PlastChicks: Recent Episodes
Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri
PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin! A new plastics podcast hosted by Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri, talking about popular plastics topics and the people inspiring the industry! Sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Kate Davenport, Co-President of Eureka Recycling, a nonprofit zero waste organization and social enterprise recycler based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They discuss the economics and opportunities in providing recycling services, including finding sustainable markets that are interested in purchasing recycled materials, considering processes to move responsibility from the municipality to the producer, the difficulty of aggregating materials into one stream, competing with virgin plastics, the volatility of recycling materials pricing, and the challenges and costs of pulling plastic bags and flexible packaging out of the recycling stream.
Terminology Note: MRF (pronounced "murf") is a materials recovery facility, materials reclamation facility, materials recycling facility or multi re-use facility, which is a specialized plant that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers (Wikipedia).
Find out more about Eureka Recycling.
Watch the PlastChicks podcast on the SPE YouTube Channel.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals. Look for new episodes the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Nathan Rader-Edkin, Plastics Innovation and Resource Center Program Manager, Pennsylvania College of Technology, a Plastics News Rising Star for 2023, and a co-founder of a new plastics career site, PlasticsPostings.com.
They discuss his plastics industry career journey, parenting, injection molding, the importance of industry experience to an academic career, and the role of the Pennsylvania College of Technology's Plastics Innovation and Resource Center.
Find out more about the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the PlasticsPostings.com career site.
Watch the PlastChicks podcast on the SPE YouTube Channel.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals. Look for new episodes the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Dr. Sherrika Sanders, Senior Technical Engineer, Manner Polymers and member of the SPE DEI Advisory Board. They discuss her career journey, being one of the Hidden Figures of Dallas, developing small molecules to authenticate fuel and consumer goods, the use of PVC in building and construction, SPE Foundation's PlastiVan program, and the importance of STEM programs in developing the next generation of scientists.
Find out more about SPE Foundation’s PlastiVan program, designed to excite students about opportunities in science and engineering within the plastics industry.
Watch the PlastChicks podcast on the SPE YouTube channel.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals. Look for new episodes the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri with guest Dr. Katrina Knauer, Program Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and CTO of the BOTTLE (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) Consortium discuss attaining your ideal job in your plastics career; Katrina’s research into deconstructing plastics to get useful chemicals and building blocks out of the process -- pure and useful monomers -- without needing energy-intensive processes; and low-energy, tandem design of chemical and biological processes to convert highly contaminated mixed waste into high-value polymers used for a variety of biodegradable products.
Find out more about the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) and the BOTTLE™ Consortium.
Watch the podcast at the SPE YouTube site.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals and is posted the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri with guest Dr. Katrina Knauer, Program Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and CTO of the BOTTLE (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) Consortium discuss attaining your ideal job in your plastics career; Katrina’s research into deconstructing plastics to get useful chemicals and building blocks out of the process -- pure and useful monomers -- without needing energy-intensive processes; and low-energy, tandem design of chemical and biological processes to convert highly contaminated mixed waste into high-value polymers used for a variety of biodegradable products.
Find out more about the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) and the BOTTLE™ Consortium.
Watch the podcast at the SPE YouTube site.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals and is posted the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri with guest Pat Haney, Research and Development Engineer, MTD Micromolding, examine research and development in micro-medical plastics injection molding; the unique challenges of super-small molding, including differences in non-Newtonian fluid behavior, shear thinning and crystalline formation; processes for developing implant molds; designing for bioabsorbables; tooling for micromolding; finding a bridge between university research and the plastics industry; and MTD Micromolding's protyping pipeline.
Watch the podcast at the SPE YouTube site.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals and is posted the first Friday of every month.
PlastChicks Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri with guest Tim Osswald, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Co-Director of the Polymer Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, delve into plastics history, plastics developments at the University of Wisconsin, the evolution of plastics programs in universities, the sharing of ideas between industry and the educational community at ANTEC®, the benefits of participating in SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals, and plastics education trends.
Watch the podcast at the SPE YouTube site.
PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals and is posted the first Friday of every month.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Amanda Nicholson, Senior Project Engineer, The Madison Group, live at ANTEC® 2022. They discuss the importance of conducting professional moldflow analysis, establishing credibility as a young female engineer in the plastics industry, using short videos to provide pinpoint training for young engineers and different approaches to sustainability.
Watch the podcast at the SPE YouTube site.
PlastChicks is an SPE-sponsored podcast that is posted the first Friday of every month.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Amy Aussieker, Executive Director, Envision Charlotte, live at ANTEC® 2022. They discuss the circular economy, sustainability, new advances in recycling techniques developed in the Innovation Barn, and challenges in recycling plastics.
Please note the audio is somewhat rough due to issues with the live recording.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Cara Walton, Director, Harbour Results Inc. They discuss efforts to interest Millennials and Gen Z in manufacturing, using data to make manufacturing better, the importance of diversity in solving problems better and faster, developing techniques for benchmarking in rapidly changing times and challenges in sourcing in the plastics industry.
ANTEC, being held June 14-16, 2022 in Charlotte, NC, is co-located with PLASTEC(R) South. PlastChicks is sponsored by SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Elisabet Sjölund, Brand Owner Management, Neste Renewable Polymers & Chemicals. They discuss helping companies find renewable solutions to reduce the use of carbons from fossil sources by reviewing production processes, considering sustainability when designing processes, reducing waste, upcycling, exploring options for materials that are challenging to recycle, considering new approaches to recycling, and determining if waste from one process can be a core product for something else, all while keeping up with the rapidly changing renewables landscape.
Meet Neste in the Atlanta, Georgia Greenbiz Circularity Conference, May 18, 2022 at the 1:30 pm session, From Apparel to Packaging: Opportunities in Bioplastics and the Bioeconomy.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Dr. Erin Keaney, Research Scientist, Adjunct Faculty, University of Massachusetts Lowell and COO and Co-Founder of Nonspec. Nonspec is committed to providing affordable and adjustable prosthetic limb systems to all amputees. They discuss Erin's plastics research, her challenges in developing Nonspec, lessons learned when building a great team, and overcoming roadblocks as women in STEM.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Toi Clarke Jones, Vice President Sales & Business Development at iMFLUX. They discuss Toi's journey in the plastics industry, iMFLUX's role in helping businesses find better solutions for running plastic injection molding sites, diversity in the plastics industry and the role of the National Minority Supplier Development Council in diversifying the supply chain.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Evan Morton, Programs and Sustainability Coordinator and PlastiVan® Educator at the SPE Foundation. They discuss plastics usage, sustainability, plastics education, consumer behavior and STEAM.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host David White, Founder and Lead Consultant at ExtruPharm. They discuss extrusion-based manufacturing for the pharmaceutical market.
Find out more at ExtruPharm.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Jason Brownell, Director of Engineering at Polyfuze. They discuss labelling for the polyolefin family of plastics using fusion instead of in-mold labelling technologies.
Find out more at Polyfuze.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Mitch Hecht, Founder and Chairman, International Recycling Group (IRG) and Chris Dow, IRG's CEO. They discuss the challenges of recycling plastics and IRG's work in developing processes for the recycling industry to take in all plastics and rapidly sort them in an automated way for use by recyclers.
Find out more about International Recycling Group at https://www.internationalrecycling.com.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Dr. Chris DeArmitt, a plastics scientist and Founder/President of Phantom Plastics. They discuss his work providing a reference to scientific research on the environmental impact of plastics at https://plasticsparadox.com/ and in his book, The Plastics Paradox; his efforts to address plastics myths; and Phantom Plastics' service to help companies create better plastics to solve problems.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Anastasia Kraft, CEO of Xena Workwear. They discuss her journey into engineering and manufacturing, and how her interest in developing workwear that allowed her to work professionally in the office and on the manufacturing work floor led her to launch her own business creating fashionable personal protective equipment for women.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Elena Mantagaris, VP of Plastics, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. They discuss plastics as a backdrop of our modern lives, how it helps us achieve our sustainability goals, and how these roles need to be considered in establishing partnerships between government and industry in addressing the circular economy.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin – Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Hugh Karraker, executive producer of the film, All Things Bakelite: The Age of Plastic, who is also the great grandson of Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the inventor of Bakelite, and
John Maher, director of the film. They discuss the film, the life of Leo Hendrik Baekeland, Bakelite and its role in the development of modern plastics.
Find out more about the film at the All Things Bakelite site.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Adam Baker, Founder and CEO of SodaPup. They discuss pet industry innovation, design, manufacturing, marketing and merchandising.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Heather McDougall, Visionary Entrepreneur and Educator for Planet Allies and CEO of Bogobrush. They discuss eco-empowerment, global sustainability, climate anxiety and dealing with the hype and fear around plastics to shift to things that are working.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Jonathan Quinn, e-Commerce Packaging & Specialty Shrink Market Manager, NOVA Chemicals. They discuss his journey in the plastics industry, flexible packaging community outreach and post-COVID trends and implications
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Justina Sanchez, Product Safety Engineer, TÜV SÜD America, during Plastics in Electronics: The Virtual Edition. They discuss the path to an engineering career, women in engineering and product development. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host George Staniulis, Vice President, AGS Technology, during Innovations in Chemical and Mechanical Recycling: The Virtual Edition. They discuss plastics recycling and the plastics recycling marketplace. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Adam Reinitz, Offering Management Consultant, Chemours Titanium Technologies, during CAD RETEC® 2020. They discuss getting into the plastics industry and polymer applications. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Annette Lund, Vice President of Diversified Plastics, Inc., during Plastics in Medical Manufacturing: The Virtual Edition. They discuss a career in plastics manufacturing, the medical industry, education and mentoring. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host William Kanistras, Production Manager, Sonoma Pacific Distribution, during Plastics in Cannabis Packaging: The Virtual Edition. They discuss Cannabis production and regulation. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Dr. Pavani Cherukupally, Reseach Associate at Imperial College London, during Plastics in Clean Water: The Virtual Edition. They discuss her journey in polymer research and her current project in reclaiming Canadian oil industry wastewater. Watch the YouTube video.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Tony Demakis, President of Alliance Specialties and Laser Sales, during Empowered Processing: The Virtual Edition. They discuss customer and vendor relationships in the plastics industry.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Karen Paulson, President of Paulson Training Programs, Inc., during ANTEC® 2020 - The Virtual Edition. They discuss plastics industry training and programs.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Sarah Harbaugh, Sales & Marketing Director at Green Dot Bioplastics, during ANTEC® 2020 - The Virtual Edition. They discuss manufacturing with bio-based and compostable polymers.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Mark Wolverton, a Plastics Educator for PlastiVan, SPE Chicago Chapter Board Member, Plastics Pioneer and long-time veteran of the plastics industry, during ANTEC® 2020 - The Virtual Edition. They discuss the challenges of a plastics industry profession and dealing with the current pandemic.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Chad Ulven, Ph.D., Professor, North Dakota State University and CTO, c2renew, during ANTEC® 2020 - The Virtual Edition. They discuss recycling and compounding of biomasses into resin.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri host Brenda Clark, Engineering Manager at HASCO America, Inc. during ANTEC® 2020 - The Virtual Edition. They discuss Brenda's experiences in the plastics industry.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie hosts Jason Lyons, Business Manager, Arkema and SPE Vice President of Divisions, for a discussion of how he became involved in the plastics industry and how his leadership experience in SPE and other organizations enhanced his management skills at work.
On this two-part episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Mercedes and Lynzie host Jeremy Dworshak, Research Engineer at 3M and Vice President/Business & Finance at SPE, for a discussion of injection molding and the SPE connections to his career.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Mercedes discusses color and sustainability in plastics, as well as challenges in the plastics industry, with Doreen Becker, Global Sustainability Director, Ampacet Corp. and Chair, SPE Color and Appearance Division.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Mercedes and Lynzie discuss injection molding, manufacturing, and product development with Brock Allen, Founder/Thinker, Tech Tank LLC.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Mercedes and Lynzie discuss the AIM Institute of Beaumont Technologies and plastics industry training with guest John Beaumont.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Mercedes and Lynzie host their last guest, Eric R Larson, at ANTEC® 2019. The trio talk about plastics, Eric's new book for children and linguistics!
Kicking off the new, longer format for PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin, Mercedes & Lynzie are joined by Engineering Manager for Accudyn, John Kraynik. In this episode, the group discusses plastics, family-owned & run businesses and how the workplace is being shaped by those dynamics.
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Conor Carlin and Brian Landes join Lynzie and Mercedes LIVE at ANTEC®, to talk about plastics, new color pigment discoveries, sustainability and SPE's future role in a more "bluetiful" future!
Lynzie and Mercedes of PlastChicks are LIVE at ANTEC®, talking about the perception of plastics -and SPE's contribution to sustainability, the SPE community and Chicago with featured guest, SPE CEO, Patrick Farrey!
On this episode of PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin - Lynzie and Mercedes are LIVE at ANTEC® again, talking about plastic in public places, tattoos and how to connect with the SPE Foundation with special guest Eve Vitale. And as the young people are saying about hands-on plastics, "That's straight up magical, y'all!"
Introducing PlastChicks – The Voices of Resin! A new plastics podcast hosted by Lynzie Nebel and Mercedes Landazuri, talking about popular plastics topics and the people inspiring the industry! In Episode 1, Lynzie and Mercedes are LIVE at ANTEC® and cover some of the week's highlights, including the Women in Plastics Lunch with Patricia Miller of Matrix 4. They also welcome David Kusuma of Tupperware onto their "pod" to discuss sustainable travel cutlery and joint NASA projects where plastic products are helping bring fresh nutrition into space!