Sustainable Plastic through Circular Product Engineering with Katie Kolesar | EP 49

Katie from Renegade Plastics pulls back the curtain on the innovation economy making sustainable plastic? We dismantle the myth of biodegradable plastics and explore how polypropylene is revolutionizing everything from industrial tarps to ski lift seats. Learn how to stop being a “wishful recycler” and start building a sustainable future.

We explore the “Friction Hook” between science and technology—specifically why industry remains entrenched in toxic PVC and how to overcome the inertia of 60-year-old manufacturing standards. Katie deconstructs the blueprints of the future, revealing why traditional recycling rates remain abysmal and how “biodegradable” claims are often a “Level 1” promise that masks deeper environmental issues.

This isn’t just a loose conversation; it is a structural audit of the objects we use every day. From the technical requirements of hospital mattresses to the carbon footprint of metal water bottles, you will receive the actionable mental models needed to navigate the changing landscape of creativity and sustainability. Stop consuming the hype and start understanding the mechanism of the innovation economy.

Katie is a third generation engineer putting her genetic-predisposition to work creating a better way of managing finite resources. She joined Renegade Plastics 4 months after its inception. Her role has been to put sustainability at the forefront of all company decisions while making sure the polypropylene-based coated plastics fabrics meet market demands.

Check out Renegade Plastics: https://renegadeplastics.com/

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kolesar-704764b/

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72tlSDB-fU