Redefining Plastics

At NPC Live, Redefining Plastics host Justin Riney sat down with Melissa Vettleson (Sustainability and Materials Engineer at IPL Schoeller) and Christian Bruey (Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at PureCycle Technologies) about their partnership to put post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PCR) into clear, food-contact packaging using PureCycle's Polypropylene dissolution technology.

The collaboration between these organizations led to the commercialization of IPL Schoeller’s new SnapPak Square Evo line (8–48 oz) of clear packaging. You can see these 25% recycled-content packages nationwide filled with Cleveland Kitchen's products on your local store shelves. Both companies have great expectations for the future of this product line and are targeting deli markets with a 20% PCR minimum recycled content but they have the ability to increase content to meet customer's needs. PureCycle also details its dissolution process that dissolves only polypropylene and filters out additives, colors, and other contaminants, enabling traceable, APR-certified, colorable resin suited for tight processing and safety requirements.

This conversation covers challenges in traditional PP recycling, compounding to meet customer specifications, policy impacts (EPR, mandates), the importance of domestic sourcing, and PureCycle’s expansion plans from Ironton, Ohio to future sites in Thailand and Antwerp.

We learned a lot from this conversation, and I know that you will too.

IPL Schoeller

Sustainable packaging solutions for global supply chains | IPL Schoeller

https://www.iplschoeller.com/us/news/introducing-snappack-square-evo-advancing-sustainable-food-packaging-with-20-clear-food-contact-recycled-polypropylene

https://www.iplschoeller.com/us/news/recycled-polypropylene-food-packaging-a-sustainable-solution-with-25-recycled-content

https://www.linkedin.com/company/iplschoeller/home/?viewAsMember=true

PureCycle

https://www.purecycle.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/purecycletechnologies/home/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

Justin Riney hosts Patrick Krieger, who is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Policy at the PLASTICS Industry Association. In this conversation, they dive deep into sustainability, plastics, and creating the change the plastic industry needs to thrive into the future.

The conversation starts with PLASTICS 18-month partnership with the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) to expand polystyrene recycling access toward its 60% “North Star.” This effort has driven considerable change in the perception of Polystyrene and plastics in general in North America since the group's inception within PLASTICS. They also discussed many of the PSRA's successes thus far, like the US Plastics Pact’s decision to remove EPS transport packaging from its problematic list.

Krieger says sustainability is increasingly embedded in business decisions and argues plastics can offer lower energy, water, and carbon impacts than alternatives while acknowledging challenges like low recycling rates and plastic waste.

They discuss extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a useful tool when “good,” contrasting varied state programs (Oregon, Colorado, California) and warning that poor design can raise costs without improving outcomes. Both stress that better, aggregated, anonymized data is essential to ensure EPR funds build recycling infrastructure and improve rates.

They also address misinformation, science literacy, social media “echo chambers,” and the need for industry-wide advocacy and education initiatives such as Recycling Is Real, Positives of Plastics, and SPE’s Plastivan.

PLASTICS

https://www.plasticsindustry.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkkrieger/

Positives of Plastics

https://positivesofplastic.org/

Recycling is Real

https://recyclingisreal.org/

SPE's Plastivan

https://www.4spe.org/speplastivan/

PSRA

https://psrecycling.org/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

This was the third episode recorded at the National Plastics Conference (NPC), and the NPC Live podcast studio onsite. Thanks again to PLASTICS for having Redefining Plastics at the conference and all of their support.

In this episode, Justin Riney hosts Kellie Alvarado (Director of Sustainability, Anchor Packaging) and Andy Brewer (Director of Sustainability and Recycling, Plastics Industry Association) to discuss a new Polypropylene recycled bale study led by PLASTICS, recycling advocacy, collaboration, and EPR policy.

Alvarado argues there is no “evil material,” emphasizing plastics’ role in food packaging and waste prevention, while Brewer describes Plastics’ member base and how its recycling committee and end-market programs connect the full plastics supply chain. This collaboration is key to solving any of the problems the plastics industry faces today.

The group discusses EPR as a valid approach to fund infrastructure but warns against rushing implementation and inconsistent “rates and dates,” citing Oregon depots and a polypropylene bale study project in Colorado. They stress improving consumer trust through public tours of plastic facilities, transparency, and positive feedback.

We loved this conversation and hope that you will learn something from their expertise.

PLASTICS

https://www.plasticsindustry.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrewer1/

Anchor Packaging

https://www.anchorpackaging.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-6a05624/

National Plastics Conference

https://nationalplasticsconference.org/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

At NPC Live, Redefining Plastics host Justin Riney speaks with Jolene Milne, a sustainability analyst at Husky Technologies and member of NAPCOR, about industry collaboration to combat misinformation about plastics and expand recycling.

Milne explains her role in sustainability advocacy and how associations like NAPCOR and the Plastics Industry Association unite stakeholders around accurate messaging. She highlights NAPCOR’s newly released PET bottle decarbonization roadmap (through 2050), which outlines an achievable path to cut PET bottle emissions intensity in the U.S. by 57% (42% when accounting for growth), with major reductions driven by lightweighting, renewable energy, and manufacturing efficiencies.

They also discuss translating technical sustainability concepts for consumers, bringing more young women into plastics through STEM and mentorship, and Husky’s injection molding systems, PET package innovations (PET closures, label-less bottles), and the industry's ability to process up to 100% rPET.

NAPCOR, HUSKY, and Jolene Milne

Jolene Milne LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolene-milne-a0516728b/?isSelfProfile=false

PET Forward Decarbonization Roadmap and all supplementary materials - https://napcor.com/sustainability/

About NAPCOR - https://napcor.com/what-is-napcor/

About Husky Technologies - https://www.husky.co/en/about-us/

More Information about PET - https://positivelypet.org/

National Plastics Conference

https://nationalplasticsconference.org/

Polystyrene Recycling Alliance

https://psrecycling.org/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

We had a blast with this interview at the National Plastics Conference on-site podcast studio, "National Plastics Conference Live." Christine Yeager of CSY Impact dove deep into extended producer responsibility (EPR), her path from Coca-Cola into consulting with Circular Action Alliance, and how/why she started her own consulting firm.

We discussed the complexities inherent within the patchwork of state EPR laws, how producers can engage and not just pay fees, as well as the importance of accurate recycling data to ensure fair fee-setting, given limited data.

It is clear that EPR programs often prioritize curbside recycling despite most recycling being commercial, and emphasize collective industry action and making space for innovative solutions. We both believe that it is essential for the industry to actively engage in the process to ensure more positive outcomes within the EPR system.

Yeager explains her excellent Change Cycle podcast, focused on intentional living and helping sustainability professionals operationalize goals through change management and effective communication. Justin Riney will be on this show on an upcoming episode as well.

Where To Find Christine:

https://www.csyimpact.com/

https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinesyeager/

Other Topics Covered:

Bill Nye the Science Guy article - https://www.csyimpact.com/in-the-news/cheddar-video

Garbology book https://a.co/d/04nGl2nB

National Plastics Conference

https://nationalplasticsconference.org/

Polystyrene Recycling Alliance

https://psrecycling.org/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

This is a short one today, but I wanted to give the audience an update on Redefining Plastics, my participation in the National Plastics Conference, and the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance.

You may have noticed that I have been less active on this platform this year as I pull double duty as the chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance. That will change in the 4th quarter of this year as I attempt to get back to weekly uploads of the Redefining Plastics podcast.

We are going to get back to basics and focus on how to make recycle more plastics in North America. This will start with my appearance at the National Plastics Conference (NPC) put on by the PLASTICS Industry Association in Houston from 9/14 to 9/17. I will be serving on a panel and recording (audio only) episodes live in the first podcast studio on-site at the conference.

I am very excited about that and the work we are doing at the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) to expand PS recycling in North America. We have had several big wins, but work is yet to be done.

If you are at NPC, please stop and talk to me. I am really looking forward to being back at a PLASTICS event and seeing new and old friends.

National Plastics Conference

https://nationalplasticsconference.org/

Polystyrene Recycling Alliance

https://psrecycling.org/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

Justin Riney welcomes his INEOS Styrolution coworkers Alex Compton and Danielle Maziur to discuss women in the plastics industry, their commercial careers, and how they found plastics after initially pursuing pre-med paths.

They address working in a male-dominated “old boys” environment, trade show dynamics, and whether women feel held to higher standards, emphasizing the importance of supportive colleagues and mentors. The conversation explores how to attract and retain more women through better awareness of non-engineering roles, diverse candidate pools without quota-driven hiring, and stronger mentorship structures despite lean organizations.

They also discuss plastics’ perception problem, the need to differentiate plastics from oil and gas, and the value of human-centered storytelling and education—especially for kids and business students—highlighting plastics’ role across industries, including healthcare during COVID.

Alexandra Compton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-compton-6a32aa60/

Danielle Maziur

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-maziur-92719842/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plastics

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ryan-%F0%9F%A6%85-77057322a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

Host Justin Riney welcomes John Skabardonis, a PhD chemist turned marketer who recently retired from corporate life and now runs Optimist Consulting and writes the Tech Nuggets newsletter.

They discuss how technical experts can better reach non-technical audiences through “scientific storytelling,” doing audience homework, and improving delivery (including Toastmasters) so messages resonate.

The conversation focuses on plastics industry marketing failures, fear marketing (e.g., “BPA-free”), chemophobia, and the need to frame issues in terms of risk rather than jargon. John recounts Bayer/Covestro’s BPA water-bottle controversy, argues human behavior drives problems like pollution and PFAS exposure, critiques microplastics headlines and contamination, and calls for coordinated, grassroots, multi-platform advocacy—also noting the importance of accurate AI data sources. They close with mentions of SPE, mentoring, and how to find Tech Nuggets on LinkedIn.

John Skabardonis

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tech-nuggets-7426792352763056128/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnskabardonis/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plastics

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ryan-%F0%9F%A6%85-77057322a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

In the first Redefining Plastics Podcast episode for 2026, host Justin Riney delves into California SB 54, a legislative bill aimed at reducing plastic waste and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

He discusses the bill’s requirements, including a 30% recycling rate for plastic-covered materials by 2028, and the potential challenges it poses to the packaging industry.

Riney examines the complexities and ambiguities of the bill, highlighting the lack of clear regulations and the unrealistic expectations given the current recycling infrastructure. He also emphasizes the importance of industry engagement and collaboration with policymakers to create practical and effective environmental regulations.

If you are in packaging or government affairs, you will want to check this out.

https://www.packagingdive.com/news/calrecycle-packaging-covered-materials-recycling-rates-sb54/808884/

https://cascadiaconsulting.com/project/sb-54-waste-characterization-study/

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plastics

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ryan-%F0%9F%A6%85-77057322a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm

In this episode of the Redefining Plastics Podcast, host Justin Riney discusses the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) with key industry leaders Richard Shaw of AmSty, Joe Grzyb of EFP, and Erin Haas of the PLASTICS Industry Association.

The conversation highlights the successes of the first year of the PSRA and the outlook for year 2 and beyond. The discussion highlights key projects that the PSRA has supported like EPS collection in Colorado with Circular Colorado.

The guests provide insights into the importance of polystyrene, regulatory landscapes like EPR, and advocacy efforts. The episode underscores the collective efforts needed to advance circularity and sustainability in the polystyrene industry, calling for more industry participation and collaboration.

https://www.plasticsindustry.org/

https://amsty.com/

https://www.efppackaging.com/

Redefining Plastics

https://www.redefiningplastics.com/

https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plastics

https://rss.com/podcasts/redefining-plastics-with-justin-riney https://www.instagram.com/redefining_plastics/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ryan-%F0%9F%A6%85-77057322a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-riney-mba-67685940/ https://youtube.com/@redefiningplastics?si=KvG4dTvY1lALbwIm