Episodes

Ep 27B: Interview with Trent Romer – Author & Sustainability Expert

In the face of plastic bag and single use plastic bans, how do you ensure your family business of plastic bag manufacturing adapts and remains competitive? Trent Romer provides valuable insight into this as well as his whole journey into sustainability. Trent is the former co-owner of a plastic bag converting company and he takes…

Ep 27A: Plastic Bags – Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again

Plastic bags are everywhere – whether we want them to be or not. And while many states and countries are trying to enforce plastic bag & single use plastic bans, there’s no denying that these materials are all over the place. But where do plastic bags come from? How are they made? Why is there…

Ep 26A: Biodegradable Materials – Break it down

Materials claiming biodegradability are everywhere these days, but what does that actually mean? ANd how are biodegradable materials different from compostable materials? In this episode, we break down the differences between degradable, biodegradable, and compostable materials. We go into the science behind how materials break down and what they turn into when they decompose. It’s…

Ep 25B: Interview with Biju Nair of Assurant

Electronics are everywhere in our lives. There is no avoiding or escaping them! But everywhere also means the landfills and, as we discussed on our previous episode, e-waste in the landfills can be a serious problem. Assurant is a company working on keeping our e-waste, especially cell phones, out of the landfills using trade-in and…

Ep 25A: Electronics – Let’s switch it up

Every time you upgrade your phone, what happens to the old one? Do you put it in a drawer and forget about it? Do you trade it in? Do you take it to an electronic recycling facility? There are millions of old electronic devices that people stop using every year and we rarely think of…

Ep 24B: Interview with Travis Parman of AppHarvest

Millions of tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers can now be grown sustainability and locally in Appalachia thanks to Controlled Environment Agriculture. Learn more as we talk with Travis Parman, from AppHarvest, as he tells us about this reliable, secure, and sustainable agriculture technique from the Netherlands that has the potential to be a new wave of…

Ep 24A: Controlled Environment Agriculture – Growin’ with the Flowin’

As the world population grows, so does the demand for food. And with our changing climate, it has become more and more essential to find alternatives to traditional farming methods. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a way to complement open air farming to increase food production and reduce food deserts. In this episode, we discuss…

Ep 23A: Circular Economy – What goes around comes around…

Circular economy has become a buzzword in recent times but what is it? Is it really an important concept in the world of sustainability or are we following a pointless trend? And who is actually part of the circular economy? Do we, as consumers, have any part to play? We discuss all this and more…

Ep 22B: Interview with Helias Andriessen from Phos Cycle

Phosphorus is an essential building block of plants and animals and is literally in our DNA (in the phosphate backbone of the DNA double helix). It is found as a mineral in the earth but can also be extracted and recycled from an unexpected waste stream: Expired Fire Extinguishers! Helias Andriessen, CEO and co-founder of…

Ep 22A: Phosphorous – makes us prosperous

Why is phosphorus such a critical and hard element to sustain? Phosphorous is essential for life on the planet – it keeps plants, animals, and even humans alive and is vital for our growth and development. In order to make sure we don’t run out of this material, we need to know where phosphorous comes…

Ep 21B: Interview with Lew Puckett from the Atlanta Watershed

Atlanta needs millions of gallons of drinkable water every day. We interview Lew Puckett, plant manager of the Hemphill water treatment facility and City of Atlanta watershed. He talks to us about the history of water treatment in the area, what goes into ensuring residents get clean water, the standards that need to be met,…

Ep 21A: Water – I barely knew her

Where does the water that appears out of your taps at home really come from and where does it go? It’s a long process to get water from rivers or lakes into your houses – there are many steps involved with lots of different workers, testing, and laws. It is even harder to make sure…

Bonus: One small step for you, one giant step for sustainability

To ring in the New Year we asked people to share sustainable practices that they do and what they hope others would do too! From air drying your clothes, to growing your own loofahs, and working to create sustainable products, our listeners have a lot of ideas. With a few small changes, we can make…

Ep 20B: Interview with Myra Foster of Sealed Air

Over the past several years and decades, plastic has become more complicated with many layered and blended materials becoming more popular, especially in the packaging world. And with these developments, plastic recycling has also needed to evolve beyond mechanical shredding. In this episode, we interview Myra Foster, the executive director of Sustainability Strategy and Advocacy…

Ep 19: Interview with Emma Brodzik from Georgia Tech

Recyclables have value. We speak with Emma Brodzik, Zero Waste Project Manager at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) about recycling on campus and in Georgia, and the economics that make recycling possible. We also discuss the impact of sorting recyclables and policies (or lack thereof) in Georgia. Emma tells us about the new…

Ep 18B: Interview with Stephanie Downs from Material Innovation Initiative

Animals are inefficient machines but plant-based materials are much more sustainable. We interview Stephanie Downs, co-founder of Material Innovation Initiative and founder of Good Dot India. She turned her lifelong passion for animal welfare into several companies including those that find vegan alternatives to meat and animal-based materials. She tells us about how the industry…

Ep 18A: Alternative Proteins – We Meat Again

As the world population grows, the global demand for food, especially meat, rises significantly. The environmental impact of producing meat is very high with greenhouse gas emissions and even water and land usage. Alternative proteins can provide a way to reduce this impact while providing people with healthier yet tasty foods. Listen to find out…

Ep 16: Interview with Laura Hennemann from Strategic Materials on Glass Recycling

Don’t trash glass! We interview Laura Hennemann, VP, Marketing & Communications of Strategic Materials Inc., a company that has been recycling glass for the last 125 years. Laura tells us about the myths, challenges, and process of glass recycling. We also learn about why glass for recycling is in high demand and what you can…

Ep 14B: Interview with Kris Kaar from Carton Council

What is the hardest part about recycling cartons? According to Kris Kaar, a senior consultant at Resource Recycling Systems and Carton Council, it’s getting people to actually recycle. In this episode, we learn how carton recycling technology developed over the last decade, including with AI, to make recycling it easier into stuff like ceiling tiles.…

Ep 14A: Cartons – Think outside the box and into the recycling bin

What are cartons even made of? They definitely look like paper but they feel waxy? Cartons are actually composites of paper, plastic and metal! And they are 100% recyclable. In this episode we talk about the cool materials that allow cartons to be able to store your favorite drinks in the fridge and cabinet. We…

Ep 13B: Interview with Rebecca Barnard from Sappi North America

Sustainable forestry management is critical for the prosperity of forests, people and the planet. Making sure that wood sources are sustainably harvested is an essential part of the process for pulp and paper companies to make diverse tree-based products. In this episode we interview Rebecca Barnard, Forestry Certification Manager for Sappi North America, Inc. She…

Ep 13A: Sustainable Forestry – Leaves Us Wanting More

Trees and forests may be our most valuable natural resources for reducing greenhouse gases, preserving ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and providing for people. In this episode we talk about what sustainable forestry is and why managing forests is important for the environment, people, and the economy. We also talk about how harvesting and using trees through…

Recycling stories from around the world

Take a trip with us around the world! In this 2-part series of bonus episodes, we ask people from all over the world to share their experiences with recycling and the culture of getting rid of trash in their countries. Part 1: Developed nations In part 1 we focus on developed countries such as France,…

Ep 12B: Composting at Home – Interview with Corinne Coe of Terra Nova Compost

Thinking about starting composting at home? We learned from composting expert, co-founder and director of Terra Nova Compost, Corrine Coe, that it doesn’t take a whole lot to get started. In this episode we talk about backyard thermophilic composting, what it needs, and how you can get started. And it’s pretty cool! Learn why composting…

Ep 11: Teflon – What a non-sticky situation

Teflon is a fluoropolymer that is super useful for non-stick and heat-resistance applications. Fluoropolymers have unique properties that we can’t get from any other material. However, the chemicals used to produce them are known to be bad for human health. We talk about how teflon is made, how it can be recycled, and some ideas…

Episode 10B: Interview with Eric Gottlieb from Lignolix

This is the second part to our discussion on lignin – we interviewed Eric Gottlieb, the CEO and co-founder of Lignolix, a company that works on breaking down lignin biomass and using it to make specialty materials. Eric talks about the path that led academic lignin research to become a start-up company and why it…

Ep 10A: Lignin – Trees are good for more than just paper

Lignin, the material that’s left over after making paper from trees can be used as an alternative to petroleum-based products and in a lot of different ways. This lignin is a naturally occurring biopolymer that can be broken down to make vanilla flavoring, biofuels, carbon fibers, and more! Check out this episode to learn more…

Ep 9B: Interview with Valerie Espinoza on Nutrition and Sustainability

Eating healthy and sustainably go hand-in-hand. In the second part of our discussion on sustainable food, we interview a clinical dietitian, Valerie Espinoza, on nutrition and the environment. She gives us perspective on how harming the environment can mean harming our bodies. Listen in to hear her recommendations on how you can do better for…

Episode 9: You – are what you eat

You are what you eat. The foods we eat are materials that our bodies use for fuel to help us function and stay healthy. In this episode we discuss the sustainability of different food items from a 4 course meal. We talk about crops with GMOs, beef, fish, rice, and sugar. Learn about what you…

Ep 8AAA – Battery recycling interview with Teija Mortvedt

This is a special minisode where we interview Teija Mortvedt. Teija has been working on materials recycling for many years and even has a masters in sustainable engineering. She is now an expert in the field of battery recycling and we got a chance to pick her brain about lithium ion batteries, electric vehicles, and…

Ep 8AA: Batteries – Get Charged Up!

We all know what powers that pink bunny that keeps going and going! It’s batteries! But how much do you actually know about batteries? And what about getting rid of batteries? In this episode of Talk Green to Me, we talk about the different types of batteries, how they work, and how they can be…

Ep 7: Microplastics – Macro Problems

Even the little guy or gal can have a big impact! That’s why microplastics, while small, are kind of a big deal for plastic pollution in the oceans. We discuss what microplastics are, why they are bad for humans and biodiversity of our oceans, how to test for them, and what people can do to…

Ep 6: Composites – Get it together!

Even plastics and other materials need a little help from their friends! Most products are made by mixing or blending different plastics or materials together, especially to get really cool properties. This also makes them really hard to recycle. In this episode we talk about composite materials and hear from Ernie Simpson, the Global Vice…

Ep 4: Textiles – A Serious Thread

So you’ve got a bag of clothes you don’t want. Some of these clothes are old and worn, while others are almost new. What happens with the clothes you donate? Can you do anything with the items that seem unusable? On this episode, we talk about the recyclability and sustainability of textiles made of various…

Ep 3: Glass – The Choice is Clear

Glass is all over the place – in windows, storage containers, screens, lenses, and more. But how much do you really know about this highly abundant material? In Episode 3, we talk all things glass, from where it comes from to how it is categorized and how it can be recycled. Stick around for an…

Ep 2: Paper – Not a Tear-able Idea

Q: What do cats and paper have in common? A: They both have nine lives!Did you know that paper can be recycled over and over on an average nine times before the fibers become too weak to make useable paper? Listen to Episode 2 of Talk Green to Me to learn more about paper recycling…

Ep 1: Plastics – 1/7 Would Recommend

Have you ever wondered what the numbers on the bottom of plastic recyclables mean? Wonder no more. In this episode, we discuss everything from categorization to processing of plastic materials and their long-term effects on the planet. Stick around to hear a special interview with Hannah where she talks about some practical ways she has…