Recycled Content

Ep. 61: La nueva Ley de Economía Circular de México y el 80% de PET con Martha Ricardi

Este año entró en vigor la Ley General de Economía Circular de México, el primer marco nacional obligatorio que establece nuevas reglas sobre cómo se diseñan, producen y recuperan los productos, incluidos los plásticos. En este primer episodio de Recycled Content en español, nuestra anfitriona invitada Jazlin Lopez, Gerente de Comunicaciones Digitales y Membresía para América Latina de APR, conversa con Martha Ricardi Velázquez, Directora de Estrategia para América Latina de APR, sobre lo que esta nueva ley significa para las empresas que operan en México y qué cambios aún son necesarios para lograr que más envases sean realmente reciclables. Martha también habla sobre la sólida tasa de recolección de PET en México y por qué esto coloca al país en una buena posición para alcanzar la meta de recuperar el 80% del PET para 2030. A lo largo de la conversación, también hablan sobre cómo ha crecido el trabajo de APR en México y en toda América Latina durante el último año, incluyendo nuevas alianzas y programas que buscan fortalecer el reciclaje de plásticos y apoyar a la industria en toda la región.

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Ep. 60: Inside the 2024 U.S. Post-Consumer Plastic Recycling Study with Megan Moore

The 2024 U.S. Post-Consumer Plastic Recycling Study found that more than 5.1 billion pounds of plastic were recovered for recycling—but what's the real story behind these numbers? In this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro sits down with APR Program Director for PET Packaging Megan Moore to explore what the latest recycling data reveals about the state of the industry and the road ahead. Megan also shares insights from her decades-long career in plastic packaging and highlights the policies and market solutions needed to strengthen demand for recycled materials.

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Ep. 59: How GreenMantra Technologies is Turning Recycled Plastic into Performance

In this episode, Domenic Di Mondo, CEO of GreenMantra Technologies, sits down with Host Kara Pochiro to explore the next frontier of plastics recycling. GreenMantra’s innovation converts recycled plastics into high-performance synthetic waxes that can be used in a variety of products that last 20-50+ years. Domenic explains why no single solution can solve the plastics waste challenge and how allowing ourselves to utilize as many complimentary pathways as possible is key.

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Ep. 58: Inside APR’s USTR Testimony and the Critical State of the US PET Recycling Industry

APR President and CEO Steve Alexander joins Recycled Content to discuss APR’s testimony before the Office of the United States Trade Representative and how low-priced imports are impacting domestic recyclers. Steve and Kara explore policy solutions, PCR certification, and why global conflict is not a long-term answer for the recycling industry.

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Ep. 57: How Canada’s PROs are Driving National Alignment and Shaping the Future of Recycling

In this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro sits down with Charles David Mathieu-Poulin, Lead, Office of the CEO, Strategic Projects and Governmental Affairs at Éco Entreprises Québec and Baltej Gill, VP of Data Management and Program Delivery at Circular Materials. As winners of the 2026 APR Recycling Leadership Awards for Outstanding Leadership, they discuss how Canada’s producer responsibility organizations (PROs) are working together to develop national eco-design guidelines, that are aligned with the APR Design® Guide—helping producers navigate recyclability, reduce fragmentation, and improve recycling outcomes across the country.

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Ep. 56: Inside Pizza Hut’s Award-Winning Recyclable Wing Bowl w/ Kat Smith

On this episode of Recycled Content, host Kara Pochiro sits down with Kat Smith, Packaging Associate Manager at Pizza Hut, to discuss the company’s redesigned Wing Bowl, winner of the 2026 APR Recycling Leadership Award for Package Design Innovation. The two dive into Smith’s work leading packaging initiatives at scale and how her team turned a complex recyclability challenge into a practical, system-wide solution, from removing carbon black to balancing operational needs in restaurant settings, and including 10% recycled content. Tune in to learn more about this award-winning innovation developed in partnership with Anchor Packaging and what it signals for the future of foodservice packaging.

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Ep. 55: Policy, Demand, and Closed-Loop Recycling w/ Crystal Howe

Crystal Howe, Vice President of Sustainability and Government Relations at Ice River Sustainable Solutions, joins host Kara Pochiro to discuss her work advancing closed-loop plastics recycling at Blue Mountain Plastics Recycling, the recycling division of Ice River Springs and recipient of the 2026 APR Recycling Leadership Award for Processor of the Year. In this episode, she shares insights on building and operating a closed-loop system, the importance of design and material quality, and the challenges recyclers face in today’s market. Howe also highlights why stronger policy, collaboration, and increased demand for recycled content are critical to the future of plastics recycling.

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Ep. 54: Recyclable Packaging Design & Industry Collaboration w/ APR Leadership Winner Dr. Ed Socci

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.

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Ep. 53: Unlocking Textile Recovery in a Data-Driven System w/ Jennifer Wang, & Traci Kinden

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/.

Ep. 52: Inside the Conversations Shaping Plastics Recycling w/ Michael Westerfield & Nicole Janssen

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.

Ep. 51: Plastic Recycling in Transition: Challenges, Opportunities, and What's Next w/ Steve Alexander, President & CEO of APR

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.

Ep. 50: Inside the APR Recycling Demand Champions Program w/ Kate Eagles and Emily Tipaldo

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.

Ep. 49: Inside Colgate-Palmolive's Journey to a Recyclable Toothpaste Tube w/ Dr. Jun Wang

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!

Ep. 48: FDA Insights on Recycled Plastics for Food Packaging w/ FDA Regulatory Review Scientist Sean Fischer

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.

Ep. 47: Painting a New Future for PCR Utilization w/ Darren Scholl, Chief of Operations at KW Container

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.

Ep. 46: Transforming Post-Consumer Plastics and Textiles into Sustainable Fiber and Resin w/ Meredith Boyd of Unifi

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!

Ep. 45: Advice from an Influential Leader in Recycling w/ APR's Outstanding Leadership Award Winner Debra Wilson

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.

Ep. 44: Designing for the Future - Celebrating 30 years of the APR Design® Guide with APR's Megan Byers and Chris Max of Kraft Heinz

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!

Ep. 43: Seeing is Believing: Recycling in Action with Pia Baker

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/.

Ep. 42: Unraveling the Future of Textile Recovery with Maite Quinn, Marisa Adler, and Beth Forsberg

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!