The psychology of oppression and healthy relationships with nature, others and ourselves with Dr. Melanie Joy, author & psychologist

In today’s episode I’m chatting with Julia Marsh, the Co-founder and CEO of Sway – a California-based startup making regenerative packaging from seaweed, as an alternative to single-use thin film plastic. A few years ago, Julia and her partner Matt traveled all over the world to visit seaweed farms, explore regions most affected by plastic waste, and meet with biomaterial innovators across borders and backgrounds - with the vision of creating a truly regenerative future. They are now bringing this vision to life with Sway, by developing seaweed replacements for plastics - and have even been selected as finalists of the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize, which is super exciting!

Julia and I spoke about the wonderful world of bio-based plastic alternatives (bio-based means that a material is intentionally made from substances derived from living (or once-living) organisms). She told me how Sway’s approach has the potential to positively impact biodiversity in the oceans but also the local communities on land, and the climate. She also shared her recommendation on which types of plastic alternatives to look out for or avoid when shopping in supermarkets, and how she thinks you can help address the plastic problem by bringing it up with your local businesses.

Want to dive deeper?

• Learn more about Sway: https://linktr.ee/swaythefuture
• Sway’s website: https://swaythefuture.com/
• Engage in local activism, for example: start a conversation with your local businesses on whether they could switch from plastic to paper bags

The plastic hierarchy:

Avoid single-use plastic altogether if you can. If not possible prioritise:

1. Home compostable, ideally 100% bio-based plastic - look for the home compost label and investigate the percentage of bio-based content
2. Industrially compostable if you have access to an industrial composting facility
3. Look at reusable solutions, can it be reused or returned?
4. If there’s a high likelihood that it will be recycled again, recycled plastics can be considered if none of the above are available

Julia’s book recommendation

• All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/author/ayana-elizabeth-johnson

Little links

• Sway on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/swaythefuture/
• Julia on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/juliajmarsh/
• Why We Care on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whywecarepodcast/
• Tiphaine on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tiphainemarie_/

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Thank you for caring and sending you lots of love!

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