Pictured from left: Stephen Gregory Kostka, Nuria Escriva Garcia, James Wang, Kipp Joseph Sande.
This blogpost was written by James Wang, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business MBA Candidate ‘26 and Team Leader of the 1st place winning team of the 2025 Circular Plastics Challenge, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and Hillenbrand. James was joined by team members Nuria Escriva Garcia, Kipp Joseph Sande, and Stephen Gregory Kostka, all UC Berkeley Haas Candidates. The below are his reflections on the Challenge.
We are honored to receive first place in the 2025 Circular Plastics Challenge. The prompt question this year was one that was simple on the surface, but practically complex: 'How might we develop a business concept that leverages artificial intelligence to maximize circularity throughout the plastic value chain?' I’ve written my reflections below about our business concept, how we built the team, and some key takeaways from the experience.
About our Concept
Polysorter integrates three cutting-edge technologies: AI-powered scanning, robotic sorting arms, and ultrasonic cleaning. Polysorter is designed to be integrated into the advanced sorting process of recycling, positioned between initial material separation and final quality control. By replacing traditional sorting technologies, Polysorter ensures higher sorting accuracy, reduced contamination, and an increase in the volume of high-quality PCR available for use in manufacturing.
Putting the Team Together
Our team came together based on a mix of shared interests, complementary skills, and the fact that we’d worked well together before. I’m deeply passionate about improving waste stream practices, with the long-term goal of working in this space. I’ve volunteered at MRFs, conducted waste audits, and have long been interested in how we can reduce and reimagine waste streams. Since I come from the startup world, I was excited to approach this challenge with an innovation-first mindset and a bias toward action, while grounding our ideas based on my prior knowledge and experience.
After teaming up in a finance class where Kipp led the financial modeling aspect of the project, I knew he’d be the perfect person to lead our financial analysis. Although he aims to work in clean energy, he was excited to explore a new challenge. Kipp served as our finance lead, driving both the impact analysis and payback calculations. He also brought an incredibly positive attitude that kept the team energized, especially when we hit roadblocks.
I’d also previously worked with Nuria in an ESG case competition, where we connected over our shared interest in tackling practical sustainability problems, particularly in the supply chain sector. She has a strong consulting background, which made her especially skilled at distilling complex information and weaving compelling narratives. Her attention to detail ensured that every part of the prompt was addressed thoroughly, and her contributions were critical to both the research and storytelling aspects of our solution.
Stephen and I had also teamed up in a case competition focused on solar panel recycling. He led that team with infectious energy and a sharp strategic mindset. Given his interest in the circular economy and sustainability, I knew he’d be a strong fit. Stephen is an eloquent presenter and someone who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, which kept us grounded and aligned throughout the project.
Having two licensed P.E. (Professional Engineers) on our team (Kipp and Stephen) not only strengthened the technical feasibility of our proposed solution but also added credibility when assessing real-world implementation. And outside of our mix of technical depth, creative thinking, and presentation skills, we all truly cared about the topic, which made the process genuinely fun and meaningful.
Key Takeaways from the Experience
We really enjoyed the entire process, but one of the biggest takeaways was the importance of staying flexible. Our initial pitch involved two technologies and a payment system, none of which ended up in our final presentation. For example, we originally planned to incorporate MRI scanning technology because it seemed technically feasible. But after speaking with the Pines Magnetic Resonance Center—the leading lab for this technology—we realized it wasn’t viable for this application yet.
One of the best parts of this experience, besides getting to build Polysorter with my team, was seeing all the creative and thoughtful solutions the other finalist teams came up with. It was really inspiring to see how much passion and innovation are going into tackling the challenges of the circular economy. There’s no easy fix, but it’s clear that there are a lot of smart, motivated people working hard to make progress. We're incredibly grateful for the chance to be part of it, to compete, and to learn from everyone involved. We want to wish everyone who participated congratulations on their dedicated efforts.
We were also surprised by how many existing solutions for improving the circular plastic economy exist and how resistant the industry can be to adopting new ones. Our interviews with MRF operators really opened our eyes to the operational and financial challenges they face, not to mention the volatility of the post-consumer resin (PCR) market. It made it clear that our solution is just one piece of the transitional process. There’s still a lot of work and innovation needed to make the system truly circular.
Working with our Team Mentor, Maxim Ruff
Our team mentor, Maxim Ruff, who serves as a Sales Manager at Coperion, a Hillenbrand Company, was
incredibly helpful to our team and gave us detailed, constructive feedback. His background is in international business development and client engagement, and has held technical sales positions across Europe and Asia. We learned a lot from working with him and owe our first-place win, in part, to his guidance.
“It was a great experience to work with the UC Berkeley team. Their willingness to listen to criticism, ability to work well with people from different fields, and genuine dedication to sustainable innovation made mentoring not only meaningful but also intellectually stimulating,” Maxim reflected. “Team Polysorter showed what it means to innovate with a purpose.”
To learn more about the Circular Plastics Challenge and stay up to date on next year’s topic area, visit https://www.netimpact.org/programs/circular-plastics-challenge.
