Good Garbage with Ved Krishna

Pakka
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Natural Sciences
  • Updated Biweekly

Hello, hello! We’re so excited to be here and embark on an enlightening journey with our fellow planet advocates - yes, we’re talking about you – to leave the earth cleaner! 💪🌏 Tune in for engaging conversations around the evolution of the packaging industry as we scale up towards a more sustainable future 🌱 Join us, in our endeavour to learn from our inspiring guests and get their insight on the pertinent (and our forever favourite) question – what does #GoodGarbage mean to you? ♻️✨ Feedback? Collaboration requests? Guest recommendations? Hit us up at connect@goodgarbagepodcast.com ✍️

  1. 1d ago

    #105 Branding as Being with Raphael Bemporad

    Is branding simply marketing, sales and manipulation, or can it go beyond the superficiality into value systems, transparency and even hope? According to this week's guest, branding, is "being".  In this Good Garbage episode, Ved Krishna sits down with Raphael Bemporad, Founder of BBMG- a branding consultancy working with companies the world needs. Raphael believes in the ability to use business to create positive change for a more just, equitable and sustainable society. Having worked with huge brands like Nike, Target and PepsiCo (to name a few), Raphael brings to this conversation over two decades worth of expertise from the world of marketing! 📊 🎧 Full episode on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🧠 In this episode with Raphael Bemporad: • Raphael's background in philosophy and family influence • The origin story of BBMG and its mission • The role of branding in social and environmental impact • Case studies of brands like Just Salad and North Face • Strategies for small startups to scale impact • The New Story of Nature and the culture code • Challenges and opportunities in sustainable packaging • The importance of radical transparency and trust • Cultural signals influencing environmental engagement • The nature loop: reconnect, act, belong 🎙️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Raphael's background 02:06 From family roots to social justice and business 03:46 Raphael's journey from philosophy to branding 06:47 Founding BBMG and early projects 12:03 The gelato business and entrepreneurial spirit 18:54 Core principles guiding impact-driven business 24:02 Working with mission-driven brands like Seventh Generation 29:05 Case study: Just Salad and sustainable impact 36:02 Challenges in scaling sustainable packaging 40:47 The new story of nature and culture signals 47:09 Influencing regulators and consumer activism 53:08 The importance of trust, transparency, and honesty 01:00:08 Building resilient brands and community impact 01:05:01 The role of mentorship and community in propagation 01:20:00 The new story of nature and the culture code 01:29:00 Closing thoughts and future outlooks Good Garbage is a podcast about sustainable materials, packaging and regeneration, hosted by Ved Krishna — conversations with the innovators, scientists and founders building a cleaner planet. The question behind every episode: what is good garbage? BBMG Website: https://bbmg.com Raphael's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodGarbage 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🔗 More: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 💌 Contact us: sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info

  2. Sep 10

    Around the World of Packaging with Sargam & Kumar | August 2026

    Hello, hello! It's Good Garbage News! 🗞️ Every month, in addition to our regular episodes with Ved's interviews, we post an industry update with the latest updates in both sustainable packaging and packaging regulations all across the world. 🎙️ Hosted by Sargam Krishna & Kumar Niketan  🔬 Innovation: • Zerocircle's heat-sealable coating as a potential replacement for PE coatings on paper cups • The Starbucks Global Innovation Challenge to help the company look for a compostable material to replace their plastic cups and lids • Researchers at Hassanuddin University have developed a biodegradable film for food packaging out of coconut cellulose • Polymateria has created a technology that helps plastic degrade within 2 years • Cirkla to open its first fiber food-tray manufacturing facility in Georgia, United States 🌐 Industry: • The UN Global Plastic Treaty ensures production caps as binding and looks into financing the transition away from plastics • Europe's packaging and packaging waste regulations (that apply to all 27 member states) have come into force starting this August • The federal court in Oregon, United States has upheld the state's recycling modernization act in full • Paper and paperboard packaging have been brought into the Extended Producer Responsibility Framework for the very first time in India • FSSAI's Packaging Amendment Regulations now require small format packaging used for tobacco products to be made out of biodegradable materials • The governments of Korea, Japan and Taiwan have mandated a minimum of 10% recycled content in all plastic products, which is set to rise to 30% by 2030 💌 Reach out to us at sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info for feedback or questions! 🔗 Never miss an episode by following us on all our socials by clicking on the links below: Linktree: https://pakka.com/podcast/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=profile&utm_campaign=good_garbage_podcast&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAadOJN0Sm1QJjoG4RZnzndr98pJquZyTMmMIlIMIwT47X70F2pXf2Fu94De-2w_aem_-GsIopi6F-6vTBCwv4kGIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodgarbagepodcast/ Powered by Pakka

  3. Sep 4

    #104 Recycling the Unrecyclable | A World "Without" with Anish Malpani

    Did you know that the little packets of chips we consume everyday are the hardest to recycle? Meet the man who took this challenge and turned it into eyewear! 🕶️ This week, Ved Krishna sits down with Anish Malpani, Founder and CEO of Without- a brand "recycling the unrecyclable" and doing it ethically. Anish quit his dream job in New York to find his true purpose in this amazing Pune-based start-up that makes eyewear, packaging, yarn and more from MLP and textile waste that everyone else refuses to touch!  Without has created the world's first sunglasses made from 100% recycled chip packets using its patented technology. And this innovation goes hand-in-hand with employing, upskilling and educating India's waste pickers. Anish and his team are proof that it is possible to run ethical businesses at scale for a world without waste and poverty. 🌱 🎧 Full episode on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🧠 In this episode with Anish Malpani: • How Anish quit his dream job in New York and found his way back to India • India's waste-pickers and everything that's wrong with the system • Building a business out of the most rejected material • Developing cutting-edge technology to solve the hardest problem first • Scaling manufacturing and impact • Balancing profitability with social good 🎙️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Anish Malpani and Without 01:49 Anish's childhood in Aurangabad and early memories 05:59 Career at iHeart Media and move to New York 08:09 Reflections on privilege and purpose 10:04 Journey to Guatemala and impact learning 12:02 Starting Without and the focus on waste and poverty 14:47 Innovations in plastic recycling technology 20:11 Building a social enterprise with impact at the core 24:55 The significance of the name 'Without' 29:48 Challenges with waste pickers and informal workers 35:03 The science behind multi-layer plastic recycling 40:11 Scaling technology and manufacturing processes 44:57 Future vision for Without and impact goals 49:53 Building a culture of fairness and dignity 59:54 Funding journey and investor relations 01:09:54 The importance of social impact and B Corp certification 01:15:09 The role of storytelling and marketing 01:19:59 Scaling plans and long-term vision 01:23:02 Closing thoughts and appreciation Good Garbage is a podcast about sustainable materials, packaging and regeneration, hosted by Ved Krishna — conversations with the innovators, scientists and founders building a cleaner planet. The question behind every episode: what is good garbage? Without's Website: https://without.live/about-us/ Without's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmadewithout/ ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodGarbage 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🔗 More: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 💌 Contact us: sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info

  4. Aug 25

    #103 Biodegradable vs Compostable: A PLA Masterclass Pt.2 | Dr. Ramani Narayan

    Biodegradable and compostable are not the same word — and the man who put PLA into packaging explains exactly where the difference lives. In this Good Garbage episode, Ved Krishna talks with Dr. Ramani Narayan, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University and the scientist behind PLA as we know it, about how the legacy polymer was created in his lab, what polymerization really means, and who is responsible for compostability and end of life. Part 2 of 2. 🎧 Full episode on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🧠 In this episode with Dr. Ramani Narayan: • History and science of PLA • Biodegradability in biomedical vs. environmental contexts • Feedstock sources for lactic acid • Polymerization processes and properties • Blending and compounding of bioplastics • End-of-life management and composting standards • Scaling production of bioplastics • Future directions in microbial and bio-based polymers 🎙️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and overview of the discussion 00:26 History of PLA and its medical uses 02:24 PLA's biodegradability in the human body vs. environment 05:20 Environmental challenges and misconceptions about PLA 07:30 Cargill's entry into the PLA market and legacy polymer 14:23 Feedstock sources and economics of lactic acid production 31:01 Polymerization process and properties of bioplastics 42:02 Fossil vs. biomass feedstocks and their implications 53:43 End-of-life management: industrial vs. home composting 01:20:19 Future scale and capacity of bioplastics production 01:34:48 The concept of Good Garbage and waste management Good Garbage is a podcast about sustainable materials, packaging and regeneration, hosted by Ved Krishna — conversations with the innovators, scientists and founders building a cleaner planet. The question behind every episode: what is Good Garbage? 🌱 ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodGarbage 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🔗 More: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 💌 Contact us: sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info

  5. Aug 6

    #102 A Masterclass in Biodegradability & PLA with Dr. Ramani Narayan | Part 1

    Hello, hello! This week, we sit down with the OG of biopolymers and the man behind PLA as we know it today-- the one and only Dr. Ramani Narayan, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University. In this masterclass episode, he teaches us everything to know about biodegradability: from the science to the myths.  🎧 Full episode on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🌱 In this episode: • Biodegradability as a property, not a magic solution • Standards for biodegradation and compostability • The role of microbial activity and environmental factors • Misconceptions about plastic breakdown times • The importance of proper waste management and composting • The science of microplastics and environmental impact • The difference between natural and synthetic biodegradable materials 🎙️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 01:08 Ramni Narayan's journey from basketball to biopolymers 03:19 How did Dr. Narayan get into organic chemistry and biopolymers? 08:44 The evolution of biopolymers and their market potential 15:25 Understanding biodegradability vs. compostability 22:18 Standards and testing for biodegradation 36:45 Environmental conditions affecting biodegradation rates 44:44 The role of waste management and composting 01:00:09 The science of polymer breakdown and microbial activity 01:12:20 Impact of temperature and environment on degradation 01:22:51 Clarifying misconceptions about biodegradable plastics Good Garbage is a podcast about sustainable materials, packaging and regeneration, hosted by Ved Krishna — conversations with the innovators, scientists and founders building a cleaner planet. The question behind every episode: What is Good Garbage? ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodGarbage 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🔗 More: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 💌 Contact us: sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info

  6. Jul 16

    #101 From War Zones to Sustainable Solutions | Kenya's First Green Packaging Company with Anita Shah

    Hello, hello! 🌱 Join us this week for a conversation with the amazing Anita Shah, who spent two decades of her life doing humanitarian work in places like Lebanon, Iraq and Somaliland — leaving it all behind to serve the planet.  Shah founded Green Stem Products Ltd. as the first of its kind manufacturing facility in her homeland of Kenya to create biodegradable and compostable tableware products. Her journey began with a bank account emptied to support a big dream. Now, her facility produces hundreds of thousands of pieces a month and won the 2025 Sustainability Brand Awards! 🌳 With a 70% female team, Green Stem's mission goes beyond packaging solutions. They also provide employment opportunities to people with hearing impairments, albinism and ex-female convicts.  Shah is an economist, nutritionist, yoga instructor, aid worker and businesswoman. Who better to learn from about service to the self, people and the planet? 🌍 In this episode with Anita Shah: • How Jainism and Iyengar Yoga have influenced a life of service for Shah • How Kenyan supermarkets and turtles ignited a passion for sustainable solutions • The difficulties of starting a business with nothing but a leaf-pressing machine • The challenges with pulping and thermoforming  • Figuring out scaling and investments for a smaller business  🎙️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:42 Empathy Through Humanitarian Work 07:59 The Role of Yoga and Meditation 11:17 Jainism and Environmental Connection 13:34 Transitioning from Humanitarian to Environmental Work 19:05 The Birth of Green Stem 25:42 Innovating Sustainable Packaging 28:49 Challenges in Pulping Technology 34:50 Achieving Quality in Small Scale Pulping 39:25 Thermoforming Technology and Future Plans 49:10 Choosing the Right Technology for Thermoforming 52:43 Understanding the African Market and Product Development 57:40 Challenges in Pricing and Production Efficiency 01:01:30 Raw Material Sourcing and Transportation Issues 01:05:33 Innovations in Coating Technology 01:19:55 Vision for the Future of GreenStem 🌱 Good Garbage is a podcast about sustainable materials, packaging and regeneration, hosted by Ved Krishna — conversations with the innovators, scientists and founders building a cleaner planet. The question behind every episode: What is Good Garbage?  🌐 Green Stem's Website: https://greenstemproducts.com 📱 Green Stem's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/green__stem?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodGarbage 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 🔗 More: https://linktr.ee/goodgarbagepodcast 💌 Contact us: sargam.krishna@goodgarbage.info

  7. Jul 2

    #100 Revolutionizing Materials | Efrat Friedland on The Future of Sustainable Design

    Hello, hello! 🌱 In this episode of the Good Garbage Podcast, host Ved Krishna is joined by Efrat Friedland, Founder of materialscout and Co-Founder of Positive Plastics. They speak at length about Friedland's journey from being a designer to leading two businesses, her experience running a Materials Library and her view of the future of material science. 🧪 🧠 Together, we will be diving deep into big questions about the world of sustainable materials: • Why is greenwashing harmful? • Can plastic simply be labelled "good" or "bad" without nuance? • If a product breaks down, should it be repaired or replaced? • Who is ultimately responsible for the functioning of the products we buy? • Are bioplastics a good fit for every product? ... and much, much more! If you are someone who is fascinated by the world of material science, or simply want to learn more from an industry expert like Friedland, this episode is for you!  🌐 Follow & Listen materialscout: https://www.materialscout.com Positive Plastics: https://www.positiveplastics.eu Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Instagram: @goodgarbagepodcast LinkedIn: Good Garbage Podcast

  8. Jun 19

    #99 From Petroleum to Purpose | Nima Vakili on Building the Future of Biomaterials

    Hello, hello! In this episode of the Good Garbage Podcast, host Ved Krishna sits down with Nima Vakili, Founder & CEO of Safa Bioworks, for a fascinating conversation on circularity, biomaterials, and what it really takes to build sustainable systems in a world still dependent on fossil resources. Coming from a family deeply rooted in petrochemicals and polymer manufacturing, Nima shares his journey from growing up around industrial plastics to creating a company focused on transforming agricultural and organic waste into high-value biomaterials. This conversation explores the intersection of material science, circular economy, innovation, and long-term thinking—while also diving into personal stories about nature, leadership, business, and the role of optimism in creating systemic change. From recycling carpets and creating closed-loop manufacturing systems to building biobased alternatives in the UAE, Nima explains why sustainability isn’t about eliminating plastics overnight—it’s about designing smarter pathways for the future. 🎙️ What This Episode Explores This conversation goes beyond the usual sustainability narrative and explores what happens when someone from the heart of the petrochemical industry begins asking bigger questions. Can biopolymers coexist with traditional materials? What does circularity actually look like at an industrial scale? How do countries create ecosystems that enable innovation? And what can nature teach us about regeneration and systems thinking? Through personal reflections and practical insights, this episode uncovers how sustainability becomes meaningful when it moves from ideology to execution. If you've ever wondered: •⁠  ⁠Can bioplastics realistically complement traditional plastics?  • Why are circular manufacturing systems difficult to scale?  • How do regional policies shape sustainable innovation?  • What role does nature play in inspiring industrial solutions?  • What happens when business and environmental ambition intersect? This episode answers these questions with honesty, curiosity, and optimism. 🧠 In This Episode, You'll Learn •⁠  ⁠How Nima transitioned from petrochemicals into sustainable innovation  • The realities and limitations of bioplastics adoption  • Why circularity is more than recycling  • The role of agricultural and organic waste in future materials  • Lessons from building closed-loop manufacturing systems  • How the UAE is enabling climate-tech and sustainable infrastructure  • Why long-term thinking matters in sustainability  • The relationship between business, storytelling, and impact  • How nature inspires innovation and regenerative thinking  • Why the future of materials must focus on diversification—not replacement This episode is for anyone curious about the future of materials, sustainability, circular economy, and building systems that create value beyond waste. 🎬  Credits Producer: Utsav Kurchania Video Editor: Sargam Krishna 🌐 Follow & Listen Safa BioWorks: https://safabioworks.com/company  Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts Instagram: @goodgarbagepodcast LinkedIn: Good Garbage Podcast 💭 Let’s Talk If you had to redesign packaging from scratch— Would you choose biodegradable materials, plastic alternatives, or an entirely new system? Why?

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Hello, hello! We’re so excited to be here and embark on an enlightening journey with our fellow planet advocates - yes, we’re talking about you – to leave the earth cleaner! 💪🌏 Tune in for engaging conversations around the evolution of the packaging industry as we scale up towards a more sustainable future 🌱 Join us, in our endeavour to learn from our inspiring guests and get their insight on the pertinent (and our forever favourite) question – what does #GoodGarbage mean to you? ♻️✨ Feedback? Collaboration requests? Guest recommendations? Hit us up at connect@goodgarbagepodcast.com ✍️

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