In this episode, we will discuss the present state and future of the plastics economy, and what is needed to transition toward more sustainable modes of production and consumption.

Today, we produce around 400 million tons of plastic every year. The absolute majority of this is produced from fossil raw materials. Furthermore, despite recent progress in recycling plastic waste, particularly in the EU, most of plastic waste still ends up in landfills or leaks into natural environments. Thus, we urgently need solutions to reduce the environmental impact of plastics, and pave way for a future that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

The episode begins with a discussion on the environmental impacts of plastics. We then explore the solutions needed to mitigate these issues, with emphasis on improving the recycling of plastic waste and shifting to the use of bio-based raw materials in the production of primary plastics. We also discuss the actors who play a critical role in transitioning toward a sustainable plastics economy, and touch on the challenges that start-up companies face in bringing new and more sustainable plastics solutions to the market.

We will explore these issues, and possible solutions, with TOMI NYMAN. Tomi has a background in chemical engineering, and has worked with several cutting-edge solutions in improving the sustainability of plastics production throughout his career. Tomi was involved in the development of renewable products at Neste, and was one of the main architects in developing Neste’s bioplastics business. Since then, Tomi has worked as a consultant, advisor, and board member in several ventures related to sustainable plastics, and is the founder and CEO of November consulting, which aims to reduce global CO2 emissions by 1 Gt.

The episode is hosted by JAAKKO SILTALOPPI. Jaakko is a post-doctoral researcher at Aalto University, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. Jaakko has worked with several questions linked to sustainable business and innovation. In the ValueBioMat project, Jaakko’s research focuses on the analysis of sustainable business models and system-level transitions toward more sustainable plastics economy.

Talking Plastics podcast is brought to you by Valuebiomat, to be found as @valuebiomat on twitter, valuebiomat on youtube, and on valuebiomat.fi. Valuebiomat is funded by the Strategic research Council (SRC) established within the Academy of Finland. You can find the Talking Podcast in Twitter as @TalkingPlastics, and contact us at TalkingPlasticsPodcast@gmail.com.

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