Plastic. Climate. Future.

We're approaching the end of our series WHAT HIGHTECH IS MADE OF with Plastics Europe Deutschland — and there's one big question we still need to answer:
If Germany has world-class research and engineering, why is turning innovation into industrial reality still so difficult?
In this episode of, we speak with Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner and Prof. Dr. Matthias Franke from Fraunhofer Umsicht about what happens between a promising scientific breakthrough and a technology that actually works at scale.
And surprisingly, the biggest obstacles aren't always technological.
We discuss:
Why promising recycling technologies struggle to move from pilot projects to industrial scale
Why trust, regulatory certainty and investment confidence are just as important as innovation itself
What Fraunhofer's chemical recycling map reveals about the gap between ambition and reality
Why collaboration across the entire value chain is essential to make circular solutions work
The key takeaway? Great research is only the beginning. Without reliable frameworks, market demand and the confidence to invest, even the best technologies can remain stuck in the lab.

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What do humanoid robots, artificial skin and innovative medical devices have in common?
They all depend on materials that make new technologies possible. But turning promising ideas into reality takes more than scientific breakthroughs.
In this episode of we speak with Andreas Binder, Head of Sustainability Transformation and Business Building at Covestro, about how material innovation becomes commercially viable and scalable.
We discuss:
How high-performance polymers enable the next generation of robotics, from lightweight structures to artificial skin
Why successful innovation starts with real customer needs, not just interesting ideas
How circular and lower-carbon materials can create commercial value
What Germany needs to turn scientific excellence into scalable businesses
The key takeaway? Innovation needs three things: the right technology, a supporting ecosystem and a convincing business case.
And sometimes, the most meaningful innovations aren't the most spectacular ones. They can be as simple as a medical compression sock that makes everyday life easier.
One thing is clear: plastics are often the invisible enablers of tomorrow's technologies. But great ideas alone are not enough.
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When we talk about plastics, we often think about packaging, recycling and waste. But what about the plastics that become part of the human body — sometimes for decades?
In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we speak with Alexander Paasche and Marc Knebel from Evonik about a fascinating side of material innovation: high-performance polymers that are helping shape the future of medical care.
From personalized skull implants made with 3D printing to hip implants for dogs, the applications are as surprising as they are meaningful. At the center of the conversation is PEEK, a high-performance polymer that can offer an alternative to metal in certain medical applications.
We discuss:
How advanced plastics are enabling new possibilities for medical implants — including patient-specific solutions
Why 3D printing is changing how implants are designed and manufactured, bringing surgeons and engineers closer together
What it takes to develop materials that must meet the highest standards of safety, biocompatibility and long-term performance
How reusable medical instruments, more efficient manufacturing and alternatives to metal can contribute to more sustainable healthcare
One of the most striking insights from the conversation is that innovation isn't always about producing more material. Sometimes, a few grams of the right polymer can make an extraordinary difference.
And while the technology continues to evolve, the ultimate goal remains the same: better patient care, improved quality of life and medical solutions that can benefit more people.
Sometimes the most impactful applications of plastics are the ones we never see.
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Circular plastics are no longer just a sustainability ambition. They are becoming a strategic business opportunity. But what will it take to move from early adopters to industry-wide adoption?
In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we speak with Dirk Langhammer from Borouge International about the future of circular plastics and what needs to happen to make circularity the norm rather than the exception.
From mechanical and chemical recycling to renewable and CO₂-based feedstocks, the technologies are evolving. But technology alone isn't enough. Scaling circularity requires market demand, investment, collaboration across the value chain and a regulatory framework that creates long-term certainty.
We discuss:
Why mechanical recycling remains the backbone of circular plastics — and where newer technologies can complement it
How mandatory recycled-content targets can create demand and unlock investment across the circular value chain
Why Europe is leading the circular transition in some areas, but bureaucracy and slow approval processes risk holding back progress
How brands, recyclers and material producers can work together to make circular solutions commercially attractive
For Dirk, the outlook is optimistic. Circularity isn't just about reducing environmental impact. It's also about cost efficiency, reliable supply chains and resource security.
The opportunity is there. The technologies are developing. Now it's about creating the conditions for circular plastics to compete, scale and become part of everyday industrial practice.
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PVC has been around for decades — and so have many of the perceptions surrounding it. But how much has the material, and the industry behind it, changed?
In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland we speak with Alexander Kronimus from VinylPlus Deutschland about taking a fresh look at PVC: where it is used, why durability matters, and how the industry is working to make an already long-lasting material more circular.
From window frames and cable insulation to medical applications and, of course, vinyl records, PVC is often an invisible part of the products and infrastructure around us.
We discuss:
Why circularity starts with smart product design — not just recycling
How durability and energy efficiency can make PVC an important material for buildings and infrastructure
How the industry is addressing legacy additives while developing new recycling technologies
How recycled and non-fossil feedstocks, renewable energy and innovation could further reduce PVC’s environmental footprint
Perhaps one of the most interesting takeaways is that sustainability isn’t simply about replacing materials. It’s about looking at their entire life cycle — how they are produced, how long they perform, and what happens when they finally reach the end of their useful life.
Sometimes that means looking at a familiar material with fresh eyes.
Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!