INTRODUCTION

If you’ve ever asked yourself any of the following three questions, then this episode is for you!

• How can you eliminate toxicity and waste from your facilities and products?
• How can you uncover value and opportunities in the threats and challenges you face, from material extraction and processing to disposal?
• What do you still need to learn to truly embrace a shift toward a more circular economy?

We’re diving into these questions with my guest, Paul Foulkes-Arellano, co-author of the book Materials & Sustainability: Building A Circular Future. If books open windows to the world, then let’s leaf through one that reveals a new view of sustainable materials and manufacturing.

Together,

• we unpacked the meaning of sustainability ;
• we compared terms like virgin materials vs. waste materials, procurement vs. management, carbon emissions vs. water crisis, and many others that shed light on crucial issues ;
• and we brought fresh perspectives, even starting with some thought-provoking quotes.

As you’ll see, we approached this content with the playful curiosity of children jumping into a pile of colorful leaves, leaving you to grab the one idea that resonates most.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Paul is on the advisory board of 
  • Restalk, an agri-waste packaging company, based in USA: https://www.restalk.org/ 
  • Musthad, a SaaS platform for circular fashion end-of-life solutions, based in Italy: https://www.musthad.com/  
• Paul is a non-executive director of Sparxell, a company making metallic and pearlescent pigment from cellulose, based in UK: https://sparxell.com/  
• Previous episodes mentioned in this conversation:
  • The first one with Paul in September 2022 in episode 27 titled “Plant-based feedstocks and innovations for absolute circular packaging!”: https://www.look4loops.com/packaging-podcast/ep27-plant-based-circular-regenerative-innovations  
  • For the “Certification Spotlight, Truth and Trap” series, check episodes 47, 48 (FSC), 49 (PEFC), 51 (Reuse), 52 (Green Dot), 53 (Triman), 54 (Moebius logo), 55 (Ok Compost) and 56 (ISTA) of the Unboxing Your Packaging podcast: https://www.look4loops.com/podcast  
  • Episodes 22 and 32 with guests from Canopy, echoing the words of Neva Murtha (Next‑Generation Solutions Issues Specialist at CanopyPlanetand) in the book.
  • Episode #34: “Designing plastic free: Why and what does it take?” with Sian Sutherland of A Plastic Planet : https://www.look4loops.com/packaging-podcast/ep34-plastic-free-material-design-campaigns-platform  
  • Episode #57: “Biodesign: How are brands navigating the regenerative materials market?” with Ana Beatriz Alves of Tocco : the burning question of this episode comes from Ana: https://www.look4loops.com/packaging-podcast/ep57-biodesign-platform-regenerative-materials-suppliers-brands-marketplace  
  • The burning question of Paul in episode 27 was answered by Alejandra Laclette of PlanetArk in episode #42: “Better communicate with obvious recycling labels”: https://www.look4loops.com/packaging-podcast/ep42-recycling-label-bin-campaigns-communication  
• Jan Dell from Last Beach Cleanup in California : interviewed in the book and heroes of Paul
• Quote: “It is NOT about resources management, it’s actually about human management for the benefit of the land” (Erin Matariki Carr, a leading Indigenous legal scholar and Rights of Nature activist in Aotearoa (New Zealand) < https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bioneers_through-colonization-hyper-capitalism-and-ugcPost-7207397010499338241-5Yp9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop  < https://bioneers.org/claudia-pena-and-erin-matariki-carr-on-reconnecting-with-the-earth-and-each-other/?utm_medium=organic_social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=content&utm_content=2024_media_hub  
• Recommended book : “Environment and Economy, 2nd edition” Scott Cato, Molly, Dec 2021, 2nd ed. London: Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group. 320 p. (Introductions to the Environment)
• The movie “Citizen Kane” has been mentioned because it is inspired by William Randolph who we quoted in this interview about the woodland destruction.

WHERE TO FIND PAUL AND HIS BOOK?

• Paul Foulkes-Arellano on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfoulkesarellano/ 
• Circuthon website: https://circuthon.com/ 
• “Materials & Sustainability. Building A Circular Future”, Paul’s co-written book with Julia L Freer Goldstein: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003409267/materials-sustainability-paul-foulkes-arellano-julia-freer-goldstein  

ABOUT PAUL FOULKES-ARELLANO FROM CIRCUTHON

Paul Foulkes‑Arellano is the founder of circular economy consulting business Circuthon Consulting, where he advises global brands and bioeconomy start‑ups. 

He co-wrote the book “Materials & Sustainability. Building A Circular Future” with Julia L Freer Goldstein, published in April 2024.

His areas of expertise are raw materials, packaging, apparel, and footwear. His particular focus is NextGen fibers, biomaterials, and novel material development.

Paul sits on the advisory boards of alternative fiber producer, ReStalk, and textile upcyclers, Must Had. He is a non‑executive director at cellulosic pigments specialist Sparxell. Paul runs two non‑profit initiatives: The Circular Footwear Initiative and The Circular Fashion Initiative.

PODCAST MUSIC

Special thanks to Joachim Regout who made the jingle. Have a look at his work here. 

I am happy to bring a sample of our strong bonds on these sound waves. Since I was a child, he made me discover a wide range of music of all kinds. I am also delighted he is a nature lover and shares the Look4Loops 'out of the box philosophy'. He is an inspiring source of creativity for me.