Designing a Plastic-Free Future with Regenerative Materials

The urgency of our plastic pollution crisis requires a substantial shift in the way products are designed, manufactured, used, and recirculated. From textiles and food containers to sachets and protective shipping packaging, plastic continues to dominate across industries and persist, polluting people and the planet at every stage of its existence. As we create a more circular economy, what exciting bio-based feedstocks and technologies are emerging to help transition away from fossil-based inputs? Can nature-based solutions both be regenerative and scalable? 

Designers are key to this transition, acting as the bridge between material innovators on the supply side to real-world applications being brought to life in the market. Join us as we sit down for a conversation with two leading regenerative material suppliers and a holistic design studio that is asking: How do we do “the most good” instead of “less bad” to reorient industrial design to replenish natural systems? We’ll explore the landscape of plastic alternatives, dive into two ocean-based feedstocks, and learn how these materials are being employed for a healthier future. Our panelists include: Hoa Doan, Head of Impact and Sustainability, Notpla; Renata Massion, Senior Sustainability Manager, Cruz Foam; and Baillie Mishler, Co-Founder and Design Director, PROWL Studio. The conversation will be moderated by Aidan Maguire, Coalition Program Manager for Plastic Pollution Coalition.