A New Resource for the Future of Materials
Sustainability is no longer about good intentions. It is about execution. The companies, researchers, and innovators leading the shift away from PFAS, plastics, and outdated material systems are rewriting what performance and responsibility look like.
That is what Breaking Barriers is here to explore. This new video series brings you face-to-face with the people driving real progress. These are the leaders proving that scalable, high-performance, and sustainable materials are not a vision for the future but a reality taking shape today.
Watch the teaser below for a quick look at what Breaking Barriers is all about.
What Breaking Barriers Is All About
Breaking Barriers dives into the most urgent questions facing industries that depend on advanced materials. How do we transition away from toxic legacy systems without sacrificing performance or cost? How do we navigate new regulations while meeting consumer expectations for safety and transparency?
Each episode features in-person conversations with experts on the front lines, filmed at tradeshows, manufacturing floors, and innovation labs. These conversations offer practical insight into what is working, what is not, and what will come next.
This series explores topics such as:
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The PFAS Reckoning – navigating a world beyond “forever chemicals”
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Packaging Without Plastic – high-performance alternatives ready for scale
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Procurement and Policy in Practice – what leadership looks like under real-world constraints
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Compostable ≠ Safe – separating myth from measurable impact
Episode One: Breaking Barriers with Mike Marcinkowski of INNOVATIV Holdings
The premiere episode features Mike Marcinkowski, Global Director of Packaging and Material Science and Sustainability at INNOVATIV Holdings.
In this conversation, Mike traces a career that moved from engineering roles at major CPGs into a seat where he now helps brands execute change at scale. He explains why sustainable performance has to be designed in at the front end, not patched in later, and why the hardest part is usually commercialization, not the idea itself.
What you will learn in this episode
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Front-end by design: How building sustainability into specs at the start avoids costly redesigns and line disruptions later.
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Commercialization realities: Why moving from concept to scale is the real hurdle, and how to plan for scrap rates, capital, and manufacturability.
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EU to US trend flow: How European standards for recycling and compostability are shaping North American roadmaps today.
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Right spec, right material: Why overengineering is common, what to question in legacy specs, and how to right-size performance without sacrificing quality.
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Case study lessons: How a shift from premium plastic to molded fiber on a marquee razor line cut plastics dramatically while maintaining shelf impact.
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What is next: Water-soluble and product-integrated formats, and opportunities to remove plastic in produce packaging where single-use persists.
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Leadership commitments: Why senior sponsorship, early proof-of-concept investment, and clear white-space targeting de-risk first-to-market moves.
This episode shows how transformation happens in real operations, with practical takeaways for packaging, procurement, and sustainability teams that need results, not rhetoric.
Watch Episode 1 below to see how Mike approaches Plastic-free solutions that are built for scale:
Coming Up Next: Voices Redefining What’s Possible
In the months ahead, Breaking Barriers will feature an inspiring lineup of guests who are reshaping the future of sustainable materials and systems:
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Kaley Cross, Grove Collaborative – Sustainability Manager
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John Felts, Cruz Foam – Co-Founder and CEO
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Julia Marsh, SWAY – Co-Founder and CEO
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Nate Pajka, Metsä Board – Sustainability Manager
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Aleks Gosiewski, Keel Labs – Co-Founder and CEO
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Shane Bertsch, INX International Ink Co. – Senior VP, Innovation and Strategy
Each guest brings a unique perspective on innovation, performance, and purpose, representing the momentum driving the industry forward.
Why This Series Matters
The future of sustainable materials depends on shared progress. Every episode of Breaking Barriers is designed to spark collaboration and provide practical insights that help material developers, brand owners, and sustainability leaders make better decisions faster.
The guests featured in this series are not talking about what could be done. They are showing what is being done. From field-tested solutions to transparent discussions about tradeoffs, Breaking Barriers gives anyone working in materials, packaging, or policy a clearer picture of what real transformation looks like.
Watch and Join the Conversation
You can now watch Episode 1 featuring Mike Marcinkowski and subscribe to upcoming releases at:
impermeamaterials.com/pages/breaking-barriers-video-series
Follow the conversation on LinkedIn, YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts and sign up for our newsletter to get early access to each new episode, bonus clips, and behind-the-scenes insights from the leaders shaping what comes next.
Together, we are breaking barriers and building what comes after.
