LOOPED IN with Carl Warkentin

Carl Warkentin
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The podcast about understanding, building and managing circular business models - this is the place where we dive deep into the future of business, sustainability, and circular economy. After a decade of entrepreneurial experience as a founder and investor, Carl had countless, meaningful behind-the-scenes conversations about how we can reshape industries, close the loop, and create real impact. And now, we want to bring these conversations to you. On Looped In, Carl sits down with entrepreneurs, business owners, venture capitalists, and policymakers who are at the forefront of change. Together, we’ll explore innovative business models, breakthrough technologies, and the regulations shaping the circular economy.

  1. Inside China’s Circular Textile Revolution: From Manufacturing to Recycling with CKG Director Vincent Djen

    DEC 8

    Inside China’s Circular Textile Revolution: From Manufacturing to Recycling with CKG Director Vincent Djen

    What does a truly circular textile business look like when you operate both a factory floor and a recycling line? We sit down with entrepreneur Vincent Jin to map the entire loop—from shrinking order sizes and digitized sewing lines to China’s door‑to‑door collection networks feeding textile‑to‑textile recyclers. The story starts with a family manufacturer shaped by early Scandinavian sustainability demands, and then accelerates as DTC, tariffs, and lead‑time pressure force radical flexibility and a service‑first mindset. Vincent opens up about the nuts and bolts of recycling at scale: why pre‑sorting still relies on skilled hands, where AI sorting falls short on dark colors and complex blends, and how preprocessing into pellets or popcorn meets the purity specs of chemical and enzymatic recyclers. We explore the rise of microfactories as a tool to slash overproduction—keeping core styles in traditional lines while local, on‑demand units handle reorders, collaborations, and regional spikes within days. Along the way, we unpack the real power of transparency through chain‑of‑custody, LCAs, and the coming digital product passport, which ties material truth to a simple scan. The conversation doesn’t shy away from hard questions: Can sewing be fully automated? Why do blends and trims still block circularity? How will fast fashion evolve as T2T capacity scales in China and beyond? Vincent shares a pragmatic ten‑year outlook driven by robotics, smarter design for recycling, and brands that think like operators—fast, open, and data‑literate. If you care about ethical sourcing, EPR readiness, and the future of circular fashion, this is a rare, ground‑level guide to what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help others discover it. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    50 min
  2. The K-Resale Playbook: Brand-Led Re-Commerce in Korea with Seah Joo from Relay

    OCT 27

    The K-Resale Playbook: Brand-Led Re-Commerce in Korea with Seah Joo from Relay

    What if secondhand felt as polished as buying new—and actually grew brand loyalty? We sit down with Relay, the Korean recommerce engine powering white‑label resale for major fashion groups and department stores, to unpack how trust, speed, and cleaning every item can flip circularity into a profit center. From doorstep pick‑ups and instant store credit to meticulous QC and photography, Relay’s model keeps resale inside the brand ecosystem and turns trade‑ins into repeat purchases. We get into the mechanics: why department stores like Lotte and Hyundai became pivotal partners, how a white‑label experience preserves brand equity, and the operational backbone that makes it all work. You’ll hear how care labels and distributor tags streamline authentication in Korea, why in‑store pop‑ups unlock hidden supply, and how dynamic pricing helps sellers feel valued while buyers feel lucky. With one of the world’s fastest e‑commerce markets and a consumer base that prizes precision and service, Korea is stress‑testing recommerce—and the results are compelling, with rapid sell‑through and growing mainstream acceptance. There’s a bigger thesis here: social impact scales when it follows a great business model. Relay shares a candid view on aligning incentives, building credibility through hands‑on logistics, and using data and selective AI to remove friction without overpromising tech. We also look ahead to a curated hub that aggregates high‑quality secondhand across partners, creating network effects for brands big and small. If you care about circular economy, resale operations, and how to make sustainability pay, this conversation is a playbook for turning intention into action. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review—what’s the one change that would make you trade in more often? Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    46 min
  3. Scaling Upcycling: How MOOT Turns Textile Waste into Profit with CEO Michael Pfeifer

    SEP 29

    Scaling Upcycling: How MOOT Turns Textile Waste into Profit with CEO Michael Pfeifer

    What if the clothes, uniforms, and textiles your company discards could become a source of revenue instead of a disposal expense? Michael Brenner, co-founder of Mood, reveals how industrial-scale upcycling is transforming the textile waste landscape, creating profitable business models from what was previously considered garbage. The conversation begins with Michael sharing how Mood evolved from a small Berlin-based B2C brand into a powerhouse B2B service provider, helping major corporations like DHL, Deutsche Bahn, and the German national football team transform their discarded textiles into desirable, sellable products. Through these partnerships, Mood has proven that sustainability initiatives can generate actual profits, not just reduce environmental impact. Michael takes us behind the scenes of their innovative collection system, where branded containers placed in corporate offices (rather than on streets) yield higher-quality materials while creating an additional revenue stream. This approach stands in stark contrast to traditional textile collection schemes that are increasingly economically unviable as fast fashion quality declines and secondhand platforms siphon off the best materials. The discussion delves into the regulatory challenges facing the European textile market, particularly the inconsistent implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across the continent. Michael shares candid insights about the shortcomings of current approaches in countries like France and the Netherlands, emphasizing that Europe needs comprehensive solutions to address the fundamental problem: we're simply producing and consuming too many textiles. Whether you're a sustainability professional, fashion industry insider, or business leader looking for innovative approaches to corporate waste, this episode offers practical insights into how upcycling can transform sustainability from a cost center into a profitable venture. Subscribe now and discover how the future of fashion might not be in creating new materials, but in creatively reusing what we already have. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    44 min
  4. From Policy to Action: Building CIRCULAR REPUBLIC with Susanne Kadner

    SEP 15

    From Policy to Action: Building CIRCULAR REPUBLIC with Susanne Kadner

    Susanne Kadner's journey from climate science to circular economy pioneer reveals a profound shift in how we approach environmental challenges. Rather than focusing on restrictions, circular economy offers a positive vision of innovation and redesign that gets people excited about change. "Coming from climate mitigation, it was always about what we shouldn't do," Kadner explains. "The positive vision of circular economy—how to do things differently while being innovative—is a much better way to get people into action." This refreshing perspective helped her build the Circular Economy Initiative Germany at Acatech, bringing together over 120 experts to create Germany's first circularity roadmap. Despite this policy success, Kadner grew frustrated with the slow pace of top-down change. Her transition to Unternehmertum, Europe's largest entrepreneurship center, marked a strategic shift toward implementation. As co-founder of Circular Republic, she now focuses on creating lighthouse projects that demonstrate circularity in practice through three pillars: Enable (capacity building), Act (implementation projects), and Inspire (communication). The conversation explores the tensions between pilot projects and scaling, between theory and practice, and between sustainability and geopolitical arguments for circularity. Munich emerges as a uniquely positioned ecosystem for circular innovation, combining manufacturing heritage with startup culture and global corporate presence. What distinguishes Circular Republic is its role as a neutral platform where companies, startups, academics, and policymakers collaborate without prioritizing any single stakeholder's interests. This ecosystem approach addresses the complex, interconnected challenges that no organization can solve alone. Ready to move beyond theory and implement circular solutions in your organization? Connect with Circular Republic to explore how our ecosystem can accelerate your journey toward circularity and resilience. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    37 min
  5. War Over Resources: Building Local, Circular Supply Chains with Lisa Morales-Hellebo from REFASHIOND Ventures

    SEP 1

    War Over Resources: Building Local, Circular Supply Chains with Lisa Morales-Hellebo from REFASHIOND Ventures

    Lisa Morales-Hellebo takes us on a captivating journey from her DIY beginnings in the Bronx to becoming a pioneering force in reshaping global supply chains. Her story reveals how necessity and curiosity led her through roles in design, tech startups, and eventually to founding Refashion Ventures – a fund uniquely positioned to transform how we think about manufacturing and materials. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of being a Latina woman raising capital in the male-dominated tech world, Lisa chose a different path. Rather than following traditional venture capital models, she built a community-first approach that now connects over 5,000 members across 148 countries. This network became the foundation for a distinctive investment strategy focused on localization, circularity, and distributed manufacturing. What sets Lisa's approach apart is her hands-on involvement with portfolio companies. She shares a remarkable example of helping Mothership Materials – a company that can extract valuable biomolecules from waste – pivot from beauty ingredients to becoming "the unlock for the bioeconomy." By reframing their story and connecting them directly with major corporations, she helped generate a $100 million pipeline in just weeks, demonstrating how venture capital can create value beyond simply writing checks. The conversation explores why national security concerns and resource constraints may ultimately drive supply chain transformation more effectively than sustainability goals alone. As global competition for raw materials intensifies, technologies that can extract value from waste streams or create bio-based alternatives to petroleum products become strategically essential, not just environmentally desirable. For entrepreneurs working in industrial transformation, Lisa offers invaluable guidance: deeply understand your customers' challenges, embrace the messiness of working with small businesses, and design technologies that feel like "magic" rather than homework. The future belongs not to those building one-size-fits-all AI solutions, but to those who can build trust with the businesses that collectively drive 70% of our economy. Curious about transforming supply chains or the future of materials? Book office hours through Refashion Ventures' website and tap into Lisa's wealth of knowledge and connections. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    56 min
  6. From Pilot to Scale: Why Circularity Is Europe’s Next Competitive Advantage with Matthias Ballweg

    AUG 11

    From Pilot to Scale: Why Circularity Is Europe’s Next Competitive Advantage with Matthias Ballweg

    What if the most sustainable business model was also the most profitable? In this eye-opening conversation with Mazze Ballweg, we dive deep into why circular economy has evolved from an environmental nice-to-have to an economic imperative for businesses across Europe. Mazze takes us on his journey from traditional consulting at McKinsey and strategy work at Volkswagen to the moment sustainability "hit him" in 2019, prompting his career pivot toward circularity. With refreshing clarity, he explains why material circularity tackles multiple planetary boundaries simultaneously - revealing how 90% of biodiversity loss and 50% of climate impacts stem from material extraction and processing. The heart of our discussion centers on CIRCULAR REPUBLIC's groundbreaking work transforming supply chains by connecting large corporations with innovative startups. Their battery recycling pilot perfectly exemplifies this approach: combining startups specializing in reverse logistics, automated disassembly, and advanced recycling technologies to create a more profitable alternative to traditional processes. This isn't just theory - it's practical implementation that's changing how businesses operate. What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Mazze's economic framing of circularity. "No one needs to care about planetary health to invest in circular economy - the business case alone is compelling," he explains. As global supply chains fragment and resource security becomes increasingly uncertain, circular approaches like urban mining and regenerative materials become essential for Europe's competitiveness. Whether you're a business leader seeking new opportunities, an entrepreneur developing circular solutions, or simply curious about how our economy is evolving, this episode offers valuable insights into how circularity is reshaping business models across industries. Listen now to understand why circular economy isn't just good for the planet - it's vital for future business success. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    32 min
  7. Building circular ecosystems and urban mining for textiles with Cyndi Rhoades (Circle 8)

    JUL 21

    Building circular ecosystems and urban mining for textiles with Cyndi Rhoades (Circle 8)

    What if our old clothes could become the foundation of an entirely new industry? Cindy Rhoades, a filmmaker who pivoted to become a textile entrepreneur, takes us on her remarkable journey from music videos to pioneering circular solutions for the fashion industry. Rhoades' story begins with creative nightclub events that made social and environmental issues accessible and engaging. When one such event focused on ethical fashion, she discovered her passion for solving textile waste challenges, leading her to found Worn Again in 2005. The company's evolution from upcycling discarded airline seat covers into handbags to developing groundbreaking molecular recycling technology perfectly illustrates the learning curve of circular innovation. But technology alone doesn't solve systemic problems. As Rhoades discovered, even the most promising recycling methods face a critical infrastructure gap. Her newest venture, Circle 8, addresses this challenge through automated sorting facilities designed specifically to prepare non-rewearable textiles for chemical and mechanical recycling. What makes her approach unique is the emphasis on ecosystem building – creating collaborative relationships between brands, recyclers, and existing sorters that connect waste streams with future manufacturing needs. The most compelling insight Rhoades shares is reframing textile waste as an economic opportunity. For countries that don't produce traditional textile raw materials, circular systems enable "urban mining" – transforming domestic waste into valuable resources and establishing entirely new industries. With Circle 8's automated sorting line arriving in March and plans for a 25,000-ton facility underway, Rhoades is turning this vision into reality. Whether you're fascinated by sustainability innovation, circular business models, or the future of fashion, this conversation offers a masterclass in how ecosystem thinking can transform waste challenges into economic opportunities. Listen now to discover how your discarded clothes might fuel tomorrow's textile revolution. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    43 min
  8. Regulating the Future of Fashion: The Impact of California’s Textile EPR on the U.S. with Rachel Kibbe from American Circular Textiels

    JUL 7

    Regulating the Future of Fashion: The Impact of California’s Textile EPR on the U.S. with Rachel Kibbe from American Circular Textiels

    How do you build a circular textile system in a country that lacks the infrastructure to collect, sort, or recycle at scale? In this deep dive conversation, Carl is joined by Rachel Kibbe, founder of American Circular Textiles and Circular Services Group, to unpack the complexities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the U.S. and draw sharp comparisons with Europe’s more established systems. Together, they explore: The current white spots in U.S. textile collection and why Europe’s 20+ year head start mattersHow the California SB707 EPR bill could redefine circularity—if implemented with the right incentivesFee structures, eco-modulation, and the need to finance not just design, but also infrastructureThe risk of monopolization in Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and what it means for innovationWhy voluntary, collaborative blueprints—like the one Carl is helping pilot in Germany—could shape future regulationThis is not just another podcast on sustainability. It’s a rare, behind-the-scenes dialogue between two people on the front lines of system change—blending entrepreneurial urgency with deep policy knowledge. If you’re working in fashion, waste management, policy, or investing in circular solutions, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer a grounded roadmap for what real circularity looks like at scale. Contact Us This is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions! You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show? Contact Carl via LinkedIn Thanks for listening and keep podcasting!

    48 min
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About

The podcast about understanding, building and managing circular business models - this is the place where we dive deep into the future of business, sustainability, and circular economy. After a decade of entrepreneurial experience as a founder and investor, Carl had countless, meaningful behind-the-scenes conversations about how we can reshape industries, close the loop, and create real impact. And now, we want to bring these conversations to you. On Looped In, Carl sits down with entrepreneurs, business owners, venture capitalists, and policymakers who are at the forefront of change. Together, we’ll explore innovative business models, breakthrough technologies, and the regulations shaping the circular economy.

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  • Creator
    Carl Warkentin
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 LOOPED IN with Carl Warkentin
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    LOOPED IN with Carl Warkentin