E382-Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine & Dr. Ron Najafi on tips to save our planet

E382 – "Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine." In this episode, Dr. Foojan Zeine chats with Dr. Ramin (Ron) Najafi, a chemist and entrepreneur committed to environmental advocacy. He is Emery Pharma's Founder, President, and CEO, a contract research organization focused on pharmaceutical development. Dr. Najafi invented the Ecological Funnel (ECO Funnel) and founded CP Lab Safety, which distributes over 200,000+ lab safety products worldwide, enhancing compliance with safety standards. In addition to Emery Pharma and CP Lab Safety, he has founded several other companies, including Nova Bay Pharmaceuticals, where he took the company public. With over 70 patents, Dr. Najafi combines scientific innovation with a strong commitment to safety and sustainability in laboratory practices. We will discuss his latest book, co-authored with Kelley Najafi, on the "7 Commandments to Save the Planet". Summary Dr. Ron Najafi, a chemist and entrepreneur, discussed his journey from working in the pharmaceutical industry to becoming an advocate for environmental safety. He shared his invention of a product that prevents laboratory pollution and its widespread adoption in the industry. Dr. Ron emphasized the importance of education in understanding the impact of human activities on the planet, citing examples such as the long-lasting effects of plastic waste and the disproportionate generation of carbon dioxide compared to the absorption capacity of trees. He concluded by stressing the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and to learn about the consequences of their choices on the environment. Dr. Ron and Dr. Foojan discussed the proper disposal of expired drugs, emphasizing that they should be returned to the pharmacy or manufacturer for safe disposal or recycling. They highlighted the issue of expired medications being thrown into landfills, where they can leach into the soil and contaminate the environment, contributing to antibiotic resistance and other health issues. Dr. Ron advocated for manufacturers to take responsibility for their products at the end of their life cycle, ensuring they are disposed of or recycled safely. Dr. Ron discussed adopting a product as a service, similar to software as a service, where the manufacturer is responsible for the product's longevity. He used the example of a refrigerator manufacturer to illustrate this point, stating that they should be accountable for their products, including disposal and recycling. Dr. Ron also shared his experience with a pharmaceutical company, where a faulty refrigerator was discarded after only six months of use. He emphasized the need for companies to reduce waste, reuse, recycle, and repair products, as outlined in his book. Dr. Ron and Dr. Foojan discussed the need for a circular economy, emphasizing the importance of recycling and reusing materials to reduce waste and protect the environment. They highlighted the negative impact of the current linear economy, which involves taking, making, and disposing of, and suggested that policy changes and regulations are necessary to guide companies toward a circular economy. They also discussed the potential for collaboration between different manufacturers to utilize each other's waste products and the importance of reducing plastic waste, which can harm the environment and human health. Dr. Ron shared that he and his wife have been working on this issue for 20 years and have recently published a book on the subject. Dr. Foojan and Dr. Ron discussed the need for revolutionizing food and energy production to save the planet. They highlighted the current chemically intensive methods of growing food and generating energy, which are detrimental to the environment and human health. Dr. Ron suggested the development of high-yield, less poisonous food production methods and exploring safer energy sources, such as solar and wind power. He also emphasized the need to consider the human cost of producing these energy sources, like cobalt mining in Africa. Dr. Ron concluded that solar and wind energy are currently the cheapest and most environmentally friendly options and should be further developed and utilized. Dr. Foojan and Dr. Ron discussed the importance of industry, policymaking, and consumer responsibility in addressing environmental challenges. Dr. Ron emphasized the need for consumers to educate themselves and take action, such as reducing waste, recycling, and demanding eco-friendly products from manufacturers. He also suggested implementing a deposit system for plastic bottles to encourage their return and creating a new industry that can repurpose plastics. Dr. Ron encouraged everyone to visit landfills and recycling centers to understand the issues better and write letters to their legislators to advocate for change. He invited people to contact him via email or LinkedIn for further discussions.