Send us a text

Ever wondered how a passport stays secure, an EV gains range, or a phone camera keeps getting sharper without getting heavier? At the Ideagen Global Leadership Summit, we sat down with Daniel Kochik, Government Affairs Manager at Covestro LLC, to pull back the curtain on the materials that quietly make modern life possible—and what it takes to reinvent them for a lower-carbon future. From polyurethane foams in your chair to polycarbonate in your lenses, these products live within arm’s reach, yet their evolution hinges on decisions about feedstocks, energy, and policy that most of us never see.

We explore how customers now demand sustainability as a core feature—verifiable, traceable, and delivered without sacrificing performance. Daniel explains how Covestro is scaling alternative feedstocks, meeting rigorous global standards, and designing polymers that enable lighter, safer electric vehicles, more efficient data centers, and durable renewable energy infrastructure. The conversation also tackles the realities of investing in long-lived manufacturing assets: why policy certainty matters, how energy pricing shapes competitiveness, and what an “enabling environment” looks like when you balance innovation with responsible regulation.

Looking ahead, we discuss the promise of U.S. manufacturing, the role of AI in material discovery and plant reliability, and the circular economy strategies that keep value in the loop. It’s a grounded, optimistic take on leadership in times of rapid change—where performance, accountability, and smart policy intersect to unlock the next wave of clean growth.

If this conversation sparks new questions or ideas, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid, tech-forward leadership talks, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.