India generates 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily, and recycles less than 60% of it. Dr. Sameer Joshi, Chairman of the Indian Plastics Institute and UN plastics treaty negotiator, breaks down exactly why, and what needs to change.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction to the Carbon Circle and Dr. Sameer Jooshi2:09 Overview of topics covered in the podcast3:06 Dr. Joshi's journey from Pune shop floor to global plastics policy5:58 Understanding polymers vs. plastics13:36 Evolution of the plastic industry and recycling in India18:32 Researching plastic waste management and his PhD journey23:36 Insights from policy rules and navigating plastic bans in Maharashtra33:10 Categorizing plastics and segregation at the source37:04 The role of bulk waste generators and Indian Armed Forces' waste management41:04 The philosophy of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and respecting waste43:37 Success of zero-waste exhibitions in India45:48 Three biggest misconceptions about plastic waste50:03 Understanding the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal and accountability55:05 Critical failure points in the plastic waste management lifecycle59:52 Closing remarks and looking forward to Part 2What you'll learn:- Why plastic recycling in India starts, or fails, at your kitchen bin- How Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is creating new business accountability- The difference between a national recycling policy and a national resource policy- Why the plastic recycling industry in India predates the plastic industry itself- What the new Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 mean for every household and businessConnect with Dr. Sameer Joshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esameerjoshi/Connect with Carbon Mandal: connect@carbonmandal.com | www.carbonmandal.com#PlasticWaste #CircularEconomy #IndiaRecycles #EPR #Sustainability #WasteManagement #CarbonCircle

Every year, Indian households throw away enough food to feed nearly 377 million people. While we focus on production, over 60 billion kg of food ends up in landfills annually, rotting into methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2. This isn't just a waste problem; it’s a "broken food-soil loop" where vital nutrients are buried instead of being returned to the earth.In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, Roshan sits down with Ankita Vijayvergiya, Co-Founder of BillionCarbon. Ankita shares her journey from the corporate world to leading a climate hardware startup that is quite literally speeding up nature.At the center of BillionCarbon's work is a breakthrough in biotechnology: a precision bioreactor that treats food waste at the source in just 72 hours, ten times faster than traditional converters. By achieving up to 95% biomass reduction, they are helping hotels, campuses, and large kitchens turn a massive environmental liability into a regenerative asset.This conversation dives deep into the "Building Without a Factory" philosophy, the shifting landscape of Indian waste management policy, and the future of bio-fertilisers in restoring our dying soils.If you want to understand how deep-tech hardware can solve the oldest problem on Earth, waste, this episode is for you.📘 What You’ll Learn 🥬The Broken Food-Soil Loop: Why burying food waste is a double-hit to the planet, causing both high emissions and soil degradation.🥬The 3-Day Transformation: How BillionCarbon’s bioreactors achieve 95% biomass reduction in 72 hours, compared to the 20-30 days required by standard Organic Waste Converters (OWCs).🥬Decentralised Waste Treatment: Why treating waste at the source is the only way to avoid the logistical and environmental nightmare of city landfills.🥬Policy as a Catalyst: How the Solid Waste Management 2026 rules are mandating on-site treatment for bulk waste generators.🥬Climate Economics: The math behind mitigating 0.5 tonnes of Co2 for every tonne of food waste treated.🥬Building Without a Factory: Ankita’s insights on scaling a hardware-led startup through strategic partnerships rather than heavy internal manufacturing.🥬The Future of Bio-Inputs: A look at BillionCarbon’s R&D into liquid bio-fertilisers and solid frass compost to replace chemical alternatives by 2027.🌐 Useful Links BillionCarbon https://www.billioncarbon.com/Carbon Mandal – Official Website www.carbonmandal.comConnect with Ankita Vijayvergiya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitavijayvergiya/🤝For partnerships, collaborations, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects, sustainability consulting, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast, reach out to:📩 connect@carbonmandal.com🔖Episode Keywords: food waste management India, BillionCarbon, methane emissions, regenerative agriculture, soil health, decentralized waste treatment, climate tech hardware, organic waste converter, Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, carbon credits India, bio-fertilizer, circular economy.#foodwaste #circulareconomy #climatetech #sustainability #vikasitbharat #soilhealth #wastetowealth #carbonmandal #thecarboncircle #decarbonisation #greentech

We often assume that awareness leads to action. But what if the real problem isn’t ignorance, but human behaviour itself?In this thought-provoking episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai, Founder of Carbon Mandal, sits down with Dr. Chengwei Liu, and Professor of Behavioral Science at Imperial College London, to unpack one of the most critical yet overlooked challenges in climate action: why intelligent, informed people still fail to act.Drawing from his groundbreaking research on luck, decision-making, and organisational behaviour, Dr. Liu explores the hidden psychological forces, like the illusion of control, just-world bias, and structural inertia, that quietly shape our inaction on sustainability.This conversation goes beyond climate awareness to examine the deeper systems of human behaviour, organisational failure, and societal norms that prevent meaningful change, even when the stakes are clear.From India’s sustainability paradox, where high awareness coexists with low behavioural change, to the role of nudges, policy design, and cultural context, this episode offers a powerful behavioural lens on what it truly takes to build a sustainable future.If you’ve ever wondered why “knowing better” doesn’t translate into “doing better,” this episode will change how you think about climate action.📘 What You’ll Learn🧠 Why awareness alone fails, and the psychological biases that block climate action🎲 The “illusion of control” and how it distorts our perception of responsibility⚖️ The just-world hypothesis and its surprising impact on environmental behaviour📉 India’s sustainability paradox: high concern, low action, what’s driving the gap?🏢 How organisations fail to act, even when sustainability makes economic sense🔍 The CSRL framework: Cognizing, Searching, Reconfiguring, Legitimizing, explained simply🪄 What “nudges” really are, and why most people misunderstand them⚙️ Why changing systems matters more than changing mindsets🌏 How behavioural design can shape a sustainable, inclusive India by 2047📊 The role of policy, culture, and social norms in driving large-scale behaviour change🌐 Useful LinksCarbon Mandal – Official Websitewww.carbonmandal.comConnect with Dr. Chengwei Liu (Guest) / chengwei-liu-luck-contrarian 🤝 Collaborations, Consulting & PartnershipsFor partnerships, collaborations, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects, sustainability consulting, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast, reach out to:📩 connect@carbonmandal.com🔖 Keywords:behavioural science climate change, why people don’t act on climate, sustainability psychology, climate inaction explained, nudges behavioural economics, India climate awareness gap, organisational behaviour sustainability, CSRL framework, climate decision making, Viksit Bharat 2047 sustainability#climateaction #behaviouralscience #sustainability #climatepsychology #netzeroindia #viksitbharat2047 #thecarboncircle #carbonmandal #civicsense #climateleadership

In the latest episode of The Carbon Circle, we dive into the complexities of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its looming financial impact on global trade.We are joined by Dan Maleski, Lead CBAM Advisor at Redshaw Advisors. As a strategic expert working at the intersection of climate policy and international trade, Dan provides critical guidance to governments, financial institutions, and industrial entities navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.In this episode, Dan highlights a critical gap - Misinterpretation of policies, amplified by headlines and partial information, is leaving businesses underprepared for what’s coming.In reality, CBAM is not going away. And assumptions of exemptions or delays could prove costly.Key Takeaways from the Episode:Margin Shock: For exporters with small margins (e.g., €15/tonne), a CBAM cost of €158/tonne creates an unsustainable financial reality.MSME Vulnerability: While large producers like JSW or Hindalco may scale, mid-market MSME mills face significant risks of market exit.The Pricing Gap: India’s upcoming Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is forecast at $5-10/tonne, a fraction of the €88/tonne EU ETS price.Strategic Survival: Carbon price hedging and supply chain shifts are temporary fixes; long-term survival requires fundamental decarbonization, such as EAF conversion.This is a conversation you can’t afford to miss.Full Episode is out now

#CarbonCircle #CBAM #ClimatePolicy #CarbonMarkets #Sustainability #GlobalTrade #Decarbonisation

The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is no longer a distant policy—it is rapidly becoming a defining force reshaping global trade, industrial competitiveness, and the economics of decarbonisation.In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai, Founder of Carbon Mandal, is joined by Dan Maleski, Lead CBAM Advisor at Redshaw Advisors and one of the world’s foremost experts on carbon markets and compliance strategy.Together, they unpack the financial mechanics behind CBAM—who ultimately bears the cost, how carbon pricing flows through supply chains, and why exporters across emerging economies are already feeling the pressure.Through concrete scenarios and real market data, the conversation explores how CBAM could compress margins, reshape supply chains, and potentially accelerate structural changes in industries like steel and aluminium. The episode also examines India’s policy response, including the launch of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and ongoing negotiations with the EU, asking the difficult question: Can policy keep pace with the rapidly rising cost of carbon?If you are a business leader, policymaker, sustainability professional, or exporter navigating the emerging carbon economy, this episode offers a clear, strategic view of what lies ahead.📘 What You’ll Learn🌍 Who really pays for CBAM – While EU importers are legally liable, the financial burden often shifts across global supply chains to exporters and manufacturers.💰 The real cost of carbon borders – How a €88/tonne EU carbon price can translate into significant margin compression for exporters.🏭 Why MSMEs face disproportionate risk – And why large integrated producers may survive CBAM while smaller mills struggle.📉 India’s growing financial exposure – Understanding the estimated $8 billion annual CBAM liability and its implications for exports.📊 Why exports to the EU are already declining – Even before CBAM’s full financial phase begins.⚖️ India’s policy response – Will the upcoming Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) meaningfully offset CBAM pressures?📈 Carbon price escalation risk – What happens if EU carbon prices rise toward €138/tonne by 2030 and beyond.🧭 Strategic survival strategies for exporters – From carbon hedging and supply chain restructuring to long-term industrial decarbonisation.🌐 Useful LinksRedshaw Advisorshttps://redshawadvisors.comConnect with Dan Maleskihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-maleski/Carbon Mandal – Official Websitewww.carbonmandal.com🤝 Collaborations, Consulting & PartnershipsFor partnerships, collaborations, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects, sustainability consulting, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast, reach out to:📩 connect@carbonmandal.com🔖 Keywords:CBAM explained, carbon border tax EU, CBAM India impact, EU ETS carbon price, carbon markets India, steel decarbonisation, carbon border adjustment mechanism, India EU trade policy, carbon pricing strategy, decarbonisation finance#CBAM #CarbonMarkets #CarbonPricing #Decarbonisation #ClimatePolicy #EUETS #CarbonBorderTax #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #SustainableIndustry #ClimateEconomics

January 1, 2026 marks a turning point for global trade. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has officially entered its definitive phase — and for India’s steel industry, the conversation is shifting from theory to real financial impact.In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai, Founder of Carbon Mandal, sits down with Stanislav Zinchenko, CEO of GMK Center, one of the earliest global researchers tracking CBAM since 2020.With India producing 152 million tonnes of steel annually — but exporting only 6.9 million tonnes — is CBAM an existential threat or just regulatory noise? And with Indian steel emitting nearly double the EU benchmark intensity, what does the math actually look like when carbon costs are priced at €70, €100, or even €150 per tonne?This conversation goes beyond headlines and dives into the economics, volatility, compliance burdens, SME vulnerability, hydrogen financing gaps, and the geopolitics shaping the next decade of global steel trade .If you’re in steel, manufacturing, trade policy, sustainability, or climate strategy — this episode is essential listening.📘 What You’ll Learn📊 CBAM 2026 Explained ClearlyWhat changed on January 1, 2026 — and what Indian steelmakers must now do differently in terms of reporting, verification, and certificate purchasing .💶 The Real Cost of CarbonHow EU ETS price volatility (swinging between €60–€82 in 2025) impacts export profitability — and why weekly pricing from 2027 changes everything .🏭 India’s 96% Emissions GapWith emission intensity at ~2.5 tCO₂/MT versus the EU benchmark of 1.28, what’s the true exposure — and where are the cost-reduction levers?📉 SMEs vs. Mega PlayersWhy Tata, JSW, and ArcelorMittal Nippon are piloting hydrogen DRI — but smaller producers may struggle to survive the transition .🔋 Hydrogen Economics & Capital RealityWith green hydrogen costing $4–6/kg in India (vs. $1.3–2/kg breakeven), what financing models could realistically work?🌍 The Global CBAM Domino EffectUK (2027), Canada, China, and others are designing similar mechanisms. What happens when carbon pricing becomes a global trade norm?📈 2034 Scenario PlanningIf EU ETS prices reach €100–150/tCO₂ and free allowances phase out completely, Indian steel could face €250–375 per MT in carbon costs. Is that sustainable?🤝 The Ecosystem GapWhere Indian steelmakers lack clarity today — and how execution partners can bridge carbon accounting, ESG strategy, and CBAM navigation .🌐 Useful LinksGMK Centerhttps://gmk.centerCarbon Mandal – Official Websitehttps://www.carbonmandal.comConnect with Stanislav Zinchenkohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-zinchenko/🤝 Collaborations, Consulting & PartnershipsFor CBAM advisory, carbon accounting, supply chain emissions mapping, Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), ESG strategy, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast:📩 connect@carbonmandal.com🔖 Keywords:CBAM 2026, Indian steel exports, EU ETS volatility, green steel India, hydrogen DRI economics, SME decarbonisation, carbon border tax India, embedded emissions reporting, steel trade geopolitics, Green Steel Taxonomy India, Carbon Mandal podcast#CBAM #IndianSteel #GreenSteel #Decarbonisation #CarbonMarkets #EUETS #ClimatePolicy #CarbonBorderTax #TheCarbonCircle #CarbonMandal

From Compliance to Strategy: Turning CBAM into a Competitive AdvantageReimagining Global Trade Through Carbon — The CBAM Revolution with Marcel Duits🎙️ Episode SummaryAs carbon pricing reshapes global trade, businesses can no longer afford to treat compliance as a checkbox exercise. The real question today is: Can climate regulation become a competitive advantage?In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai, Founder of Carbon Mandal, sits down with Marcel Duits, Chief CBAM Officer at Dubrink, to unpack one of the most consequential climate policies of our time — the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).Drawing from real-world experience supporting over 2,000 companies, Marcel explains how CBAM is transforming supply chains, pricing models, and sourcing decisions across industries like steel, aluminium, and cement.From the origins of CBAM to its complex calculation methods, rising ETS prices, and looming 2026 authorization deadlines, this conversation reveals why companies that act early can protect margins, reduce risk, and unlock long-term strategic value.This episode goes beyond compliance to explore how verified emissions data, supplier engagement, and digital tools can turn regulatory pressure into a powerful business opportunity.If you’re involved in international trade, manufacturing, sustainability, or ESG strategy, this conversation is essential.📘 What You’ll Learn🌍 What CBAM is, why it was created, and how it’s reshaping global trade flows📊 How CBAM charges are calculated — and why default values can destroy margins💶 The real cost impact of rising ETS prices on imported materials🏭 Why verified emissions data can be worth hundreds of euros per ton⏳ Key timelines, authorization risks, and upcoming compliance bottlenecks🔄 How companies are redesigning supply chains to stay competitive📈 Where smart businesses are finding margin opportunities under CBAM🌐 Why CBAM could trigger a global “carbon pricing domino effect”🌐 Useful LinksCarbon Mandal – Official Websitewww.carbonmandal.comConnect with Marcel Duitshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelduits/Dubrink Website: www.dubrink.com🤝 Collaborations, Consulting & PartnershipsFor partnerships, collaborations, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects, sustainability consulting, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast, reach out to:📩 contact@carbonmandal.com🔖 KeywordsCBAM regulation, carbon border adjustment mechanism, EU climate policy, carbon pricing, ETS price impact, sustainable supply chains, ESG compliance, global trade decarbonization, climate regulation strategy, carbon markets Europe, green trade policy, Carbon Mandal podcast📌 Hashtags#CBAM #CarbonPricing #SustainableTrade #ClimatePolicy #ESGStrategy #Decarbonisation #GlobalTrade #CarbonMarkets #TheCarbonCircle #CarbonMandal #ClimateLeadership #GreenEconomy

What if India’s most powerful climate solutions aren’t new technologies—but ancient traditions?

In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai, sits down with Sujata Chatterjee, Founder & MD of Twirl.store, to explore how Indian craft traditions, women-led livelihoods, and cultural values can redefine sustainability as a strategic business asset. From household practices of reuse to modern circular textile systems, Sujata shares how India once lived circularly—and how we can revive that mindset for a low-carbon future.With over 200 women artisans empowered and thousands of lives impacted, Twirl’s journey offers a blueprint for building climate action rooted in dignity, culture, and scale.This episode goes beyond “green products” to examine psychology, livelihoods, waste systems, and policy—asking what it will truly take to make circular living mainstream in Bharat by 2047.If you care about sustainable fashion, women-led enterprises, or India’s climate future, this conversation is essential.📘 What You’ll Learn🧵 How traditional Indian households practiced circularity long before it became a buzzword👩‍🎨 Why empowering women artisans is central to building resilient climate solutions♻️ The psychology behind reuse—and why culture matters more than logistics🏛️ How festivals and cultural events can become powerful climate communication platforms💼 What fair wages and dignified livelihoods look like in sustainable enterprises🌱 Why sustainability must become a strategic business asset in India🚀 What it takes to scale circular textile systems 10x–100x by 2047🇮🇳 The role of craft in building a climate-resilient, inclusive Bharat🌐 Useful LinksTwirl.store – Official Websitewww.twirl.storeConnect with Sujata Chatterjeehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sujata-chatterjee-03a055162/Carbon Mandal – Official Websitewww.carbonmandal.com🤝 Collaborations, Consulting & PartnershipsFor partnerships, collaborations, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects, sustainability consulting, or to feature on The Carbon Circle Podcast, reach out to:📩 contact@carbonmandal.com🔖 Keywordssustainable fashion India, circular economy textiles, women artisans India, Indian crafts sustainability, textile waste India, slow fashion movement, cultural sustainability, climate action India, circular systems Bharat, Twirl store, Carbon Mandal podcast#SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy #WomenEntrepreneurs #ClimateActionIndia #IndianCrafts #SlowFashion #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #SustainabilityLeadership #Bharat2047