Plastics Unwrapped

Maithreyi Seetharaman

Plastics Unwrapped is a podcast series supported by Dow, on the hunt for solutions to some of the biggest questions facing the plastics industry.

Join host and journalist Maithreyi Seetharaman on her quest for thought-provoking ideas on how to make plastics truly circular. This is a space where the world's leading thinkers and doers from the worlds of technology, policy-making, civil society, academia and business have honest and difficult conversations about the future of sustainability and plastics.

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20 episodes
Updated Jun 18, 2025

Episodes20

Newest first

Jun 18, 2025 · 20 min
Technology and innovation in luxury automotive - part 2
Buckle up—because circularity for luxury automotive is shifting into high gear. Just like a finely tuned Jaguar or Land Rover hugs the curves of innovation, today’s luxury rides are being re-engineered with cutting-edge materials science and sustainability at the wheel. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: Dow Creative Element Artwork: Dow Creative Element
Jun 11, 2025 · 21 min
Circularity in luxury automotive – part 1
Can luxury go fully circular? In this episode, we take the fast lane of luxury with Jaguar Land Rover JLR. JLR isn't just shifting gears—they’re redefining the entire ride. Circularity is no longer just a pit stop on the sustainability journey; it's the new engine driving innovation. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: Dow Creative Element Artwork: Dow Creative Element
Jun 4, 2025 · 41 min
Building bridges between nature, science & business - part 2
With consumers and investors demanding more sustainable products, the world is paying closer attention to what biodiversity loss means for our planet. Companies around the world are embracing these challenges as protecting biodiversity is key in preserving business success. In this episode, we are joined by 3M to discuss how we can unlock the power of people, ideas and science to drive innovation and reimagine what is possible, all while protecting biodiversity. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Sh
May 21, 2025 · 23 min
The role of biodiversity and ecosystems - part 1
Biodiversity is life on earth as we know it. From our genetics and bacteria to entire ecosystems of forests and coral reefs, biodiversity is critical to all aspects of life. From food and water, to medicine, to climate stability. In this episode, we discuss the work of Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute in preserving biodiversity to secure a prosperous and stable future for this planet. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: PhiLipp Schweidler, Depar
May 14, 2025 · 15 min
Future-proofing with AI: the futurist perspective - part 2
Is AI really the whole story of the future? In this episode, we're asking what else is on the horizon for the future of plastic waste. We are joined by the 311 Institute to hear about the game-changing trends that are reshaping industry. From AI to synthetic biology and nanotech, the 311 Institute is looking for new ways to provide all with access to the tools that shape the future. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: PhiLipp Schweidler, Department of Noi
May 7, 2025 · 33 min
Future-proofing with AI - the academics view - part 1
Data collection and analysis is a vital step in the fight to end plastic pollution. AI could hold the answers, however it also poses significant challenges. Here we discuss how AI technology is influencing research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and at Wageningen University to see how they are overcoming these new challenges. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: PhiLipp Schweidler, Department of Noise Artwork: Do
Apr 30, 2025 · 23 min
Global Plastics Treaty: the journey of the past five meetings
With 2.7 billion people lacking access to waste management, this essential step in advancing a circular economy poses a significant challenge. In this opening episode for season 4 of Plastics Unwrapped, we look back on the previous 5 meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) and discuss how we can find middle ground between industry and policy to end plastic pollution for good. Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman Show Producer: Lisa Desai Sound Production: Dow Creative Element Ar
Feb 20, 2024 · 37 min
Turning the Tide in Asia-Pacific
The Asia Pacific region tends to dominate the rankings and headlines in coverage surrounding global plastic waste. But the pace of innovation and change in plastics production, consumption and waste in the region has been faster than you think, led by China. This episode explores new policies being introduced and what can lead to solution scaling, with Junice Yeo, Executive Director at Eco-Business, Thomas Luedi, Senior Partner at Bain & Company, and Kodak Xiao, Global Sustainability Director at
Feb 13, 2024 · 38 min
Science and Entrepreneurship
In this episode, entrepreneurs David Roubach and Felix Bobbink share their sustainability innovations within the plastics industry and how they are revolutionizing plastics at both consumer and industrial levels. Dow Global Business Development Director Christophe Marché highlights the need for large businesses to pivot and become disruptive, and University of California, Berkeley professor Dr. Ting Xu shares how at the core of all this disruptive innovation is science and research.
Feb 6, 2024 · 25 min
Recycling and Beyond Part 2
Mechanical recycling has existed for decades, but capacity isn’t keeping up with demand. In part two of our recycling and beyond conversation, Dow Global Sustainability Director Haley Lowry and Neste Vice President of Value Chain Development Jeroen Verhoeven discuss alternative innovations the industry is focusing on to fill gaps for recycled plastic requirements and carbon emission targets, including advanced recycling— also known as molecular or chemical recycling.
Jan 30, 2024 · 30 min
Recycling and Beyond Part 1
Recycling and Beyond Part 1 explores the challenges of waste management in countries on the frontline of dealing with plastic waste. With insights from Zoë Lenkiewicz, Waste Management and Sustainable Development Specialist at the United Nations Environment Program, and Chege Ngugi, Regional Director in Africa of ChildFund International, this episode takes a look at the impact, challenges and solutions of collection, sorting and recycling for communities most impacted by plastic waste in Africa.
Jan 23, 2024 · 26 min
Design Thinking Plastics Part 2
Design Thinking Plastics Part 2 continues our deep dive into how design can redefine the sustainability of plastics. In this episode, we discover how businesses and designers are putting design thinking to action with Rosalie McMillan, Co-founder of Smile Plastics, and Daniella Souza Miranda, Global Marketing Director at Dow.
Jan 16, 2024 · 25 min
Design Thinking Plastics Part 1
What does design thinking plastics for a future of sustainability mean? In Design Thinking Plastics Part 1, Tony Chambers, Founder of TC & Friends and former editor-in-chief of Wallpaper, delves into how design thinking reimagines the role of plastics in our lives, helps drive solutions for its end of life and its future in a circular world.
Feb 13, 2023 · 29 min
Decarbonization and circularity – why they must go hand-in-hand
In this episode, Dow’s Marc van den Biggelaar is joined by Oliver Borek, Chief Commercial Officer of Mura, and Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, to discuss the importance of decarbonization and circularity working together to help the EU meet its ambitious climate goals.
Oct 26, 2022 · 37 min
Is plastic the new coal?
In this episode, Dow’s Carolina Gregorio is joined by David Carroll of Plastics Europe and David Croft of Reckitt to discuss the criticism of plastics in the mainstream media and consider the pressure this is putting on the industry. Together, they dive into last year’s COP26 climate conference, exploring the main hurdles we face in decarbonization and some of the work being done behind the scenes to help the plastics industry achieve net zero.
May 25, 2022 · 34 min
Working with Africa’s Informal Waste Sector
In this episode hear about the progressive partnerships taking place across the African continent to transform the way plastic waste is collected through new business models for sustainable development. Dow’s Africa Sustainability and Advocacy Manager, Adwoa Coleman, is joined by two trailblazing CEOs - Vivien Luk, Executive Director of non-profit organization WORK, and Cordie Aziz-Nash founder of Environment 360, who together share their expertise on the changes needed to transform the informal
May 11, 2022 · 31 min
Tackling the Plastic Waste Challenge Through Design
In this episode, Dow’s Julie Zaniewski, North America Sustainability Director for Packaging and Specialty Plastics, is joined by Jay Fitzgerald from the US Department of Energy, and Kathleen Liang from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Together, they look at the challenges of innovating, encouraging investment, and working in partnership to scale solutions that will ensure that plastics can be part of a sustainable future.
Sep 13, 2021 · 30 min
Reducing the Carbon Footprint for Plastics
In this episode of Plastics Unwrapped, special guest and sustainable development expert, Kaj Embren, joins Dow’s Howard Chase and Erika Sánchez Garrido to discuss the need to reduce CO2 emissions in the plastics industry. Together, they unpack how plastic manufacturers can make a real impact through the production process, and the ways in which Dow is working toward producing circular plastics with the lowest CO2 footprint.
Jul 2, 2021 · 22 min
Plastics and The European Green Deal
In this episode, Dow’s Director of EU Affairs, Dennis Kredler, is joined by Plastic Europe’s Director of External Affairs, David Carroll, to discuss the EU’s Green Deal and what it means for the plastics industry. Dennis and David discuss the content and ambitions of the Green Deal, the opportunities and challenges it presents for the plastic industry and what actions organisations such as Dow are taking to ensure they meet the Green Deal’s goal of circularity and climate neutrality by 2050.
Jun 6, 2021 · 21 min
African Landscapes
Tune in to Episode 5 of Plastics Unwrapped to hear an open discussion on the opportunities and challenges we face with plastic waste in Africa and an exploration into how key collaborations are shifting the dial on collecting, sorting and recycling rates to build an effective circular economy. Adwoa Coleman, Africa Sustainability & Advocacy Manager from Dow’s Plastics business, joins Arese Lucia Onaghise, Executive Secretary at The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and Keiran Smith, CE