: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecarterprofile/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on: Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Damian Polak and Vic D’Arcy sit down with Zac Fratkin of Used Cardboard Boxes to explore a surprisingly powerful circular economy opportunity: large-scale cardboard reuse.

Damian and Vic unpack how UCB rescues millions of boxes and Gaylord totes before they’re crushed, pulped, and remanufactured, a recycling loop Zac says wastes enormous amounts of energy, chemicals, and carbon. Instead, UCB keeps boxes in use, helping companies slash corrugate costs, turn recycling expenses into revenue, and dramatically reduce environmental impact.

Zac explains why high-volume manufacturers are ideal reuse partners, how food-grade inspection works, and why standardizing packaging could transform the entire industry. The hosts also dive into UCB’s new technology platform, Boomerang, which brings transparency and modern efficiency to the largely analog world of packaging reuse.

From nearly 9 million trees saved to a vision where Amazon drivers collect used boxes like old-school milk bottles, this episode challenges the myth that recycling is the “best” sustainability option. Zac argues that true circularity starts with reuse, not convenience-driven single-stream recycling.

By the end, listeners will see how intentional design, smart logistics, and accessible tech can turn cardboard into one of the most impactful circular materials in the world.

Visit our website to learn more: allthingscircular.com

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/  

Connect with Damian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianpolak/

Connect with Zac: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacfratkin/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on: Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Vic D’Arcy and Rich Bulger sit down with Thomas Winther Mardahl of Rejoose to unravel one of the most misunderstood areas of sustainability today: accurate carbon emission data for IT products and why it’s quickly becoming a business essential, not just an ESG checkbox.

Together, Vic and Rich explore how carbon data has evolved beyond annual reports and virtue signaling, revealing how validated, activity-based carbon metrics are reshaping procurement, supply chains, and technology decisions. Thomas breaks down the shift from spend-based assumptions to real product-level lifecycle assessments, showing how better data leads to better decisions, longer lifespans, higher reuse value, lower emissions, and smarter investments.

The conversation delves into the significant impact of geography, energy sources, and repairability on a product’s footprint, including why two identical laptops can have drastically different carbon footprints depending on where and how they’re used. They also unpack the rise of digital product passports (DPPs), the EU’s new repairability index, and how global standards are pushing manufacturers and hyperscalers toward unprecedented transparency.

From the misconception that “recycling equals circularity,” to the emerging importance of avoided emissions and potential future Scope 4 reporting, the hosts challenge organizations to rethink how they measure and act on carbon. Thomas offers a clear and practical look at how businesses can integrate carbon data into their quoting systems, accounting platforms, and everyday decision-making to create a true competitive advantage.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see how accurate carbon data, circular thinking, and transparent reporting are redefining not just sustainability, but the future of IT itself.

Visit our website to learn more: allthingscircular.com

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger-43b02112/

Connect with Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mardahl/?originalSubdomain=dk

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Our podcast focuses mostly on:

Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Peter Evans and Rich Bulger sit down with Alexander Olesen, founder and CEO of Buckstop, to discuss how his team is solving one of the clean-energy industry’s biggest blind spots: what happens when “green” technology reaches the end of its life.

Alexander shares how Buckstop’s new end-of-life management platform is helping solar, battery, and EV infrastructure operators measure, assess, and recover the true value of their assets. From the rise of landfill bans to the challenge of decommissioning costs, he explains why clean energy’s waste problem is both urgent and full of opportunity, and how Buckstop’s “Kelley Blue Book for Solar” could redefine how the world values renewable hardware.

Throughout the conversation, Peter, Rich, and Alexander explore how AI-powered data modeling, regulatory shifts, and circular design are shaping the next generation of sustainable energy systems. They also examine the myth that decommissioning costs offset residual value, revealing the hard financial truths that solar developers can no longer ignore.

By bringing transparency, technology, and circular thinking to the renewable-energy lifecycle, Buckstop is proving that green energy isn’t truly green unless it’s circular.

Visit our website to learn more: allthingscircular.com

Connect with Peter:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-c-evans-phd-217b8/

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger-43b02112/

Connect with Alexander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-olesen-7aa4a16a/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on: Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!

In this episode of All Things Circular, hosts Rich Bulger and Vic D’Arcy broadcast live from the ITAD Summit, taking listeners deep into the often-misunderstood world of IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), where protecting data, recovering value, and reducing waste all intersect.

Together, Rich and Vic unpack what it really means to do ITAD right. They explore how organizations can balance data security and reuse, the importance of certifications like NIST and ADISA, and why understanding the true value of assets can turn “end-of-life” products into new opportunities.

From hyperscalers unnecessarily destroying functional drives out of fear, to the growing issue of greenwashing in e-waste exports and fast fashion, the hosts challenge industries to rethink what “responsible recycling” truly means. They also highlight how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming asset tracking, valuation, and recovery, helping businesses protect both customers and the planet simultaneously.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll see how circular thinking, smart partnerships, and data-driven validation can redefine not only ITAD but the future of sustainability itself.

Visit our website to learn more: allthingscircular.com

Connect with Vic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-d-arcy-aa84b51/

Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger-43b02112/

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Our podcast focuses mostly on: Circular Economy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly, Recycling, Zero Waste, Environmentalism, Green Economy, Climate Change, Business Sustainability, Waste Management, Renewable Resources, Eco-Innovation, Supply Chain, Business, Circularity, Environmental Impact, Life Cycle Assessment, Upcycling, Downcycling, Closed Loop System, Sustainable Practices, Resource Recovery, Circular Strategies, Podcast, Alternative Materials, Reverse Logistics, ITAD, Lifecycle Services, Product Sourcing, and more!