What do Star Wars, Chewbacca and plastic pollution have in common?
You’ll find the answer on the latest episode of the Net Hero Podcast, where Dr Christopher Carrick of Lignin Industries joins us for a fascinating, funny and deeply thoughtful chat about the future of sustainable plastics — and yes, it all started with a Wookiee.
Carrick, a fifth-generation forestry expert turned green chemist, reveals how his journey from tree-avoiding rebel to bioplastic pioneer began not in a lab, but in his kitchen.
Inspired by a Chewbacca ice cube tray, he started experimenting with lignin — a woody, carbon-rich substance usually burned in the pulp and paper industry — and realised it could be used to create an alternative to fossil-based plastic.
Why Chewbacca? “My instant hero would be Chewbacca,” Carrick says. “I completely fell in love and then because lignin is brown as Chewbacca, you know, it became beautiful.” Yes, that’s a real quote — and the start of something big.
Lignin, it turns out, could be the key to greener plastic.
Carrick’s company, Lignin Industries, has developed a material called Renol, which replaces part of the fossil content in plastic with modified lignin.
It’s already being used in e-commerce bags, packaging films and even furniture — and could one day be found in everything from headphones to, you guessed it, Chewbacca figurines.
This is a proper geek-meets-green story, with some serious science behind it.
Chris explains how lignin can help reduce carbon emissions and how the plastic industry’s resistance to change isn’t about technology — it’s about money and mindset.
If you care about plastic waste, sustainable design or just love a good Star Wars origin story, you’ll want to hear the full episode.
Listen now to the Net Hero Podcast on your podcast channel – and may the (carbon-neutral) force be with you.
Net Hero Podcast – Chewbacca, bin bags and bioplastics appeared first on Energy Live News.