Best Bio Textiles Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 26. Clothing Poverty, Pre-loved South Asian Wedding Fashion and Building Community for Change with Anoli Mehta and Sol Escobar (x Fashion District) 1:12:00

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14d ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Special episode by No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode, Mili speaks with Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best, and Anoli Mehta, founder of Circular Threads, two inspiring women tackling fashion’s social and environmental challenges from different angles. Sol’s award-winning social enterprise helps bridge the gap between clothing …

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#18 Chewy cheesy casein made with precision fermentation and the key to scaling this innovation ft. Standing Ovation 40:00

1M ago40:00

40:00

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses the challenges of sustainable protein production with Yvain Chardonnens, CEO of Standing Ovation. They explore the environmental impact of traditional dairy farming and the innovative process of producing casein through precision fermentation. The conversation highlights the f…

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Ep 25. Turning Agri Waste to Cellulose Fibre, High-Tech Naturalism and the Making of a Fashion Scientist with Amanda Parkes 1:44:38

1M ago1:44:38

1:44:38

In this episode, host Mili Tharakan, dives deep into the extraordinary mind and career of Amanda Parkes—a true pioneer at the intersection of science, fashion, and engineering. Amanda has consistently challenged boundaries and redefined what’s possible in textiles and sustainability. Amanda Parkes is a renowned fashion scientist with more than 20 y…

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#17 Making soil sexy again: food security, biodiversity & climate change depend on it ft. BetterSoil 46:38

2M ago46:38

46:38

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, host Melina Gerdts discusses the critical role of soil in climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and global food security with Azadeh Farajpur, Founder of BetterSoil. They explore the importance of soil health, the alarming rate of soil loss, and the impact of unsustainable agricultura…

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Ep 24. Medicine-Embedded Textiles: Reimagining Fabric for Pain Relief and Healing with Bradley Seese 1:04:29

3M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

In this episode, host Mili speaks with Bradley Seese,(“The Yarn Geek”), VP of Operations at Clothing 2.0 and a lifelong textile innovator and technical visionary, about the future of medicine-embedded textiles. Learn how Clothing 2.0 is infusing active ingredients like capsaicin (the spicy compound in chili peppers) into yarns to create health-prom…

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🌱 Ep 23. Stitching together South American Folklore, Migration and Community with Jennifer Droguett Espinosa (x Fashion District) 1:08:23

3M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Special episode by No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, host Mili speaks with Jennifer Droguett Espinosa, a Colombian and Chilean Sustainable Fashion Designer and Creative Director, and the founder of Anciela. Jennifer shares how her early experiences with migration, identity, and upcycling shaped her personal …

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#16 A pineapple powered revolution: rethinking leather and empowering farmers in the Philippines while doing so ft. Ananas Anam 46:04

4M ago46:04

46:04

In this episode of the Biocircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts interviews Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder of Ananas Anam, about the innovative leather-substitute Pinatex, made from pineapple waste. They discuss the environmental impact of traditional leather production, the journey of creating a sustainable alternative, and the positive social impact on…

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#15 How to cross the biotech Valley of Death and manage the bumpy road to scaling bio-based innovations ft. Bio-Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) 52:51

5M ago52:51

52:51

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses the challenges biotech startups face in scaling their innovations from lab to industrial scale with Hendrik Waegeman, Head of Operations at the Bio-Base Europe Pilot Plant. They explore the high costs associated with scaling, the importance of collaboration and expertise, and …

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🌱 Ep 22. Beyond the Bin: Fight Against Fashion Waste with Annabel Hought and Yayra Agbofah (x Fashion District) 39:53

5M ago39:53

39:53

Join host Mili Tharakan as she sits down with Annabel Hought from Round Retail and Yayra Agbofah from The Revival to discuss innovative business models for sustainable fashion, the global crisis of textile waste, and the power of cross-border collaboration. This episode dives into the realities of the secondhand clothing market, the importance of c…

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#14 Building European resilience with bio-based innovation ft. Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) 43:40

5M ago43:40

43:40

This episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast provides an in-depth exploration of the circular bioeconomy in Europe, featuring insights from Marco Rupp, Deputy Executive Director of the Bio-Based Industry Consortium (BIC). The discussion covers the evolution of the bioeconomy over the past decade, the role of innovation and funding, and the strategi…

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🌱 Ep 21: Circular Fashion in Action: Insights From Luxury to Highstreet Brands with Laetitia Forst, Patrick McDowell and Philippa Grogan (x Fashion District) 1:13:01

5M ago1:13:01

1:13:01

In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, host Mili Tharakan is joined by three pioneering voices in sustainable fashion and textiles: Dr. Laetitia Forst (University of the Arts London), Patrick McDowell (designer and founder of Patrick McDowell), and Philippa “Philly” Grogan (Sustainability Manager at Nobody’s Child). Together, they break down the jar…

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#13 Fresh fruits and veggies with an invisible, edible protection ft. Saveggy 41:14

6M ago41:14

41:14

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses the challenges of food packaging, particularly in preserving fruits and vegetables while reducing plastic waste. She interviews Arash Fayyazi, co-founder of Savage, a Swedish startup focused on innovative, plant-based packaging solutions. They explore the importance of sustain…

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#12 Is the future of chocolate cocoa free? ft. Foreverland 47:06

7M ago47:06

47:06

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, we discuss the challenges facing the cocoa industry and the innovative solutions being developed to create sustainable chocolate alternatives. The conversation features Massimo Sabatini, CEO of Foreverland, who shares insights into the cocoa supply chain, the impact of climate change, and the develop…

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🌱 Ep 20. Ecosystem Builders Transforming Fashion from the Inside Out with Amy Tsang, Georgia Parker and Helen Lax (x Fashion District) 1:12:00

7M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District Guests: Amy Tsang, Head of Europe at The Mills Fabrica Georgia Parker, Innovation Team at Fashion for Good Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District London This is the 5th in a series of episodes in collaboration with Fashion District - a dynamic hub for fashion innovation in East London, connecti…

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#11 Shaping a net-zero future for plastics and smelling like wood doing it ft. Lignin Industries 46:16

8M ago46:16

46:16

This episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast discusses the innovative use of lignin, a byproduct of wood processing, to create bioplastics. The conversation explores the environmental impact of traditional plastics, the potential of lignin in sustainable materials, and the business model of Lignin Industries, a Swedish startup focused on turning li…

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Ep 19. Now and the Future of Smart Textiles with Victoria Nickerson 49:44

8M ago49:44

49:44

In this special episode of No Ordinary Cloth, we're joined by Victoria, the Material Innovation Lead at the World Textile Information Network (WTIN). Victoria shares her insights on the rapidly evolving field of smart textiles, highlighting key innovations and challenges in this industry. We discuss how smart textiles are bridging the gap between t…

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#10 Making bio-based food packaging from tomato peels ft. Tomapaint 32:56

8M ago32:56

32:56

Tommaso Barbieri shares the story of Tomapaint, a startup focused on creating bio-resins from byproducts and waste from the Italian tomato processing industry. He discusses the innovative technology behind their product, bio-based cutin, and its applications in various industries, including food packaging and cosmetics. The conversation also explor…

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Ep 18: Investor Insights for Fashion and Textile Startups with Gabbie Swycher, Joseph Aziz and Nic Gorini (x Fashion District) 1:06:44

9M ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode, host Mili Tharakan partners with Fashion District London to bring an insightful discussion on securing investment in the textile and fashion industries. Featuring three seasoned venture capitalists—Gabbie Swycher (Redrice Ventures), Joseph Aziz (True Global), and Nic Gorini (Spi…

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#9 Perfume made from recycled textiles, Fast Fashion and the EPR ft. Re-Fresh Global 47:37

9M ago47:37

47:37

In this episode of the BioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts interviews Viktoria Kanar, CEO of Refresh Global, a startup focused on innovative textile recycling. They discuss the challenges of textile waste management, the impact of fast fashion, and the upcoming EU Waste Framework Directive. Viktoria shares the founding story of Refresh Global, …

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#8 Recycling wild plastic and why scaling the circular economy is also a social mission ft. WILDPLASTIC 44:34

11M ago44:34

44:34

In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses the pressing issue of plastic waste and recycling with Christian Sigmund, CEO of WildPlastic. They explore the current state of plastic recycling, the system innovation approach WildPlastic is taking to collect and repurpose plastic waste found in the environment around the wo…

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#7 How AI can secure biomass supply and power bioCircular business models ft. VCG.ai 45:25

12M ago45:25

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In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses waste valorization and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing these processes with John Goriup, CEO of VCG.AI. They explore how AI can optimize waste management, predict waste flows, and create sustainable business models. The conversation delves into the challenges …

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Ep 17. Scaling an E-textiles Startup and Soft Electronics for the Auto Industry with Madison Maxey 1:02:22

12M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Join us on this episode of No Ordinary Cloth as we welcome Madison Maxey, the visionary founder and CEO of Loomia, a pioneering company in e-textiles. Host Mili Tharakan sits down with Maddy to explore her incredible journey from fashion design at Parsons to creating cutting-edge, soft and flexible electronics that are now making way into the autom…

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Ep 16. A Catalyst Shaping the Future of Sustainable and Ethical Fabric with Nina Marenzi and Amanda Johnston 1:20:15

1y ago1:20:15

1:20:15

In this episode of No Ordinary Cloth, I sit down with Nina and Amanda, the brilliant minds behind the Future Fabrics Expo, to dive deep into how they’re revolutionising the textile and fashion industries through an expo that drives sustainability and innovation. The Future Fabrics Expo has become a key platform in the industry, showcasing thousands…

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#6 Reducing our dependency on soy imports with Finnish fungi and measuring sustainability impact ft. Enifer 45:25

1y ago45:25

45:25

In this episode, the bioCircular Loop podcast discusses fungi-based alternative proteins and the use of innovative raw material sources to soy. The guest, Simo Ellilä, CEO and co-founder of Enifer, a biotech startup in Finland, shares insights on their process of fermenting side streams to produce sustainable protein ingredients. The conversation c…

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🌱 Ep 15. Brewing Beer for Bio-Leather with Brett Cotten (x Fashion District) 54:48

1y ago54:48

54:48

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode of the 'No Ordinary Cloth Podcast', we have Brett Cotten, co-founder of Arda Biomaterials, in discussion about their innovative leather alternative, New Grain made from the spent grain waste from breweries. Brett shares the establishment journey of Arda, from its founding in 2022…

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🌱 Ep 14. Farm to Fibre: Spinning Yarn from Potatoes (x Fashion District) 1:04:38

1y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District In this episode of the No Ordinary Cloth podcast, we chat with David Prior Hope (CTO) and Idan Gal-Shohet (CEO), founders of Fibe, a pioneering company converting potato harvest waste into sustainable cotton-like textile fibres. Fibe was born out of a final year Masters project at Imperial Colle…

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Ep 13. 3D Weaving Yarns into Garments and Zero Inventory Circular Fashion with Beth Esponnette 1:17:32

1+ y ago1:17:32

1:17:32

In this episode of the No Ordinary Cloth podcast, Beth Esponnette, the co-founder of Unspun, shares her groundbreaking innovation in 3D weaving technology that creates garments in a single, seamless piece, revolutionising fashion manufacturing and disrupting the current supply chain. Beth discusses her journey from an assistant professor to a pione…

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#5 Turning CO2 into plastics with algae and why you need partnerships to drive change ft. Photanol & Renolit Healthcare 54:32

1+ y ago54:32

54:32

Episode #5 explores the chemicals and plastics value chains and a technology that uses CO2 as a renewable resource for circular chemicals production. A key discussion topic is the importance of partnerships in driving circular transformations and the need for collaboration across value chains. The conversation delves into the technology developed b…

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#4 Bioengineering enzymes to revolutionize polyester recycling ft. Carbios 51:43

1+ y ago51:43

51:43

Carbios is a French biotech company that has developed enzymatic processes to recycle plastic, particularly PET. They have engineered enzymes specifically for PET and other types of plastic, allowing them to break down the polymers into monomers that can be used to produce new high-quality plastics. They have built a bio-recycling plant in France t…

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🌱 Ep 12. Strategies and Ecosystems for Fashion / Textile Startup Success with Brooke Roberts-Islam, Helene Steiner, Jim Ajioka (x Fashion District) 1:06:16

1+ y ago1:06:16

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Special episode: No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District This is the first in a series of 6 episodes in collaboration with Fashion District, who are creating a hub for fashion innovation in east London. They connect fashion, technology, business and education to provide an ecosystem of support for fashion and textile startups that includes innovation …

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#3 How potato peels can combat supply volatilities of oleochemicals ft. ChainCraft 34:45

1+ y ago34:45

34:45

Chaincraft is a Dutch startup that manufactures fatty acids from local food waste, specifically pre-consumer plant-based organic residues. They use a two-step fermentation process to convert food waste into medium chain fatty acids, which is more sustainable with a lower carbon footprint than traditional palm oil-based fatty acids. The company curr…

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Ep 11. Dreaming of Weaving Clouds and Inventing the Digital Jacquard Handloom with Vibeke Vestby 1:04:38

1+ y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

In this episode of the No Ordinary Cloth Podcast, we speak with Vibeke Vestby, the inventor of the first-ever digital jacquard handloom. She share about her passion for weaving as a child, her impatience with traditional looms and a trip to Italy that was pivotal in reimagining the 200 year old jacquard loom. Vibeke recounts her early inspiration, …

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#2 Are fish farms the new phosphate mines? ft. Ragn-Sells 40:22

1+ y ago40:22

40:22

Episode #2 explores the importance of nutrient recovery, specifically the recovery of phosphorus, from wastewater and waste sludge. The depletion of phosphorus reserves and the overuse of fertilizers have led to environmental pollution like eutrophication and biodiversity loss. Rag'n'Sells, a recycling company, has diversified to become a future ma…

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#1 Circular Bioeconomy 101 ft. European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) 1:02:13

1+ y ago1:02:13

1:02:13

The first episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast introduces the concept of circular bioeconomy and its importance in addressing global challenges. The circular bioeconomy involves shifting towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy, where externalities like pollution become the responsibility of companies. It aims to create value fr…

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Introduction to bioCircular Loop 5:50

1+ y ago5:50

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The Biocircular Loop podcast aims to educate and inform listeners about the circular bioeconomy in Europe. It highlights the innovations and businesses driving the growth of a circular economy powered by renewable biomass and recycled materials. The podcast explores the goal of moving away from linear systems and towards a circular system that cons…

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Ep 10. Disobedient Fabrics: A Journey in Smart Textiles with Linda Worbin (Part 2) 44:12

1+ y ago44:12

44:12

Welcome to the No Ordinary Cloth podcast, where we stitch together a tapestry of textile innovations one episode at a time. Today, we're joined by Linda Worbin, a pioneer in Smart Textiles. Join us as we explore the past, present, and future of this dynamic industry. Linda Worbin, a Material and Innovation Developer based in Sweden, brings a wealth…

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Ep 9. Disobedient Fabrics: A Journey in Smart Textiles with Linda Worbin (Part 1) 42:46

1+ y ago42:46

42:46

Welcome to the No Ordinary Cloth podcast, where we stitch together a tapestry of textile innovations one episode at a time. Today, we're joined by Linda Worbin, a pioneer in Smart Textiles. Join us as we explore the past, present, and future of this dynamic industry. Linda Worbin, a Material and Innovation Developer based in Sweden, brings a wealth…

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Ep8. Energy Harvesting Nanotech Fibres for Wearables and Women in Science with Sohini Kar-Narayan 40:04

1+ y ago40:04

40:04

🎉 In this episode as we celebrate Women’s Day in March 2024, we have a very special guest - Prof. Sohini Kar-Narayan, a leading material scientist and nanotechnology expert from the University of Cambridge, sharing with us about her passion for science and her work with nano materials for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing technology, and i…

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Ep.7 ⭐️ Fashion District Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge 2024 15:16

1+ y ago15:16

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Welcome to this special mini episode of the No Ordinary Cloth podcast, where we explore the fascinating world of textiles and fashion and the innovative minds shaping its future. Today, we're spotlighting the Manufacturing Futures 2024 - Innovation Challenge, a pivotal event for UK-based startups and SMEs in the fashion industry. There is some exci…

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Ep 6. AI for Zero Waste Fabric, Sustainability and Traceability in Textile Factories with Gilberto Loureiro 1:10:35

1+ y ago1:10:35

1:10:35

On this episode of the 'No Ordinary Cloth' podcast, we welcome Gilberto Loureiro, the co-founder and CEO of Smartex, an innovative startup leveraging AI and machine learning to transform the textile industry and modernise it's factories. Gilberto draws upon his life experiences, growing up in a family where everyone worked in the textile business a…

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Ep 5. Indigo-Dyed Fabric Migration and Thinking Through Making with Mika Satomi 1:04:41

2y ago1:04:41

1:04:41

In this episode of The No Ordinary Cloth Podcast, we hear from Mika Satomi - an exceptional artist and maker whose artistic approach transcends mediums. She skilfully blends traditional and modern, digital and manual techniques and materials to convey powerful narratives. She is as proficient in weaving and crocheting as she is in programming and e…

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Ep 4. Unboxing Science to Make Future Fabrics with Anastasia Pistofidou 49:38

2y ago49:38

49:38

Whether you are a textile designer, biologist, engineer, architect, fashion designer, material scientist or a curious maker - we all need to come together to innovate and solve challenges the world is facing today. On this episode our guest speaker Anastasia Pistofidou has done just that - she has created an ecosystem that brings together diverse e…

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Ep 3: Knitting Mathematics and Musical Textiles with Sophie Skach 1:01:10

2y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Whether you love or hate mathematics, you are going to enjoy listening to this episode. In this interview, Sophie Skach, a fashion designer and researcher, discusses her passion for interweaving the world of textiles with mathematics and technology, and her unique approach to creating catwalk collections and PhD research projects. She shares her jo…

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Ep 2: From Garden waste to Leather with Daniela Rondinone 42:36

2y ago42:36

42:36

Who doesn’t love a beautiful leather jacket or bag. Sadly, the leather industry’s high water and chemical waste from the tanning process is extremely polluting. And faux leather is made from polyurethane and plastics. So can we ever use leather products without feeling guilty? Join me as I find out from Daniela Rondinone, the Business and Operation…

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Ep 1: Light and Lace with Sara Robertson 36:26

2y ago36:26

36:26

Sara Robertson is a smart textile maker and researcher who has been exploring different ways to translate concepts of change and movement in nature through her beautiful textile creation over the last 20 years. Join me as I speak with Sara about her journey from a young artist to a leading smart textiles researcher. Learn about how she is making la…

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Trailer 6:07

2y ago6:07

6:07

The future of Textile awaits and we are stitching it together one episode at a time.... Join me in this podcast series to learn and be inspired by all the incredible textiles that is radically changing the very landscape of fabrics as we know it. Whether you are an expert in the field or just curious about textiles and fashion, this podcast will ca…

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Recovering phosphorous from the EU’s wastewater: capturing value from waste 22:47

2+ y ago22:47

22:47

Phosphorus is a critical nutrient used as agricultural fertilizer. Through human digestion, it is returned to the water cycle through wastewater. In the first episode of our podcast series, Chemistry with a purpose, we speak to Matthias Staub, Development Director of Water at Veolia, a leader in municipal wastewater treatment. The company is curren…

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Turning captured carbon into essential chemical building blocks 19:10

2+ y ago19:10

19:10

In this episode, we talk to Michael Carus one of Europe's leading experts in the area of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). Energy-intensive industries are facing increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Especially the chemical industry needs to be inventive in how to replace fossil carbon feedstock, since decarbonization is not an option…

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Textile recycling: an opportunity for innovative chemistry 17:46

2+ y ago17:46

17:46

Today’s fashion industry is faced with a great challenge – textile waste. Fast fashion and accelerated trend cycles have led to mounting clothing waste and few solutions to solve it at scale. Industry innovators like the Finnish clothing brand Pure Waste are eager to help solve this problem by offering clothing made from recycled fibers. A new type…

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Bio-based innovation: making circular polymers from sugar 17:08

2+ y ago17:08

17:08

Christian Lenges is an innovation expert at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), one of Kemira’s collaboration partners in the quest to develop fully bio-based polymers that outperform traditional fossil-based derived products. In this episode of Chemistry with a purpose we catch up with Christian to learn more about the challenges and opportu…