Innovation Matters

Mike, Anthony, and a back-from-vacation Karthik tackle all the news, including COP28, the carbon footprint of plastic pyrolysis, and the important issue of kangaroo derived carbon credits. Then, they sit down with Zero Waste Europe's Janek Vahk to break down the recent Packaging and Packaging Waste regulations. We discuss the regulation's wins, failures, and what the best path is for plastic waste sustainability. 

Mike and Anthony talk court intrigue at OpenAI - will the firing, hiring, and rehiring of Sam Altman derail the development of AI? Or is it all just shadows on the wall? Then, Mike is joined by two experts on the US bioeconomy, Genya Dana and Steven Evans, to learn more about Biomade's efforts to get the bioeconomy across the commercial valley of death.  

This week, just Anthony and Mike are taking on the news: Lux's forum in Amsterdam, Exxon's move into lithium production, New York's lawsuit against PepsiCo, and the problem with sustainable technologies that just don't work.

What's the deal with circular apparel? Can companies overcome their incentives to produce and sell more cheap clothing and truly embrace circularity? Can AI really be used for good? Which Innovation Matters host has met Jerry Seinfeld? All this and more as the hosts are joined by Renewcell's CCO to dig into sustainable apparel and the future of the industry. 

Is US energy policy going to accelerate the energy transition - or is it actually, secretly, bad? This question lies at the heart of today's episode, which sees Anthony, Karthik, and Mike joined by Dr. Arij van Berkel to discuss the recent US DOE Hydrogen Hub funding announcement. 

This week Karthik, Mike, and Anthony catch up on some recent news, including Nucor and Helion's recent fusion announcement and the ongoing United Auto Workers strike in America. 

The venture investing space has seen huge disruption in the past few years, as rising interest rates have triggered a major change in the availability of funding. This week, the hosts are joined by Xiao Zhong, a principal at Mach49 to talk about the big questions - is corporate venturing a useful tool for sustainable innovation? Where does it go wrong? And what does the changed policy landscape mean for CVC?

Anthony, Mike, and Karthik sound off on Lego's recent recycling flop, and then are joined by Steve Weiss, founder of Grey Heron and longtime innovation leader in the industrial biotech industry. They discuss the pitfalls and opportunities of sustainable innovation, where SPACs went wrong, and more. 

Is reusability a way to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability? Or is it just more greenwashing? Anthony, Karthik, and Mike discuss Starbucks' new reuse campaign and then talk to the CEO of Muuse, which is putting reuse into practice in Singapore. 

Mike, Karthik and Anthony render judgement on Apple's recent sustainability claims and discuss the possibility of UN regulation on the plastics industry. Then, Adam Litle, the CEO of Sound Agriculture, joins to discuss biostimulants and the challenges of innovating in the agriculture industry.