Group Lead, Ved Krishna
In this episode of the Good Garbage Podcast, host Ved Krishna sits down with Sandeep Kulkarni, Founder of Kool Earth Solutions and a global expert in sustainable packaging, to dive into the real science, trade-offs, and economics behind packaging materials.
From PepsiCo to Sustainable Packaging
Sandeep Kulkarni shares how his tenure at PepsiCo’s Advanced Research team shaped his understanding of packaging innovation and set the stage for his sustainability journey.
Paper vs Plastic: The Real Trade-offs
Contrary to popular belief, paper packaging is not always more sustainable than plastic — Sandeep breaks down the science of barriers, performance, and lifecycle impact.
Glass vs Plastic vs Paper
A frank comparison of the three dominant packaging materials reveals that sustainability cannot be measured by material alone — systems, context, and use case all matter.
Why Recycling Systems Matter More Than Materials
Sandeep explains how the effectiveness of recycling infrastructure, not just material choice, determines the actual environmental footprint of packaging.
The Truth About Bioplastics (PLA, PHA)
Despite their green reputation, bioplastics face significant real-world challenges in composting infrastructure, cost parity, and performance that limit their scalability today.
Molded Fiber: Potential vs Limits
Molded fiber has promise as a plastic replacement, but Sandeep explains why barriers like moisture resistance and production cost have prevented it from scaling as fast as expected.
Designing for Sustainability at Scale
True sustainable packaging design must balance environmental goals with economic viability, supply chain realities, and consumer behaviour — Sandeep outlines what this looks like in practice.
The Future: Hope and Hard Truths
Sandeep closes with an honest reflection on what gives him hope for the future of sustainable packaging, and what structural changes are still needed before the industry truly transforms.
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