On this final episode of Sustainably Speaking Season 1, we dive into the complex and crucial role of sustainability related to plastic, building upon conversations we have had over the last several months. As our nation seeks to modernize U.S. infrastructure, expand sustainable technologies, and find ways to prevent waste, plastic industry leaders continue to elevate sustainability in their business models to create a better world today and for future generations.

Host Joshua Baca highlights the best of our conversations from Season 1 as our guests share perspectives on the often-overlooked role of plastics in building a more sustainable world. With topics ranging from reducing greenhouse gases to creating financially viable, long-term solutions, this sustainability-centered discussion — largely shaped by our guests’ varied areas of expertise — is not one to miss.

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we dive into the importance of national legislation for creating a circular economy in the U.S. to prevent waste from entering the environment. From modernizing our infrastructure and enabling next generation automobiles, plastics play a critical part in a lower carbon future. But given that plastics’ national recycling rate is low, how can we move the United States toward a more sustainable, circular economy? 

Host Joshua Baca is joined by Chris Jahn, president and CEO of ACC, and Laura Chamorro, general manager of polyethylene at Shell Polymers, to discuss an innovative, new legislative proposal aimed at improving sustainability efforts and our ability to prevent and recycle waste at scale.

On this latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss critical issues related to community health and sustainability — food waste and food insecurity. Every day, millions of Americans lack access to fresh, nutritious food, yet each year 30 to 40 percent of food is wasted on average. One of the major contributors? Insufficient or improper food packaging. However, support from local food banks and advancements in sustainable plastic packaging can help delay spoilage across the production cycle, bringing fresh meats, produce, and dairy products to underserved communities.

Host Joshua Baca is joined by John Kreger, Chief Operating Officer at the Montgomery County (TX) Food Bank, to discuss the role sustainable plastic packaging plays in extending shelf life and preventing food loss.

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discuss how companies are ramping up their efforts to reduce plastic waste by investing in and innovating for a circular economy. How is this happening? Companies and funds are accelerating investment in recycling infrastructure and innovative technologies (like advanced recycling), with the goal of increasing the amount of plastic that can be recycled into new products and materials, again and again. 

Host Joshua Baca is joined by Julie Zaniewski, North America Sustainability Director for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, and Bridget Croke, Managing Director of Closed Loop Partners, to discuss private sector efforts to achieve more sustainable practices and the role of a circular economy in sustainability.

On the last episode of Sustainably Speaking, we discussed how advanced recycling helps communities find new uses and value in used plastics while keeping plastic waste out of the environment. How does this process work? Advanced recycling companies rely on scientists to help inform their technologies, processes, data and analysis... all necessary to creating a circular economy for plastics. 

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Joshua Baca is joined by Dr. Rachel Meidl of Rice University’s Baker Institute and Dr. Marco Castaldi of City College of New York to dive into the science behind advanced recycling, how it differs from traditional recycling, what it means for the lifecycle of plastic materials and the role it plays in circularity.   

Many plastics can be recycled through familiar methods – throw it in the bin at the curb and it gets ground up and reformed into something new. But what about other plastics that can’t go in the bin, like flower pots, CD cases, and chip pouches?

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Joshua Baca talks with GreenMantra Chief Commercial Officer Domenic Di Mondo and Cyclyx Senior Vice President Bill Cooper about advanced recycling – emerging technologies that are converting hard-to-recycle plastics into new products, keeping more waste out of the environment and creating jobs right here in our communities.

Did you know that your empty yogurt cup or takeout container may have a second life as a suitcase or playground slide? As our society evolves toward treating waste as a valuable resource, used plastics are making a growing contribution to sustainability. Companies and brands are increasingly giving waste another life, harnessing the power of innovation to make new products using recycled plastics, including foam insulation for more energy-efficient buildings. Not only does use of this insulating material help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it also can help save money on our utility bills.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Joshua Baca, host and American Chemistry Council’s vice president of plastics, speaks with Huntsman CEO Peter Huntsman about how manufacturers like Huntsman are leading the charge on advancing circularity and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Lowering carbon emissions and supporting company pledges to improve sustainability are a big challenges, and we’ll need cutting-edge, 21st century infrastructure and supporting technologies to achieve these ambitious targets. Fortunately, the world has seen a rapid increase in the development of these technologies over the last decade. While you may not realize it, some important forms of renewable infrastructure, such as solar panels and wind turbines, depend on plastic to produce sustainable energy more efficiently.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca, American Chemistry Council’s vice president, plastics, speaks with Christine Bryant, Covestro’s senior vice president of polyurethanes, about how manufacturers are  innovating and collaborating across industries to invest in the materials needed to modernize our infrastructure while lowering our carbon footprint.

Circularity and sustainability go hand in hand. As America’s Plastic Makers® continue to work towards a circular economy for plastics, a major focus will be on innovating to achieve carbon reductions and recycling and remanufacturing used plastic so it doesn’t end up in landfills and oceans. One  of America’s Plastic Makers, Eastman Chemical, is  developing high performing products that can be recycled again and again – keeping more plastic out of the environment and lowering their carbon footprint by up to 30%.  

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca speaks with Eastman Chemical CEO Mark Costa to discuss  innovative plastics technology. Joshua and Mark dive into how Eastman’s materials help promote circularity in fashion, food and beverage packaging, and automotive, as well as how we can move forward innovative  strategies like advanced recycling.

Each year, we've seen automakers add more electric vehicles to their lineup as they transform cars into high tech and low impact mobility masterpieces. But did you know plastic is already playing a major role in this transition? Durable, lightweight plastic materials are enabling our shift to a low carbon future by helping to increase fuel efficiency and enabling the production of electric vehicle components.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Joshua Baca speaks with Dr. Debra Mielewski, Technical Fellow of Sustainability at Ford, and Paul Snyder, Chairman of the Transportation Design Department at the College for Creative Studies, about what sustainability means in the auto industry and how plastic producers and automakers are working together to design the vehicles of the future.