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© 2026 Association of Plastic Recyclers
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Where is plastics recycling really headed? Recycled Content, brought to you by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), goes beyond the headlines to unpack what's driving progress in plastics recycling. Each month, we sit down with industry leaders across the value chain, including brand owners, recyclers, policymakers, and innovators, to discuss the breakthroughs, roadblocks, and market shifts reshaping sustainable packaging.
From design for recyclability to EPR laws and emerging technologies, this podcast offers real-world insights and honest conversations for anyone working to close the loop.
New episodes drop monthly. Subscribe to stay informed and stay in the loop.
Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information.
From design for recyclability to EPR laws and emerging technologies, this podcast offers real-world insights and honest conversations for anyone working to close the loop.
New episodes drop monthly. Subscribe to stay informed and stay in the loop.
Visit plasticsrecycling.org for more information.
54 Episodes
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Dr. Ed Socci, recipient of the 2026 APR Recycling Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership, joins host Kara Pochiro to reflect on more than three decades in packaging innovation and collaboration. As R&D Director for Packaging Technology Platforms at PepsiCo, Dr. Socci has played an important role in recyclable packaging design, contributing to APR’s Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability, and a wide variety of other significant achievements in the world of sustainability. In this episode, he discusses how his career in packaging began, the collaborations that helped drive key design for recyclability improvements, and why innovation, collaboration, and optimism remain essential to the future of plastics recycling.
In this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro hands hosting duties over to Marisa Adler, a leader at the intersection of textile recovery systems, data, and policy and the lead for the Textile Recovery Summit taking place alongside the Plastics Recycling Conference and Resource Recycling Conference this February. Marisa is joined by Traci Kinden of TexRoad and Jennifer Wang of Full Cycle Resources to unpack what "data" really means in textile recovery, where today's information comes from, and why gaps in end-market and operational data can create real risk for policy, investment, and system design. They also dig into the realities of collecting data in informal markets, why trust and incentives matter, and what it will take to build better measurement and accountability across the textile value chain. Many of these themes will continue at the Textile Recovery Summit, February 23–25 in San Diego. For more information, visit: https://www.textilerecoverysummit.com/.
In the first episode of 2026, Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro hands hosting duties over to Maite Quinn-Richards, President of Resource Recycling. Maite is joined by APR Board members Michael Westerfield of Dart Container Corporation and Nicole Janssen of Denton Plastics for a preview of the key issues shaping the future of plastics recycling, which will be explored at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference (PRC) this February in San Diego. Drawing on perspectives from both brand manufacturing and recycling, the conversation explores current market pressures, recycled content demand, design for recyclability, and the growing role of EPR legislation. The episode also highlights PRC being held alongside the Resource Recycling Conference and the Textile Recovery Summit this year, and why policy, market development, and technical recycling conversations must happen together as the industry heads into 2026. For more information about PRC visit plasticsrecycling.com.
APR President and CEO Steve Alexander returns to the Recycled Content podcast to dig deeper into what is really holding the American recycling system back and the ongoing fight against misinformation surrounding plastic recycling. In this episode, Steve and host Kara Pochiro unpack misleading recycling rate statistics, push back on the false claim that plastics placed in household recycling bins do not get recycled, and clarify why today's challenge is not capacity, but market demand and material supply. The two dive into how APR is working to close these gaps through policy leadership, design guidance, and market-building programs. The conversation also previews key issues that will take center stage at the Plastics Recycling Conference this February in Chula Vista, California, and looks ahead to APR's priorities as the industry heads into 2026.
This month, Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro is joined by the Association of Plastic Recyclers' (APR) Kate Eagles, Program Director of Policy & Markets, and Emily Tipaldo, Program Manager for the Market Development Committee. Together, they break down the APR Recycling Demand Champions Program, an initiative supported by The Recycling Partnership, that recognizes companies committed to the long-term use of North American post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. They also discuss how this year's recognized champions, Amcor, Charter Next Generation, Kraft Heinz, Novolex, and Triton Group, demonstrated strong commitments to purchasing or manufacturing products with recycled plastics and expanding PCR use. Kate and Emily discuss current market pressures facing the plastics recycling industry, including low-cost virgin plastic and rising imports, and explain why strong, reliable demand for PCR is essential to maintaining and scaling a circular plastics economy. Tune in to learn how the APR Recycling Demand Champions Program drives investment in high-quality PCR, keeps recyclable materials in the value chain, and helps strengthen the circular economy for plastics. This episode is sponsored by MCC Label, visit iml.mcclabel.com to learn more.
In Recycled Content's fourth episode spotlighting APR's Recycling Leadership Award winners, host Kara Pochiro sits down with Dr. Jun Wang, Director of Packing Innovation at Colgate-Palmolive, winner of the Design Innovation Award. Together, they explore how Dr. Wang led the team behind Colgate-Palmolive's innovative mono-material toothpaste tube, which earned APR Design® Recognition and helped shift an entire product category toward recyclability. The two discuss how Colgate turned a long-standing non-recyclable package into one compatible with existing recycling systems, the importance of collaboration across the value chain, and why Colgate chose to share its design publicly to accelerate industry adoption. Interested to hear about what sustainable packaging innovations are coming next for Colgate-Palmolive? Then tune in!
In this episode of Recycled Content, APR Technical Director Scott Trenor takes over hosting duties to explore the FDA's role in ensuring recycled plastics are safe for use in food packaging with guest Sean Fischer, an FDA Regulatory Review Scientist within the Division of Food Contact Substances. The two dive into the evaluation process, and critical need behind the FDA's No Objection Letters (NOL), an official statement from the FDA signaling that the agency has reviewed a recycling process and has no concerns about its ability to produce material suitable for food-contact use. The conversation also tackles common misconceptions, international alignment with Europe's EFSA, and how recyclers can better navigate regulatory pathways. Tune in to hear how recycled plastics move from curbside collection to safe, food-contact applications, and what it means for the future of circular packaging.
In the third episode of our series highlighting APR's Recycling Leadership Award winners, host Kara Pochiro is joined by Darren Scholl, the Chief of Operations at KW Container, winner of the PCR Utilization Award. The two highlight KW Container's work transforming the paint-and-coatings industry by creating fully recyclable paint cans made with recycled plastics and driving demand by consuming over 1 billion pounds of curbside-collected polypropylene in the last 14 years. With more than 30 years of experience in plastics, Darren offers a behind-the-scenes look at KW's latest innovations, the challenges of scaling recycled content, and what it takes to overcome existing hurdles to create a new design. Tune in to hear how KW Container is proving that recycled plastics don't just compete with traditional products, they can set a new standard for performance and sustainability.
In this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro is joined by Meredith Boyd, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Unifi, to discuss the innovation behind REPREVE®, which received the APR Recycling Technology Innovation Award. Together, they explore how REPREVE® has transformed textile recycling by leveraging multiple sources into different sustainable fibers. Meredith shares insights on the importance of transparency, sustainability, and market diversity in building a true circular economy, as well as why textile recycling is about longevity, rather than "downcycling." The conversation highlights how policy and mindset shifts drive change, the challenges of the recycling industry, and offers insights into what the future holds for textile recycling. Tune in!
Debra Wilson, Materials R&D Director at Amcor and recipient of the inaugural APR Recycling Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership, joins Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro to discuss Debra's 33+ years of commitment to plastic standardization activities. The two dive into Debra's influential role in aligning APR Design® Guidance with RecyClass standards, as well as her work with ASTM International and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Debra reflects on her proudest accomplishments during her tenure and the importance of collaboration and involvement across the value chain. Tune in to hear how the plastics recycling industry has evolved over the last 30 years and the continued progress that Debra, APR, and the broader industry are making for a more sustainable future.
In this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro is joined by Megan Byers, Program Director at the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and Chris Max, Research Lead in Sustainable Packaging Innovation at Kraft Heinz company. Kara, Megan, and Chris dive into the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability as APR celebrates 30 years of shaping how brands design packaging with a focus on sustainability and recycling. During the discussion, Megan walks through the evolution of the APR Design® Guide from a simple technical manual to an internationally recognized tool influencing packaging design across the globe, including the latest updates on APR's expanding ecosystem of recycling support programs. Want to get a real-world look at how Kraft Heinz is using the APR Design® Guide to meet sustainability goals and reengineering packaging for greater recyclability? Then tune in!
To kick off Recycling in Action Month, Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro is joined by Pia Baker, APR's Director of Marketing and leader of the Recycling in Action initiative. Throughout the month of May, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFS) and recyclers will offer tours for an up-close in-person look at the journey recyclables take from collection, sortation, and transformation. The two deep dive into common and harmful myths about recycling and the thought process behind launching Recycling in Action this year. Want to hear more about how you can get involved in this inaugural initiative and see what it's like to witness recycling in action for yourself? Then sign up for a tour, tune in, and check out https://plasticsrecycling.org/recycling-in-action/.
In this bonus episode of Recycled Content, guest host and leader in the recycling space, Maite Quinn, President of Re-Colab and Resource Recycling, Inc. interviews Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant at RRS, and Beth Forsberg, Senior VP & Chief Sustainability Officer at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, to highlight Resource Recycling's first-ever Textile Recovery Summit at the Plastics Recycling Conference. The conversation explores the growing importance of textile recovery, the innovative solutions driving circularity in the textile industry, and the role of synthetic fibers in textiles. They also dive into how lessons from plastics recycling can be applied to textiles and the future of recovery technologies. Tune in to hear about exciting new opportunities and initiatives for sustainability in the textile industry, and don't miss the Textile Recovery Summit from March 24th-26th!
In this second bonus episode ahead of the Plastics Recycling Conference (PRC), guest host and reporter at Resource Recycling, Inc., Antoinette Smith, interviews Bill Robberson, Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of KAMILO, Inc. Together, they dive into KAMILO's work in digital tracking and traceability within the recycling industry and how it impacts Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies. Antoinette and Bill also discuss the importance of transparency in supply chains while maintaining confidentiality, and the need for authenticity to drive efficient recycling practices. Want to hear more about how KAMILO's innovative digital tracking process is impacting the plastic recycling industry? Then tune into this conversation and check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je47im3s9t4.
As the Plastics Recycling Conference (PRC) approaches, Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro is joined by Marissa Heffernan, Associate Editor at Resource Recycling, Inc. They discuss key industry topics, focusing on how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is reshaping recycling by shifting the burden from consumers to producers. With EPR, Bottle Bills, Minimum Recycled Content and other legislation gaining momentum across the U.S., they explore its impact on policy, business, and the future of recycling. Want to hear more sneak peaks on what will be discussed during the PRC? Then tune in!
To kick off 2025, Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro is joined by President & CEO of the Association of Plastic Recyclers, Steve Alexander. The two discuss how 2025 is a pivotal year for sustainability initiatives and APR's priorities for the year ahead including pushing for policies that drive plastic recycling, emphasizing the importance of creating packaging that is designed for recyclability, and combatting misinformation. The two emphasize the economic impact of postconsumer recycled plastics as well as the pathways to stabilize markets and create a circular economy. As the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference approaches, this is an episode you won't want to miss!
To close out 2024, Greg Janson, President and CEO of Granite Peak Plastics and Triton Ties, joins Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro to discuss the everyday challenges faced by plastic recyclers and explore potential solutions for the industry. Greg highlights the importance of diverse applications for recycled materials, the critical role of long-term contracts in making recycled plastic competitive with virgin and wide-spec plastics, and the need to create strong demand for recycled materials. Kara and Greg dive into Triton Ties more sustainable alternatives to wooden rail ties as well as the company's emphasis on creating a circular economy that relies on collaboration within the industry. To hear more from a 40-year veteran in the recycling industry and what his thoughts are on how to improve and expand the recycling industry, tune in! Link to Recycled by Design with Triton Ties video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBzGLDGetZQ
Recycled Content host Kara Pochiro and Miriam Holsinger, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer at Eureka Recycling, take you behind the scenes of one of the nation's cleanest Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to explore their critical role in the recycling supply chain. Miriam shares her expertise on how recyclables are collected, sorted, and processed at MRFs, and explains the technologies used to separate different materials like plastics, aluminum, and glass so they can eventually be made into new products. They dive into some of the challenges MRFs face, common misconceptions about recycling, and the impact of policy on recycling efforts. Want to know how much of what you put in the bin actually gets recycled? Then tune in!
This month, Recycled Content host, Kara Pochiro, is joined by APR's Technical Director as a co-host of the pod, Scott Trenor. Kara and Scott welcome authors of the "Untangling the chemical complexity of plastics to improve life cycle outcomes" study, Dr. Kara Lavender Law, Research Professor of Oceanography at Sea Education Association, and Dr. Margaret Sobkowicz, Professor of Plastics Engineering at University of Massachusetts Lowell. The team explores the role of chemical additives used in plastic production and the need for better collaboration across the value chain. With insights into the benefits and uses of additives, the potential environmental impacts, and the challenges faced by manufacturers, this episode sheds light on the path toward a more sustainable and circular plastic economy. Tune into this episode as we unravel the science surrounding plastic use and recycling! Link to the Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-024-00705-x More on this topic in Plastics Recycling Update: https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2024/10/16/group-encourages-public-private-partnership-in-plastics/
On the newest episode of the Recycled Content Podcast, host Kara Pochiro focuses on creating packaging that is Circular by Design® that can be used to manufacture a clean supply of post-consumer recycled resin (PCR). Kara is joined by Gary Panknin, Sustainability Officer and Plastic Materials Procurement Manager at PakTech, a secondary packaging manufacturer based in Eugene, Oregon focused on creating a more sustainable and recyclable friendly future. Kara and Gary discuss the importance of creating packaging that is both aligned with the APR Design® Guide, ensuring it is designed to be recyclable, and manufactured with recycled plastics that come from post-consumer sources. Want to hear more about what PakTech and APR are doing to drive a circular economy for plastics? Tune in!
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