In this episode of the Plastics Podcast, we explore the Comfort Loop Project — a systems‑level effort to tackle the enormous global waste created by absorbent hygiene products. With 300,000 nappies thrown away every minute, the environmental impact is staggering, but this project offers real hope.

Bringing together behaviour psychologists, mechanical engineers, and life‑cycle assessment experts, the team looks at the entire system to understand where meaningful change can happen. Their collaborative approach shows what’s possible when diverse professionals come together to rethink long‑standing waste challenges.

Join Dr Elze Porte and Nicola Wilson as they discuss the project’s insights, the scale of the issue, and the innovative solutions being explored.

This episode introduces the Born Green Generation project — a new approach to embedding sustainability into perinatal care. Our guests discuss why Born Green goes far beyond carbon reduction, the enthusiasm from staff across maternity and paediatric hospitals across Europe, and the practical challenges of making sustainable change in busy clinical environments.

You’ll hear from Josephine Frame, Nicola Wilson, Alice Knight, and Imogen Stringer as they explore what the project aims to achieve and how anyone working in perinatal care can get involved.

In this episode, we explore a side of plastics that scientists have understood for some time—yet remains largely unfamiliar to the public and even to many working in healthcare. Dr Olwenn Martin, Associate Professor in Health and Environment at University College London, joins Dr Becca Elson, Chief Sustainability Officer’s Clinical Fellow at Great Ormond Street Hospital, to unpack the chemicals within plastics and how they can subtly, and sometimes significantly, affect our health.

Together, they break down how these chemicals can disrupt our “normal,” from influencing hormones to shaping long‑term health outcomes, and why this knowledge is only now gaining wider attention. They also highlight promising progress in legislation and research designed to reduce risks and protect both patients and staff.

Clear, insightful, and eye‑opening—this conversation reveals why understanding plastic chemicals is no longer optional for a sustainable, healthy future in healthcare.