In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, host Michael Hanf speaks with Kate Reimann, Founder and CEO of Rogue Wave Toys, about how a single day at the beach led to a breakthrough in sustainable design.
When a wave swept her children’s plastic toys out to sea, Kate decided to rethink what play could look like in a world drowning in plastic. The result was Rogue Wave Toys, a company creating durable, compostable beach toys made from biopolymers, plastics made from plants instead of petroleum.
Together, Michael and Kate discuss:
🔸 The long road from an idea to a viable circular product
🔸 How compostable biopolymers work and why they matter
🔸 The hidden challenges of consumer education and pricing in sustainability
🔸 The importance of storytelling and authenticity in building awareness
🔸 How circular design can reshape industries far beyond toys
Kate also shares lessons learned from building a mission-driven company, the importance of persistence, and her vision for scaling sustainable materials across industries, from beach toys to everyday products.
As she puts it, “If we want a different future, we have to be brave enough to build it — even if that starts with something as small as a beach toy.”
🎧 Listen to The Future of Play: Designing for a Circular World
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