Redefining Plastics

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/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christinesyeager/Other Topics Covered:Bill Nye the Science Guy article - https://www.csyimpact.com/in-the-news/cheddar-videoGarbology book https://a.co/d/04nGl2nBNational Plastics Conferencehttps://nationalplasticsconference.org/Polystyrene Recycling Alliancehttps://psrecycling.org/Redefining Plasticshttps://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 Conferencehttps://nationalplasticsconference.org/Polystyrene Recycling Alliancehttps://psrecycling.org/Redefining Plasticshttps://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 Comptonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-compton-6a32aa60/Danielle Maziurhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-maziur-92719842/Redefining Plasticshttps://www.redefiningplastics.com/https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plasticshttps://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 Skabardonishttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tech-nuggets-7426792352763056128/https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnskabardonis/Redefining Plasticshttps://www.redefiningplastics.com/https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plasticshttps://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 Plasticshttps://www.redefiningplastics.com/https://www.brvind.com/redefining-plasticshttps://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