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About the Episode:
Ever get annoyed when you order takeout and they give you the obligatory plastic wrapped napkin and plastic cutlery? If you’re like me, you politely decline, but most just take them and dispose of them directly in the waste bin.
The world is drowning in plastic waste, and current solutions to a useful alternative aren't cutting it.
PlantSwitch, a North Carolina-based startup co-founded by Dillon Baxter, uses agricultural byproducts to create a durable, plastic-like resin. With it, they aim to tackle the world of disposable cutlery. Their products are 100% compostable and decompose naturally, even without the need for commercial composting facilities.
If your response to compostable cutlery is an eye-roll because they are neither reliable nor compostable, you’re in good company with Dillon. That’s why when he takes a potential investor out to dinner, he invites them to cut into a thick steak with one of his compostable knives…they usually invest. And with those investments, PlantSwitch is opening a new facility in Sanford, North Carolina, where they can produce 50 million pounds of truly compostable bioplastic resin annually! Until now, there was really nobody providing a wide-scale alternative to single-use plastics; Tune in to hear how PlantSwitch is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the biodegradable plastics industry.
Expect to learn:
How traditional plastic recycling is broken.
How PlantSwitch uses agricultural waste to create compostable products.
The real story behind consumer recycling (it’s more sinister than you might think).
Discover how PlantSwitch is transforming the plastic industry. Listen now!
NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:
“We only really recycle, effectively one type of plastic, and there are hundreds of different types of plastic. When that plastic becomes contaminated with food waste, it becomes almost impossible for the recycler to work with it.”
“None of the solutions that were on the market really made a ton of sense. Everything was way too expensive or didn’t work well enough. Or the worst one to me was it wasn’t even truly biodegradable or compostable.”
Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!
Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina
ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.