27: How the Coca-Cola Brand is Shaped by Materials (feat. Raj Gopalaswamy)

<p>The goal of many materials engineers is to develop more sustainable packaging to reduce environmental impact. However, the history of packaging shows us that manufacturers prefer to meet performance and design standards to make unique and long-lasting products. Soon, customers will expect their favorite brands to be more conscious about the impact of their products on our planet, so companies like Coca-Cola have been adapting their packages to fit both environmental and customer needs.</p> <p>Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our <a href='https://www.itsamaterialworldpodcast.com/shop'>MSE-themed merchandise</a> if you want to support us or simply show off your love of materials science!</p> <p>Today’s guest is Raj Gopalaswamy, he served as a technical director of global packaging at Coca-Cola for 5 years. In this episode, he explains the role of packaging in consumer habits, sustainability and much more.</p> <p>In this conversation, we discuss the following topics:</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Coca-Cola’s supply-chain</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Evolution of soft drinks packaging</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The business vs the science in a packaging engineer’s life</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The costumer-product interaction</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Role of materials in the future of packaging</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Recycling vs Downcycling</li> </ul> <p>Special thanks to Matmatch for sponsoring this episode! Visit their website at <a href='http://www.matmatch.com/'>www.matmatch.com</a></p> <p>Also, check out our <a href='https://www.subscribepage.com/mseprofessionaldevelopmentguide'>free professional development guide</a> for materials scientists and engineers!</p> <p>Join our <a href='https://discord.gg/49dCV3W4eN'>Discord community</a>! You can meet other passionate materials scientists and engineers from around the world, discuss the latest breakthroughs in MSE, share materials-related memes, and get career advice from experts in the fiel