Plastic: circular economy, zero waste and the global plastic crisis

Is plastic pollution a design flaw we can actually fix? 

In this episode, David Karsten and Celeste Fourie are joined by Dr Atiq Zaman, Associate Professor at Curtin University and UN advisor, to discuss why recycling alone won't solve the plastic crisis – and what a genuinely circular system could look like.

Why only 14% of Australia's plastic gets recycled [02:35] The REDcycle collapse and the missing market for recycled plastic [04:00] The reality of "green" alternatives like biodegradable plastic [05:44] Zero-trace and non-pollutant plastic: a new framework [08:15] What Australia can learn from informal recycling systems in the Global South [15:49] Waste as a design flaw: what a circular plastic system looks like [26:15] The emerging threat of atmospheric microplastics [31:42] Learn more Curtin staff profile LinkedIn Join Curtin University

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Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten and Celeste Fourie

Content creator: Caitlin Crowley

Producer: Emilia Jolakoska

Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the First Peoples of this place we call Australia, and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.