Return-It Podcast

Welcome to Closing the Loop! A conversation about recycling, sustainability, and the circular economy, brought to you by Return-It, an industry-owned, not-for-profit product stewardship agency with beverage container management as its core business. Join Return-It President & CEO Allen Langdon as he speaks to industry leaders around the globe to bring awareness to environmental challenges and innovations. The podcast features thought-provoking conversations on some of the most important topics of our time. Learn more about what’s working, isn’t working and what we can do better together. The conversations cover initiatives large and small, with exciting ideas for us to consider both as individuals and organizations committed to sustainable solutions.

Closing The Loop can be found on iTunes or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Episode #24: Advancing sustainability in the fashion industry

On Closing the Loop’s 24^th episode, Allen Langdon talks with Kelly Drennan, Executive Director of Fashion Takes Action, about their commitment to advancing sustainability within the fashion industry. In this episode, Allen speaks to Kelly about their recent Textile Recycling Feasibility report, what it will take to divert and close the loop on textile waste, and what we all can do to make a difference.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
 
• Kelly Drennan, Executive Director, Fashion Takes Action

About Fashion Takes Action

• Fashion Takes Action is Canada’s first non-profit fashion industry organization focused on sustainability. They work with industry and consumers, with the goal to shift behaviour towards more positive social and environmental impacts. In 2021 Fashion Takes Action published Canada’s Textile Recycling Feasibility Report, which was commissioned by Environment & Climate Change Canada.

Episode #23:Once a Chopstick now a statement: The Circularity of Chopsticks

On Closing the Loop’s 23^rd episode, Allen Langdon talks with Felix Böck, the CEO and Founder of ChopValue about their unique and innovative approach to reengineering discarded chopsticks to new products. They discuss Return-It's partnership with ChopValue, their impact to date, challenges they’ve faced along the way and ChopValue’s future plans.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Felix Böck, CEO and Founder, ChopValue

About ChopValue

• ChopValue is the world’s first circular economy franchise that designs and manufactures products using an innovative, high-performance material made entirely from recycled chopsticks. Since its founding in 2016, ChopValue’s urban harvesting approach has saved over 38 million chopsticks from the landfill, turning them into beautiful and sustainable products for the home and office. Learn more about ChopValue at chopvalue.com/pages/our-story

Episode #22: Roadmap to 2025:  A shared action plan to build a circular economy for plastics packaging

How is the Canada Plastics Pact tackling the challenges of plastic waste? Since its launch in January 2021, George Roter from the Canada Plastics Pact joins Allen to discuss the progress of the group and its partner organizations. George outlines the recently launched Roadmap to 2025, its challenges, and what’s next.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• George Roter
  Managing Director
  Canada Plastics Pact

About the Canada Plastics Pact

• The Canada Plastics Pact is focused on creating a circular economy in Canada in which plastic waste is kept in the economy and out of the environment. “Roadmap to 2025: A shared action plan to build a circular economy for plastics packaging” is Canada’s first industry-wide action plan to address plastic waste and was developed through the collaboration and engagement of industry leaders. Brands, retailers, recyclers, resin producers, nonprofits, associations, and governments are united in their efforts towards a circular economy for plastic packaging and a zero-waste future by setting out a plan to drive tangible change by 2025. The Roadmap outlines the steps necessary to achieve this vision and can be found here. Learn more about the Canada Plastics Pact at plasticspact.ca

Episode #21: How can technology help achieve sustainability and solve our waste challenge?

How can technology help achieve sustainability and solve our waste challenge? On Closing the Loop’s 21st episode, Allen talks with Linda Pouliot, CEO and founder of Dishcraft, about their unique approach to sustainability, reusables, robotics and AI technology for dish washing. They discuss the impact of Dishcraft’s products and services, addressing labour challenges, and working to eliminate single-use food ware.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Linda Pouliot
  CEO and Founder
  Dishcraft

Additional Resources

• Dishcraft focuses on simplifying dining operations with the daily delivery of reusable wares. Using robotics and process innovation, Dishcraft helps reduce waste and improve efficiency. Visit dishcraft.com for more information.

Episode #20: Diversity in Sustainability and how the pandemic has enabled a purpose-driven economy

How has the pandemic affected sustainability? Diversity and sustainability experts Heather Mak and Coro Strandberg return to Closing the Loop to chat with Allen about diversity in sustainability and how the pandemic has enabled a purpose-driven economy. They discuss what a purpose-driven economy is, how the pandemic has enabled it, and equity, diversity, and inclusion in sustainability.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Coro Strandberg
  President
  Strandberg Consulting
• Heather Mak,
  Principal Advisor, Heather Mak Consulting and
  Co-Founder, 
  Diversity in Sustainability

Additional Resources

In this podcast, Heather discusses the results of The State of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Sustainability survey, results of which were shared in September 2021. More information can be found at www.diversityinsustainability.com. Coro speaks to a number of resources and reports (noted below) useful to accelerate sustainable business models, sustainable industry associations, the circular economy and social purpose in business.

• Resource for business and industry associations to help their members address sustainability:  The Sustainable and Just Association
• Resource to understand emerging trends in sustainable business models:  The Future of Business in Society
• The Propelling Purpose Summit on November 17 & 18, 2021. Register for the first-ever virtual national gathering of social purpose thought leaders, subject-matter experts, businesses, champions, practitioners and interested allies to learn about social purpose in business and map the road to the Purpose Economy in Canada. Here is a 15% discount code: SP-21.
• The National Zero Waste Council’s Circular Economy Business Toolkit

Episode #19: Electronics Recycling in BC and what you need to know

How does the electronics recycling process work in BC? Craig Wisehart, Executive Director of the Electronic Product Recycling Association of BC joins Allen to answer key questions about how and why British Columbians should recycle their end-of-life electronics. They discuss making recycling accessible, the impact of the EPRA program, and how the global pandemic has impacted electronics recycling locally.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Craig Wisehart
  Executive Director
  EPRA

About the Electronic Product Recycling Association of BC

• Electronic Products Recycling Association is a not-for-profit extended producer responsibility association set up by the major producers and retailers of electronics to provide industry-led and regulated recycling programs for unwanted electronics. To learn more, please visit www.return-it.ca/electronics. To learn more about having your reusable electronics refurbished rather than recycled, please contact BC Technology for Learning Society at www.ReuseTechBC.ca. BC Technology for Learning Society operates the Computers for Schools program in BC and distributes over 7,000 refurbished computers and laptops to BC schools, charities, and libraries each year.

Episode #18 Plastics Recycling: APR weighs in on a potential solution

What are the potential solutions for the recycling of plastic beverage containers? In this episode of Closing the Loop, Allen speaks with Steve Alexander, President & CEO of The Association of Plastic Recyclers, an international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry. They discuss APR’s position paper on deposit collection programs for beverage containers, chemical recycling, US deposit programs and more.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Steve Alexander
  President & CEO
  APR

About the Association of Plastic Recyclers

• The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) is an international trade association representing the plastics recycling industry. APR member companies are committed to the success of plastics recycling and shaping the future of the industry. Visit plasticsrecycling.org to learn more.

Episode #17 Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable: Recycling large appliances in BC

What can British Columbians do with used, end-of-life large appliances like dishwashers, ovens, and fridges? Michael Zarbl, Executive Director at the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) joins Allen to discuss BC’s rapidly expanding large appliance recycling program. Allen and Michael chat about the importance of large appliance recycling, how the program contributes to a circular economy, and more.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Michael Zarbl
  Executive Director
  MARR

About MARR:

• The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) is a not-for-profit stewardship agency created to manage the end-of-life for major household appliances in the province of British Columbia on behalf of the major appliance producers. MARR is focused on enhancing the performance and transparency of the existing market-based system of collecting and recycling major household appliances in BC. Learn more about large appliance recycling.

Episode #16 Pacific Salmon Foundation: The importance of protecting salmon habitat to our environment and ecosystem

Protecting our oceans and waterways goes beyond recycling; this year, Return-It is partnering with the Pacific Salmon Foundation on efforts to manage the problem of microplastics in salmon habitats. Allen sits down with Mike Meneer, President & CEO, Pacific Salmon Foundation to discuss the work they are doing to protect salmon habitat and what we can all do to support efforts.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Michael Meneer
  President & CEO
  Pacific Salmon Foundation

About the Pacific Salmon Foundation:

• Founded in 1987, the Pacific Salmon Foundation is a federally incorporated non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wild Pacific salmon and their natural habitats in British Columbia and the Yukon. Operating independently from the government, The Foundation facilitates dialogue and undertakes positive initiatives in support of Pacific salmon amongst all levels of government including First Nations; as well as industry, communities, individual volunteers and all fishing interests. To learning more about the Pacific Salmon Foundation and how you can support, please visit www.psf.ca/support

Episode #15 Compostable Plastics: What you need to know

Can compostable plastics be part of the solution to plastic pollution? The City of Vancouver is one of the first to take a closer look at the feasibility of compostable plastics. This week, Allen speaks with Monica Kosmak, Senior Project Manager, Solid Waste and Strategic Services Branch, Engineering Services and Andrea McKenzie, Zero Waste Project Engineer, Solid Waste Strategic Services from the City of Vancouver about its evaluation on compostable plastics, including the myths and challenges

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Monica Kosmak
  Senior Project Manager
  City of Vancouver
• Andrea McKenzie
  Zero Waste Project Engineer
  City of Vancouver

About the City of Vancouver’s Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy:

• To learn more about the City of Vancouver’s Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy, please visit vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/single-use-items.aspx

Episode #14 Canada Plastics Pact:  Together we can have a world without plastic waste

The Canada Plastics Pact launched in January 2021 as part of a global response to address plastic pollution. Over 1,000 businesses, policymakers, associations and NGOs (including Return-It) joined the Canada’s Plastics Pact, enabling coordinated action for a New Plastics Economy. Allen speaks to David Hughes, President & CEO of The Natural Step Canada, and Usman Valiante, Senior Policy Analyst at Cardwell Grove, to discuss their involvement in the Canada Plastics Pact and how fundamental change is possible, as well as the goals and next steps for the Canadian signatories of the Pact.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• David Hughes
  President & CEO 
  Natural Step Canada
• Usman Valiante
  Senior Policy Analyst
  Cardwell Grove

About the Canada Plastics Pact:

• The Canada Plastics Pact is creating a circular economy in Canada in which plastic waste is kept in the economy and out of the environment. It is a unique multi-stakeholder, industry-led, cross-value chain collaboration platform, which aims to tackle plastic packaging waste and pollution by bringing together businesses, government, non-governmental organizations and other key actors in the local plastics value chain. Canada Plastics Pact Partners are united, working together on achieving clear, actionable targets by the year 2025. Learn more about the Canada Plastics Pact at plasticspact.ca

Episode #13 The Green Deal with London Drugs

How can a business remain successful while placing a large emphasis on sustainability? London Drugs has become known for its environmental leadership among its customers and local community. On this thirteenth edition of Closing the Loop, Allen and Clint Mahlman, President and Chief Operating Officer at London Drugs, discuss the company’s ‘What’s the Green Deal’ program, which includes education, engagement, action, and leadership.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Clint Mahlman
  President & COO
  London Drugs

About London Drugs What's the Green Deal:

• To learn more about the London Drugs What’s the Green Deal’ program, please visit greendeal.ca

Episode #12 ReSource: Closing the “How” Gap on Solving Plastic Pollution

Can businesses work to change the trajectory of global plastic waste? Erin Simon, Plastic Waste + Business Head at the World Wildlife Fund thinks so – that’s why WWF launched its ReSource Plastic initiative, which supports companies in creating meaningful action against plastic pollution. On this episode of Closing the Loop, Erin and Allen discuss the ReSource initiative, investing in sustainable production, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Erin Simon
  Head, Plastic Waste + Business
  World Wildlife Fund

About WWF's Resource Plastic Initiative:

• For more information on the WWF’s ReSource Plastic initiative, please visit www.resource-plastic.com. More information on the US Plastics Pact which brings together many different stakeholders, including businesses, government, NGO’s and researchers can be found at usplasticspact.org

Episode #11 Goodly Foods: Cooking with Potential

How can we find new potential while reducing food waste? Goodly Foods is a social enterprise in Vancouver, BC that uses surplus produce to create delicious soups for its community, while creating unique employment opportunities and supporting local food banks. On this episode of Closing the Loop, Aart Schuurman Hess, CEO of Goodly Foods and Yuri Fulmer, Chairman at Fulmer & Company join Return-It President & CEO Allen Langdon to discuss Goodly Foods’ unique approach to reframing the narrative around food waste and seeing it as a resource and the potential it has to offer

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Aart Schuurman Hess
  CEO
  Goodly Foods
• Yuri Fulmer
  Chairman
  Fulmer & Company

About Goodly Foods:

• Goodly™ branded soups are available for purchase to buying partners in both retail and grocery outlets as well as to institutions and food service providers. To find out more about Goodly Foods, including its partners and how you can support the great work they do, please visit hellogoodly.ca/about

Episode #10 Charting a Path for Sustainability

How can a brand be a catalyst for positive environmental change? In this episode of Closing the Loop, Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper, chats with Allen about Keurig Dr Pepper’s ambitious environmental goals. They discuss innovative strategies to create circular economies and the power of partnerships to support environmental commitments.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Monique Oxender
  Chief Sustainability Officer
  Keurig Dr Pepper

• Since the recording of this episode, Keurig Dr Pepper launched their 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report and new carbon targets which can be found at keurigdrpepper.com

Episode #9 Impacts and Opportunities of the Pandemic on Sustainability

In this episode of Closing the Loop, Allen re-unites with business sustainability experts Heather Mak and Coro Strandberg (who previously appeared on the podcast’s debut episode) to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity for businesses to rethink their business models. As a global pandemic changes the way we think about and interact with the world around us, the trio discusses how these shifts have also given businesses new license to focus on sustainability initiatives.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Heather Mak
  Founder/Advisor
  Heather Mak Consulting
• Coro Strandberg
  President
  Strandberg Consulting

About our Speakers:

• Coro Strandberg spoke to the vision of building a Purpose-Led Economy as society emerges from the pandemic. Three reports that shed light on this vision and the role you can play can be found at socialpurpose.ca. To keep informed of these developments, sign up to the Social Purpose Institute’s newsletter.

• Heather Mak spoke to Diversity in Sustainability (more info) and ESG. Information on the ESG investing landscape can be found at cnbc.com. An article about the outperformance of ESG funds during the pandemic can be found at Financial Times.

Episode #8 Lighter Living: Living well and fairly within our ecological means

February 13, 2020

How can we all live lighter and support our communities? Emily Pearson, Portfolio Manager, Community Investment at Vancity Credit Union, speaks with our President and CEO Allen Langdon about their Lighter Living initiative to create sustainable opportunities in our communities. They discuss the successes of Lighter Living, opportunities, how we can collectively close the loop and make a difference, and more.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO 
  Return-It
• Emily Pearson
  Portfolio Manager, Community Investment
  Vancity Credit Union

Episode #7 Turning the Tide on Marine Pollution

February 13, 2020

Wondering what is being done to combat marine pollution? For episode 7 of Closing the Loop, Allen chats with Alison Wood, Executive Director of Ocean Ambassadors Canada — an organization that works to connect the next generation with our oceans. They discuss Ocean Ambassadors Canada’s educational initiatives, what’s next for the organization, and their recently renewed partnership with Return-It.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Allison Wood
  Executive Director
  Ocean Ambassadors

Episode #6 How Recycling in the US is Changing the Policy and Politics of Recycling

January 23, 2020

Allen speaks to CEO Keefe Harrison and Dylan de Thomas, VP of Industry Collaboration at the Recycling Partnership to learn more about how Recycling in the US is Changing the Policy and Politics of Recycling. They discuss challenges, successes and ambitious commitments to create closed-loop systems.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO 
  Return-It
• Keefe Harrison
  CEO
  Recycling Partnership
• Dylan de Thomas
  VP of Industry Collaboration
  Recycling Partnership

Episode #5 The Changing Landscape for Electronics Recycling in Canada

Canada’s Electronic Products Recycling Association is the industry-led not-for-profit stewardship agency that keeps 100,000 metric tonnes of old electronics out of landfills each year. In this episode of Closing the Loop, Allen catches up with EPRA’s President and CEO, Cliff Hacking. The pair discuss opportunities in the electronics recycling landscape in Canada, how it contributes to a circular economy, and what the public can do to make a difference.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Cliff Hacking
  President & CEO
  EPRA Canada

Episode #4 The Next Generation of Textiles Collection and Recycling

The average adult throws away about 81 pounds of clothing each year. What can be done to divert textiles from the landfill and support the next generation of textiles collection and recycling? In this edition of Closing the Loop, Allen chats with two leaders in textiles recycling: Tonny Colyn, National Director of Business Development and Sustainability for The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Canada, and Karen Storry, the Senior Project Engineer, Zero Waste Implementation for Metro Vancouver. Both Karen and Tonny offer insights and explore solutions to work towards closing the textiles loop.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Tonny Colyn
  National Director of Business Development  & Sustainability
  The Salvation Army
• Karen Storry
  Senior Project Engineer
  Zero Waste Implementation, Metro Vancouver

Episode #3 Working Together to End Plastic Pollution

Who is committed – and who needs to be committed – to ending plastic pollution around the globe? Allen chats with Sander Defruyt, Lead, the New Plastics Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and David Clark, Vice President, Sustainability at Amcor Ltd. about their perspectives and how we can work together to build a circular economy and close the loop for recyclable packaging products.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Sander Defruyt
  Lead New Plastics Economy
  Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• David Clark
  VP, Sustainability
  Amcor Ltd.

Episode #2 A Conversation with Coca-Cola: An update on their World Without Waste Strategy

Learn about Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste Strategy. Coca-Cola Canada’s Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, Ron Soreanu, and Coca-Cola North America’s Vice President, Sustainability, Bruce Karas share the thinking behind their ambitious sustainable packaging goal, the importance of partnerships, and what we can collectively do to contribute to a sustainable future.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Ron Soreanu
  VP, Public Affairs & Communications
  Coca-Cola Canada
• Bruce Karas
  VP, Sustainability
  Coca-Cola North America

Episode #1 Sustainability Roundtable

Is sustainability just a trend? Heather Mak and Coro Strandberg - who have each made a career in leading sustainability in their sectors - chat with Allen about the global shift to prioritizing sustainability. They share advice for companies looking to engage in sustainability efforts, what is leading the environmental movement, what responsibilities organizations have, and more.

Speakers:

• Allen Langdon
  President & CEO
  Return-It
• Heather Mak
  Founder/Advisor
  Heather Mak Consulting
• Coro Strandberg
  President
  Strandberg Consulting