The Circular Future - Advancing Business Circularity
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.
Episodes
65 episodes
64. Scaling Recycling: Tetra Pak's Innovative Solutions
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 sca...
63. Building towards Net Zero: How Choice Properties is decarbonizing Canadian Real Estate
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 205...
62. From EV to Energy Grid: The Startup Bridging Automotive, Energy, and the Circular Economy
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 ...
61. From AA to EV: How Battery Recycling Builds a Circular Supply Chain
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 fo...
60. Inside Quantum’s Circularity-Driven Acquisition Strategy: Building an End-to-End Device Lifecycle
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 (cul...
59. Employee Engagement is Our Circular Superpower: 4 Proven Strategies
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, empha...
58. Small Business, Big Impact: Why SMEs are the Secret to a Circular Economy
In this episode, Stephanie McLarty interviews Matthew Lynch, a representative from Green Economy Canada (GEC), discussing the organization's mission to accelerate Canada's transition to a net-zero future. Matthew outlines three key aspects of G...
Beyond the Hype: 3D Printing, Waste Management, and the Path to Circularity
In this episode of The Circular Future, host Steph McLarty sits down with Steve Cory, President of Objex Unlimited, to peel back the layers of the 3D printing industry. While often hailed as a miracle of modern manufacturing, Steve pro...
56. The Circular Economy: Year in Review
In this episode, Stephanie McLarty reflects on the major themes of the circular economy in 2025, highlighting the challenges and breakthroughs in e-waste management, circular value creation, the Right to Repair movement, collaboration, digital ...
55. Turning Old Tech into New Impact
What if your junk drawer is quietly holding cash, critical minerals, and a few nagging data risks? We sit down with Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, to map a simple, secure path from clutter to circularit...
54. Stories of Circular Business Transformation
We explore how circular thinking creates real business value, from lower costs and resilient supply chains to new product lines and revenue. Andrew Telfer shares practical case studies and simple steps any company can take to move from linear t...
53. Season 3: Circularity in Action
The conversation you’ve been asking for is finally here: fewer slogans, more results. We’re kicking off season three by sharpening our promise—spotlighting real stories of business circularity that cut waste, save money, and build resilient ope...
52. The role of AI in Sustainable Transport
In this episode, Stephanie McLarty speaks with Rich Savoie, CEO of Adiona Tech, about the importance of sustainable logistics and the role of AI in optimizing transport emissions. They discuss a circular pilot project in Australia focused on re...
51. Sustainable Procurement: A Net Zero Strategy
In this conversation, Stephanie McLarty and Bob Willard delve into the concept of sustainable procurement, exploring its definition, importance, and implementation strategies. Bob shares his extensive experience in sustainability and emphasizes...
50. Mabel's Labels: A Sustainable Success Story
In today’s episode, Stephanie McLarty sits down with Julie Cole, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels to uncover the story behind the business. Julie shares how Mabels Labels integrates eco-conscious practices into everything, from product design to op...
49. Three circularity tips for next three months
SummaryIn this conversation, Stephanie McLarty and Heidi Frasure discuss actionable circularity tips in celebration of Earth Week. They emphasize the importance of reframing messaging, redefining value in sustainability, and activating ...
48. What Data Centre Decommissioning Means
The often-invisible backbone of our digital world, the physical infrastructure of data centers, carries significant environmental weight when it reaches the end of its operational life. This podcast episode delves into the crucial yet frequentl...
47. The Environmental Impact of A.I.
10x the Energy of a Google Search: The Hidden Environmental Impact of AI. In this episode of The Circular Future podcast, host Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, dives into the environmenta...
46. The Future of the Circular Economy in Canada
In this episode of The Circular Future , host Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, sits down with two leading voices in the circular economy movement: Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director of the Ci...
45. 2025 Basel Convention Updates: Navigating E-Waste Trade in a Circular Economy
Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, unpacks the critical 2025 amendments to the Basel Convention and their impact on global e-waste management. Learn how new rules governing transboundary movements of electr...
44. Navigating European Legislation for Sustainability
In this podcast episode, Stephanie McLarty speaks with Julie-Ann Adams about the evolving landscape of European legislation affecting sustainability, particularly in the realms of e-waste and battery recycling. They discuss the complexities of ...
43. Harnessing Technology for a Sustainable Future
In this conversation, Stephanie McLarty and Geoff Aardsma discuss the intersection of sustainability and technology, particularly focusing on how automation, AI, and big data can enhance business efficiency and support circular economy initiati...
42. Understanding E-Waste: Risks and Responsibilities
In this episode, Stephanie McLarty and Steven Napoli discuss the critical importance of responsible e-waste management and recycling. They explore the environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal of electronics, the role of ...
41. The Future of Repairable Devices
Petri Hayrynen, Global Head of Product Marketing at HMD Global, joins us for an insightful conversation about sustainable smartphones. We delve into HMD's innovative approach to crafting devices that are not only durable but also easy to repair...
40. Hamilton Health Sciences: A Success Story in Sustainability
SummaryHamilton Health Sciences in Ontario is a success story in sustainability in the healthcare sector. They have reduced their emissions by 49% since 2016 and have implemented various waste reduction programs. They have also digitize...