The Circular Future - Advancing Business Circularity

Quantum Lifecycle Partners
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Welcome to the Circular Future – a podcast that facetimes you with the challenges of e-waste and its impact on the world. Join Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, as she interviews industry thinktanks who share their insights on the trends in reuse and recycling of technology. This podcast is for you if you are responsible for managing your company’s electronics or are simply curious about all things e-waste, sustainability, carbon emissions, data security and more. Each episode finishes with actionable advice for business managers and leaders to do their part in helping build a circular future.

  1. 1d ago

    66. Scaling Green I.T. - BDC's Journey to Sustainability

    Send us Fan Mail This podcast features a deep dive into BDC's sustainability initiatives, focusing on their green IT program and how they integrate sustainability into their organizational culture. Guests Chrystal Healy and Jim Hendrix Gresseau share practical insights, successes, and challenges in scaling green practices within a large financial institution. Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    31 min

  2. May 21

    65. Hilti – Revolutionizing Construction Sustainability

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie McLarty is joined by Isabel Monteiro from Hilti, who shares insights into how the company integrates circular economy principles into its business model, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and customer collaboration. Discover how Hilti's direct customer engagement, tool-as-a-service model, and commitment to reducing carbon footprint are transforming the construction industry.  Key Topics:  Circular economy principles in construction Tool as a service model and its impact Hilti's sustainability strategy and goals  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    34 min

  3. May 7

    64. Scaling Recycling: Tetra Pak's Innovative Solutions

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Circular Future, Stephanie McLarty is joined live on stage by Jason Pelz, Vice President of Sustainability at Tetra Pak US, to explore how Tetra Pak is transforming packaging waste into valuable building materials and scaling recycling efforts.  Key Topics:  Tetra Pak’s sustainability commitments Recycling technology and innovation Industry collaboration and partnerships  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    18 min

  4. Apr 16

    63. Building towards Net Zero: How Choice Properties is decarbonizing Canadian Real Estate

    Send us Fan Mail In this week’s latest episode of The Circular Future Podcast, Stephanie McLarty is joined by sustainability and real estate expert, Ariel Feldman who shares the strategic approach of Choice Properties towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The discussion covers their environmental initiatives, challenges faced, and the importance of early planning and stakeholder engagement in sustainable real estate development.  Key topics:  Choice Properties' sustainability strategy Tenant engagement and green leases Embodied carbon reduction in the development pipeline  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    39 min

  5. Apr 2

    62. From EV to Energy Grid: The Startup Bridging Automotive, Energy, and the Circular Economy  

    Send us Fan Mail What happens to an EV battery when the car wears out?  It turns out, quite a lot. Even after years on the road, most EV batteries retain 70–80% of their capacity. Instead of defaulting to recycling, there is a massive opportunity to give these batteries a "second life" as powerful energy storage systems.  In our latest episode of The Circular Future, @Stephanie McLarty sits down with @Nick Nesbitt, founder of @Mapleview Energy, to discuss how his startup is bridging the gap between the automotive and energy sectors.  Key highlights from the conversation:  The Second Life Opportunity: Using "retired" batteries to create stationary energy storage for commercial and industrial customers. Real-World Impact: Nick walks us through Mapleview’s project, deploying a solar-connected microgrid to power electrified farm equipment. The "Frankenstein Strategy": Why speed to market and iterating with real customer feedback beats trying to build everything from scratch.  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    28 min

  6. Mar 19

    61. From AA to EV: How Battery Recycling Builds a Circular Supply Chain

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie McLarty sits down with Danielle Spalding from Cirba Solutions to dive deep into the world of battery recycling and its vital role in the circular economy. With over 35 years of experience, Cirba Solutions is at the forefront of domestic battery processing in North America, handling everything from common household alkalines to complex electric vehicle (EV) batteries.  Key topics discussed in this episode:  Circular Economy & Critical Minerals: How recycling batteries recovers valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel to strengthen the domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on virgin mining. From Batteries to Agriculture: An inside look at how recycled alkaline batteries are transformed into micronutrients to help grow crops like corn and soybeans. Safety & Education: The importance of properly preparing batteries for recycling—including the "clear tape" method—and why you should never throw batteries in your curbside bins. The Evolving Policy Landscape: A look at the future of battery technology and the policies, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), that are shaping the industry.  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    33 min

  7. Feb 27

    60. Inside Quantum’s Circularity-Driven Acquisition Strategy: Building an End-to-End Device Lifecycle

    Send us Fan Mail Gary Diamond returns - three years after joining our very first episode - to unpack how Quantum Lifecycle Partners has evolved from a recycling-first company into an end-to-end electronics lifecycle partner. He shares what he’s proudest of (culture, market strength, and expanded capabilities) and explains how Quantum now supports everything from getting devices to market and keeping them running through in-warranty repair and logistics, to secure asset disposition, reuse, and responsible recycling. We also dive into Quantum’s acquisition strategy and what each move unlocked: Paragon Bay’s product fulfillment and in-warranty repair services, DCR Systems Group’s added IT asset management and deployment capabilities, and 2NDGEAR—Quantum’s expansion into the U.S. with stronger end-user programs and refurbished resale channels. Gary gets candid about integration challenges (teams, comp, systems, and change management), then closes with advice for leaders building circularity: look beyond your lane—and don’t neglect your health, because your best thinking often happens away from the desk. Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    30 min

  8. Feb 17

    59. Employee Engagement is Our Circular Superpower: 4 Proven Strategies

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Steph McLarty discusses the critical link between employee engagement and sustainability, through circularity practices at Quantum Lifecycle Partners. She shares proven strategies for fostering engagement among employees, emphasizing the importance of communication, fun initiatives, and listening to employee feedback. The conversation highlights how integrating sustainability into corporate culture can lead to improved productivity, retention, and overall business success.  Takeaways:  Sustainability is woven into Quantum's culture, not an add-on. Consistent communication builds trust and keeps sustainability top of mind. Celebrate participation in sustainability initiatives to encourage involvement  Thanks for tuning in to The Circular Future. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Interested in joining us as a guest? Reach out to Sanjay Trivedi at strivedi@quantumlifecycle.com. Listen to more episodes at https://quantumlifecycle.com/podcast, and stay connected with us on LinkedIn.

    16 min
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About

Welcome to the Circular Future – a podcast that facetimes you with the challenges of e-waste and its impact on the world. Join Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, as she interviews industry thinktanks who share their insights on the trends in reuse and recycling of technology. This podcast is for you if you are responsible for managing your company’s electronics or are simply curious about all things e-waste, sustainability, carbon emissions, data security and more. Each episode finishes with actionable advice for business managers and leaders to do their part in helping build a circular future.

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