Planet Hope: Revolutionising the world's plastic waste problem with Miranda Wang

Planet Hope: Revolutionising the world's plastic waste problem with Miranda Wang

Author: The Times May 20, 2023 Duration: 40:36

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.


With estimates suggesting that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of micro and macro plastics in our seas and continued reports stating that a truckload of plastic enters our oceans every minute, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the life cycle of plastic products once they are thrown in the bin. Environmental Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by scientist, tech entrepreneur and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Miranda Wang to learn how her innovative upcycling technology is paving the way for plastic to have a second, third… maybe even evergreen life.

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Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
World Cup: Our football writer’s five stages of grief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:54
In the twelve years since Qatar was awarded the World Cup, a number of questions have been raised about the appropriateness of hosting the tournament there. For one Times sports writer preparing to cover the tournament,…
Inside Hong Kong: A city on the edge? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
Draconian Covid rules and crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters turned the global business hub into a walled city. As it slowly reopens, expats are curiously divided on the power of Beijing - so what’s going on inside f…
Britain’s migration crisis, explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman is at the centre of a migration crisis after the Manston immigration centre was reported as unsafe, understaffed and 'wretched' by the borders watchdog. So, how did the situation unfol…
Bird flu: The devastating pandemic that’s flown under the radar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:14
Over 5.5 million farm birds have been culled to stem the largest outbreak of avian influenza ever recorded in the UK. The virus has spread to Britain’s seabirds causing a huge environmental impact and killing tens of tho…
US midterms 2022: An existential election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:41
Tomorrow, for the first time since the election that many Americans still believe was 'stolen', voters in the US head back to the polls. Almost everything except the presidency is up for grabs – and for many Americans on…
Has Brazil's election helped to save the planet? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:59
Brazil’s left-wing former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has achieved a historic victory over his far-right rival, the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro. With many seeing this election as the last chance to save th…
The fall of Facebook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
In recent years the once dominant social media platform has been hit by problem after problem. Fewer people use it, and revenues and profits are down. So just what has taken a bite out of Mark Zuckerberg’s empire?This po…
Could Donald Trump go to jail? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Former US president Donald Trump is facing a host of legal issues. So which could prove the most problematic for him and what could be the consequences? Could any of them stop him becoming president a second time – or se…
Harry and Meghan: What the courtiers saw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:14
A royal correspondent’s best sources are often the unseen aides, advisors and staff, working behind the scenes. Who are these advisors? What do they really do? And what can they tell us not just about how past stories un…
The challenge ahead for Rishi Sunak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:57
At the end of his first week in power, Rishi Sunak already faces a backlash over his choice for home secretary. And more importantly, what can he possibly do to avert a recession? This podcast was brought to you thanks t…