
Can paper fix the flexibles problem?
From The Circular Economy Show Podcast by Ellen MacArthur Foundation
May 6, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 218
About this episode
The episode discusses the potential of paper to address the challenges posed by flexible plastics in packaging.
Flexible plastics are hard to collect, harder to recycle, and leaking into our oceans at scale. Could paper step in? And can it do so without creating a whole new problem? In this episode, Pippa is joined by Laura Smith, Programme Manager for Plastics and Packaging at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Jonathan Gill, Global Head of Sustainability, Plastics, at Unilever and Valerie Langer, Strategic Lead, Next Generation Solutions at Canopy. Together they discuss the six critical criteria for responsible paper-based packaging, the innovation and collaboration needed to scale solutions, and why there's no silver bullet.
People in this episode
Host: Pippa
Guests: Laura Smith, Jonathan Gill, Valerie Langer
Topics covered
- flexible plastics
- paper-based packaging
- sustainability
- recycling
- innovation
- collaboration
Keywords
- flexible plastics
- recycling
- sustainability
- paper packaging
- innovation
- collaboration
- ocean pollution
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Unilever, Canopy
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