Join hosts Dana Clémençon and Micah Schweizer on Balancing the Future from METTLER TOLEDO, where they delve into the world of sustainable technology and its transformative impact on our lives. Each episode features stories from leading innovators, breaking down complex tech advancements into engaging narratives that reveal how these innovations shape our present and future. From the origins of new technologies to their individual and societal implications, this podcast offers a compelling look at the future of sustainability.

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        &lt;p&gt;It’s widely recognized that many persistent chemicals pose risks to both environmental and human health. Addressing this significant global challenge requires innovative solutions. One of these is the groundbreaking concept of ‘Treatable by Design’. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;In this episode of &lt;em&gt;Balancing the Future&lt;/em&gt;, Chai and Micah sit down with Dr. Gabriel Sigmund, Associate Professor at Wageningen University &amp;amp; Research to discuss his approach for developing safer chemicals. The central premise of Treatable by Design is that chemicals are intentionally designed to degrade rapidly and exhibit low toxicity.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;This strategy targets substances such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are commonly used for their water- and oil-resistant properties. If a chemical can’t be treatable by design, Gabriel recommends seeking alternative compounds. Progress has already been made in this area, as shown by the development of new firefighter foams and other products. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A second line of defense for addressing toxic chemicals involves removing them from the environment through techniques such as water filtration and incineration. Although remediation efforts are underway, their pace remains insufficient. Gabriel emphasizes that even if affluent nations allocated all available resources, it would still be impossible to eliminate every hazardous chemical from the environment. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Overall, Gabriel advocates for a pragmatic approach: reducing the production of harmful chemicals now will decrease the need for future remediation. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;LINKS:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dr. Gabriel Sigmund&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.wur.nl/en/persons/dr-g-gabriel-sigmund&quot;&gt;Bio&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;METTLER TOLEDO &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.mt.com/global/en/home.html&quot;&gt;Website&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;METTLER TOLEDO on &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettlertoledo&quot;&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Balancing The Future&lt;/em&gt; Podcast &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.mt.com/global/en/home/library/podcast/laboratory-division/balancing-the-future-laboratory-podcast.html&quot;&gt;Website&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Micah Schweizer on &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahschweizer/&quot;&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Chai Nussbaumer on &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaic1/&quot;&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SOURCES:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pubs.rsc.org/su/article/4/6/2527/1234973/A-concept-for-the-molecular-design-of-readily&quot;&gt;A concept for the molecular design of readily treatable chemicals&lt;/a&gt; – Royal Society of Chemistry&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://chemsec.org/with-over-100-new-alternatives-to-pfas-chemsec-marketplace-becomes-key-industry-resource/&quot;&gt;With over 100 new alternatives to PFAS, ChemSec Marketplace becomes key industry resource&lt;/a&gt; – ChemSec &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.6c00444&quot;&gt;Persistence Assessment of Chemicals: Trajectories toward New Approach Methodologies (P-NAMs)&lt;/a&gt; – ACS Publications &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://cms.law/en/gbr/legal-updates/support-for-eu-wide-pfas-restriction-with-targeted-derogations-what-happens-next&quot;&gt;Support for EU-wide PFAS restriction with targeted derogations: what happens next?&lt;/a&gt; – CMS Law &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/europes-pfas-restriction-proposal-moving-forward&quot;&gt;Europe’s PFAS restriction proposal is moving forward&lt;/a&gt; – White and Case &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; BALANCING THE FUTURE:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;br&gt;We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer&#039;s, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields.   &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;br&gt;Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. &lt;br&gt;METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.&lt;/p&gt;<br />
      

Balancing The Future

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