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The amount of waste in the world will not go down if consumers and society refuse to make sustainability a key priority. In today’s highly globalized and commercialized world, recycling cannot continue to fail us. The amount of waste that could be recycled, and therefore the carbon emissions that could be avoided, are too large to ignore. We know circularity is not the only solution to climate change and waste, but it is one that can be easily addressed with existing technology and would have a significant impact. If you want to drive sustainable change in your own way without sacrificing profits and long-term strategies, this is the podcast for you. Welcome to Change Cycle, the show exploring different ways to optimize the shift to the circular economy by embracing that change is cyclical. Tune in to engaging, informative, and thought-provoking conversations focusing on what it takes to drive positive environmental and social impact through revolutionary business actions. Each episode, discover ways to make the seemingly overwhelming task of driving people and business to take sustainable, regenerative or circular business actions. This information will be useful to every chief sustainability officer who pushes for major changes within their companies, businesses looking to transform their product development and packaging processes, or enterprises facing huge challenges due to implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation (EPR). Whether you need to optimize your innovation cycle, boost your recycling efforts, or influence your company's CFO to invest in circularity, this podcast offers every tool, resource, and piece of knowledge you need. With the guidance of leading sustainable experts and thought leaders, discover how to create the right sustainability roadmap that aligns with your business’ growth agenda. Learn how to adjust and refine your goals and priorities to achieve your target revenue while maintaining an environmental approach in your operations. Find out how to remain compliant with EPR through up-to-date innovations anchored in delivering circularity and business results. This podcast tackles the constant nature of change in the market and the world as a whole, and the right way to handle it. By understanding the best way to experience and absorb all kinds of changes happening today, you can influence and create actual change not just within your business but also in every circle in your life. Gather the necessary wisdom and courage to bridge the gap between the economy and sustainability, making a highly regenerative future a much more attainable dream. Host Christine Yeager is an impact consultant whose passion and energy lie in inspiring others to build a much better world. With 15 years in the CPG industry, her expertise across business operations to drive an economy powered by circularity and social equity is unmatched. Since 2023, Christine has been making huge waves of change through CSY Impact Consulting, where she guides businesses, entrepreneurs, and corporations in building a clear sustainable strategy using relevant consumer and industry insights. With her help, these for-profit ventures become armed with the necessary knowledge and resources to leave people, processes, and the environment better than they found them. Christine brings to the podcast her many years of experience shaping sustainability strategies and operational plans. She is the best person to lead these conversations that uncover the best actions, methods, and planning to amplify sustainable innovation in the current marketplace. From sharing compelling stories, exploring the latest trends, to breaking down efficient recycling methods, Christine has it all for you. Sustainability is crucial for success in today's market. Join Christine as she guides you to improve recycling, track your packaging supply chain, and integrate regenerative practices into your business. Listen to Change Cycle at http://CSYimpact.c

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Check latest episodes from Change Cycle podcast

How Polystyrene Recycling Is Winning The Circular Economy Debate With Justin Riney

2026/10/20

Polystyrene often faces immense public scrutiny, but expanding polystyrene recycling requires building robust infrastructure rather than relying on empty slogans. In this episode, host Christine Yeager sits down with Justin Riney, Commercial Sustainability Manager for the Americas at INEOS Styrolution and Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance, to discuss what it truly takes to shift perception and drive material circularity. Together, they dive into the realities of extended producer responsibility (EPR), the power of narrative-driven industry change, and how collaboration successfully removed expanded polystyrene from problematic plastic lists. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

EPR Policy Realities: What Lawsuits, Vetoes, And MRF Bottlenecks Mean For Packaging

2026/10/13

Navigating modern packaging regulations demands a direct look at practical EPR policy realities. Host Christine Yeager cuts through public skepticism to unpack what is genuinely happening across courtrooms, state agencies, and material recovery facilities. She breaks down the latest legal challenges in Oregon and Colorado, explores Governor Newsom's recent California vetoes, and examines why sorting infrastructure must catch up with aggressive collection goals. You'll gain operational perspective on the delicate balance between private stewardship initiatives and mandatory producer rules. Whether you're tracking state deadlines or balancing packaging investments, this breakdown provides clear clarity for circular strategy. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Navigating Textile Circularity And Policy With Jessica Franken

2026/10/06

Extended Producer Responsibility is sweeping the nation, but packaging rules don't easily translate to used clothes. Host Christine Yeager sits down with Jessica Franken to unpack how modern Textile Recycling Policy collides with a hundred-year-old reuse industry. Jessica leads government affairs for SMART, representing the secondary materials businesses that divert billions of pounds from landfills every year. Together, they break down why domestic markets can't absorb every scrap of donated fabric without thriving international trade channels. You'll discover how taking regulators directly onto sorting facility floors creates lasting policy breakthroughs that theory can't match. Learn what it takes to balance rigorous environmental goals with the practical realities of global supply chains. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Bridging The Systems Gap In Sustainable Materials Management With Kathryn Walker

2026/09/22

True progress in waste reduction begins when we look beyond the bin and fully commit to sustainable materials management to bridge the systems gap between product design and regional capacity. In this episode, Christine Yeager sits down with Kathryn Walker, the Executive Director of the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management based at the university level, to discuss how collaborative leadership can drive a true circular economy. Together, they navigate the complexities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the evolving landscape of recycling and materials management, and how to lead uncomfortable system-level changes with vulnerability, resilience, and curiosity. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

How Student Research Is Driving Circular Economy Innovation

2026/09/15

In this episode of Change Cycle, host Christine Yeager explores how breakthrough university research and student-led innovation are powering the circular economy. Many people assume academic projects stay trapped in labs, but young entrepreneurs are launching startups that win major federal awards and land commercial supply contracts. Christine breaks down the four primary funding models for academic innovation and explains the financial realities of landfill diversion. She also examines why low recycling tipping fees often create a bigger barrier to adoption than the technology itself. Listen in to discover how fresh perspectives from students can help industry leaders overcome cynical ruts and scale real solutions. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Transforming Mixed Plastics Recycling For Commercial Scale With Dr. Julia Curley

2026/09/08

Scaling mixed plastics recycling requires moving past lab experiments into viable commercial operations. In this conversation, host Christine Yeager sits down with Dr. Julie Curley, founder and CEO of EsterCycle, to discuss breaking down complex packaging materials into high-value chemical streams. They explore how low-energy chemical catalyst technology turns hard-to-recycle packaging waste into reliable feedstocks and responsible end markets. Dr. Curley breaks down dense inorganic chemistry into practical operational realities that consumer packaged goods leaders can actually execute. You'll learn what it takes to balance real feedstocks, real offtakes, and realistic cost structures while navigating evolving compliance standards. This episode offers an essential roadmap for sustainability executives seeking progress over perfection in their packaging supply chains. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Chemistry and the Circular Economy: What Chemical Recycling Can Actually Do

2026/09/02

Navigating packaging compliance gets tricky when regulatory definitions don't match market realities. Circular economy strategist Christine Yeager tackles the complex role of Chemical Recycling in state Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks. She breaks down why operating capacity matters far more than announced facility projections. You'll learn how specific EPR statutes in California, Oregon, and Colorado treat depolymerization, mass balance accounting, and hazardous waste limits. Christine also highlights how emerging technologies address hard-to-recycle materials without relying on waste-to-fuel shortcuts. If you're building a compliant packaging roadmap under tightening state policies, this tactical breakdown shows you how to turn regulatory friction into strategic clarity. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

How Waste Processing Drives Circular Economy Scale With Brandon Lapsys

2026/08/25

Scaling circular economy operations requires turning sustainability strategies into capital expenditures that businesses can actually execute. Host Christine Yeager connects with Brandon Lapsys, CEO of Viably, to unpack what it takes to drive real change in the waste and recycling industry. From investing in talent during economic uncertainty to navigating permitting delays, building sustainable momentum demands focus and discipline. They break down the friction points in establishing responsible end markets for recyclables across North America. Brandon provided practical advice for leading change, including focusing on a few key initiatives at a time, making decisions without trying to please everyone, and staying anchored to the company's vision and mission. Discover how aligning policy, processing technology, and leadership strategy can transform operational friction into a competitive advantage. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

EPR Reimbursement: Who Gets Paid in CO, OR, and CA

2026/08/18

Christine Yeager breaks down extended producer responsibility (EPR) funding models across Colorado, Oregon, and California. While producers pay for full recycling costs in Colorado, only two out of seven states with packaging EPR laws fully fund the system. Christine details the differences between net cost and incremental cost structures to clarify how states reimburse service providers and collection programs. She outlines available fee exemptions and reduction pathways for producers operating private take-back systems. Understanding these state-specific nuances helps CPG leaders optimize compliance budgets and capture available fee offsets. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Scaling Circular Fashion With AI Data And Smart Logistics with Phoebe Tan

2026/08/11

Host Christine Yeager connects with Phoebe Tan, Founder and COO of Taelor, to break down how AI and circular fashion are transforming apparel economics. Most rental and resale models fail because reverse logistics and cleaning costs destroy profitability. By leveraging AI styling and tracking garment lifecycle signals, Phoebe built a system where customers only buy what they love while generating rich post-purchase data. You'll learn how Gen Z's shift toward secondhand markets is accelerating double-digit growth for rental models. Discover how continuous operational improvement and data transparency create long-term enterprise value in circular business systems. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Navigating The Real Mechanics Of Extended Producer Responsibility

2026/08/04

Navigating the evolving regulations of Extended Producer Responsibility shouldn't feel like a guessing game. Host Christine Yeager breaks down the hard numbers from Oregon's first six-month performance report and the massive, 350-page California program plan. We look at the actual cash flowing from producers to local infrastructure, alongside the major gap between accrued and invoiced payments. You'll learn what these early-stage rollout challenges mean for your brand's compliance strategy. We also cover the recent textile registration deadlines and what you must do next to prepare for incoming source reduction mandates. It's time to turn regulatory friction into your ultimate operational advantage. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

How Certified Compostable Packaging Drives Real Circular Economy Impact with Meghan Ibach

2026/07/28

Making certified compostable packaging work in real-world organic streams takes strategic coordination across the entire circular economy supply chain. Host Christine Yeager connects with Meghan Ibach, Product and Zero Waste Specialist at Eco-Products, to examine how design decisions directly impact downstream composting operations. Meghan sits at the exact point where certified compostable packaging either works or falls apart. She works with compost manufacturers, haulers, and venues to pull non-compostable material out of the stream before it becomes their problem. Together, they explore why food service items make traditional recycling difficult and how compostable options capture critical food waste streams. They also address real-world lessons from regional policy shifts, color-coded bin standardization, and the science of microbial breakdown during the curing phase. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Compost is Heavy: The Operational Realities of Composting Infrastructure

2026/07/21

Compost is heavy. So is the impact of food waste rotting in a landfill. Both are worth carrying. In this episode of Change Cycle, Christine Yeager starts with two cubic yards of finished compost dumped in her Colorado backyard and turns it into a field guide for the circular economy. The same dynamics that played out on her native grass and in her raised bed are playing out in organics policy, city budgets, and compost facility permitting across the country. In 2026, organics is finally having its day in the sun through policy and city actions addressing landfill diversion, curbside composting, anaerobic digestion, soil amendment, soil health, methane, and many other organics-related legislation and ordinances. The through-line is a hard truth about system change towards the circular economy: some soils you can just spread compost on, and others need years of nurturing first. Mandates without composting infrastructure produce methane and political backlash, not diversion. We close with practical steps to bring composting into your day-to-day and push your city for real organics infrastructure. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

The Future Of Sustainability: Navigating Recycling, EPR, And The Circular Economy

2026/06/30

Are we finally closing the loop on waste? In this mid-year round-up, Christine Yeager dives deep into the essential building blocks of a sustainable future. From the mechanics of Deposit Return Schemes and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the critical need for robust collection infrastructure, she breaks down what it takes to build a truly effective circular economy. Join us as we explore how these systems—and the right recycling initiatives—are shaping the next generation of responsible end markets. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast

Pottery And Responsible End Markets, Imperfect But Progressing

2026/06/23

Pottery is one of our oldest art forms, yet for any beginner, it remains one of the most humbling experiences imaginable. As I’ve spent the last year oscillating between success and the occasional "flumped" clay creation, I’ve realized that mastering the pottery wheel holds a surprising lesson for the future of sustainability. The path to a true circular economy—specifically through the lens of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—is just as messy, tactile, and unpredictable as working with wet clay. While we are all looking for that "perfect" finished product, the industry is currently in the "kiln" phase: under pressure, developing new standards, and figuring out what actually holds up. Today, we’re going beyond the surface of policy to explore the reality of Responsible End Markets (REM). We’ll break down: The "Kiln" Effect: Why the current state of EPR is a pressure test for recycling chain-of-custody and yield documentation.Navigating the Mess: Insights into the latest regulatory updates in Oregon, California, and beyond—and why compliance isn't a switch, but a dial.Progress Over Perfection: Why releasing our attachment to an "ideal" outcome might be the only way to build a functional, transparent, and resilient recycling system. Whether you’re an industry veteran or just trying to make sense of the latest packaging policies, let’s explore why the process—not just the result—is where the real change happens. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.csyimpact.com/podcast