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Workshop 20 May 2025 - free to attend Day 1 - Wednesday 21 May 2025 Day 2 - Thursday 22 May 2025
Registration and refreshments
Implementing EPR and single-use plastic ban in the UAE - Workshop
Implementing EPR and single-use plastic ban in the UAE - strategies and best practices
This workshop will delve into the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the recent single-use plastic ban in the UAE. Participants will gain insights into the regulatory framework, compliance requirements, and practical strategies for transitioning to sustainable alternatives. The session will feature expert presentations, interactive discussions, and case studies to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate these significant environmental regulations.

Who will attend?
This workshop is designed for policymakers, environmental consultants, business leaders, sustainability officers, and industry stakeholders involved in waste management, packaging, and environmental compliance.

Why should you attend?
Attending this workshop will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the UAE's EPR regulations and single-use plastic ban. Participants will learn from industry experts about the latest compliance strategies, innovative solutions, and best practices for reducing plastic waste. This is an excellent opportunity to network with peers, share experiences, and collaborate on sustainable initiatives that align with the UAE's environmental goals.

Workshop moderator:
Shereen Shaheen, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Expert, Tetrapak

Speakers:
Gabriella Borgovan, Principal, Roland Berger
Monir Salem Bou Ghanem, Advisor - Environment Policy and Regulations, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
Tawfik El Kheshen, Managing Director, Apex Consulting

Panel discussion
Panelists:
  • Sara Jackson, Technical Director, Circular Packaging Association
  • Sebastian Frisch, Managing Director, Black Forest Solutions GmbH
  • Priya Sarma, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Head UAE and Beauty & Wellbeing Categories, Unilever (Business Coalition)
  • Leila Harmouch, Sustainability Manager, Napco
  • Jamila El Mir, Sustainable Transitions Policy and Strategy Expert, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Agency
     

Q&A session with the panelists, speakers and workshop delegates

Additionally, we will have round table discussions in smaller groups to facilitate in-depth conversations and practical problem-solving.
 
End of workshop
Registration and morning refreshments
Smithers welcome
Chair’s opening remarks
SESSION 1 - REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PACKAGING MARKET TRENDS
Advancing sustainability in packaging in the Middle East (TBC)
Sara Jackson | Technical Director, Circular Packaging Association
Global and regional overview of recent trends and developments in the global packaging industry
  • How big is the market – historic and current volumes and values
  • Where is it – regional overview
  • What drives it – key trends and influences, including consumer attitudes and pressures
  • Where is it going – forecast volumes and values
  • MENA single used plastic ban vs Europe - What does it mean for the packaging industry in Middle East & Africa?

Stephen Harrod | Consultant, Paper and Board, Packaging, Smithers
Joint Q&A with speakers
SESSION 2 - EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR) AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS IN THE MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA & EUROPE
Setting the scene talk and EPR pilot for packaging waste in the UAE
Sebastian Frisch | Managing Director, Black Forest Solutions
Networking break
Lessons learned from Europe on the contribution of EPR scheme to the development of reduction, reuse, recycling
  • Necessity and relevance of a clear and predictable legal framework
  • The role of a PRO to implement EPR scheme and develop a collective and responsible approach between stakeholders
  • Concrete examples of actions on reduction, reuse, and recycling

Anne-Sophie Michel | Innovation Manager, CITEO
Single used plastics ban and EPR Q&A pane: What can we learn from each other?
Moderator: Shereen Shaheen, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Expert, Tetra Pak
Panellists:
Omneya Fawzy I Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, North Africa & Pakistan (MENAP),
Mondelez
Monir Salem Bou Ghanem I Advisor – Environment Policy and Regulations, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
Sebastian Frisch I Managing Director, Black Forest Solutions GmbH
Tawfik El Kheshen I Managing Director, Apex Consulting

 
SESSION 3 - WASTE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA –
COLLABORATIONS AND INVESTMENTS
The state of recycling infrastructure - challenges and opportunities in collection and sorting across the Middle East and Africa
Gabriella Borgovan | Principal UAE, Roland Berger
The close loop of PET plastic bottle in the UAE
Theofilos Alevizos, Senior Director HSE & Sustainability, Agthia and Jerome Viricel, General Manager, RECAPP by Veolia
Creating a circular economy - challenges faced by the upcycling operator (quality recycler)
Rajnish Sinha I Director, Horizon Technologies FZC
Joint Q&A with speakers
Networking lunch
Aluminium recycling coalition panel:
The panel will offer a comprehensive perspective on the opportunities and challenges associated with increasing aluminium can recycling rates by bringing together key stakeholders from the value chain.

Moderator: Gabriella BorgovanI Principal, Roland Berger
Panellists:
  • Marc Georges Gerard Esteve I Executive Director, Commercial Operations, FM & International, BEEAH
  • Omar, Jabar I Regional Manager Legal & Sustainability, CANPACK
  • Mark John Siddorn I Strategic Planning and Business Performance Director, Tadweer Group
SESSION 4 - DESIGNING FOR RECYCLABILITY
Redesigning packaging
  • Mono material packaging
  • Alu-free packaging
  • Recycled content
  • Recycling and engineering compounding in a circular economy
Leila Harmouch I Sustainability Manager and Charbel Bechara I Operation Manager, Napco
Redesigning the future of packaging: the need for change
Yury Shishkov | Senior Category Manager, Huhtamaki
Afternoon networking break
Rethink all you know - the next big leap in packaging solutions
  • Alu-free packaging and its benefits (environmental and for recycling)
  • Renewability and way forward
  • Recyclability / design for recycling
  • Local recycling solutions for aseptic beverage cartons and plastics packaging

Nicola Wagstyl | Nicola Wagstyl, SIG
SESSION 5 - MATERIAL INNOVATIONS AND CIRCULARITY
Barrier packaging - improved shelf life and lower costs
  • Benefits of gas barrier and EVAL®
  • Examples of packaging with improved shelf life and cost reduction
  • Setting up a top quality factory in Africa
  • PLANTIC® for paper-based compostable & plastic-based recyclable packages
Romain Luijkx I Market Development Engineer and Dr. Veysi Altun I Account Manager, Kuraray (Eval Europe)
Innovation in plastic modification additives to reduce the weight and improve the cycle time in PP thermoformed packaging
Synco de Vogel | Technology Manager Polyolefin Modification, Synthomer
Advances in Food Packaging 2025-2027
Dr Mike Cheetham | Head of Sustainability, Hotpack Packaging Industries LLC
Joint Q&A session with speakers
Chair’s closing remarks and end of day one
NETWORKING EVENING RECEPTION
17:45 - 19:15
Registration and welcome refreshments
Chair's opening remarks
SESSION 6 - PPWR AND GLOBAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT PLASTIC WASTE
The business case for global rules to tackle plastic pollution
  • Where do the UN negotiations on an international legally binding instrument stand?
  • Why do businesses call for harmonisation of regulatory approaches addressing plastic products, circular design and EPR?
  • What are the key policy instruments that governments need to align on as part of the Global Plastics Treaty?
  • How can the Business Coalition help companies from across the plastics value chain to engage with policymakers in this process?

Priya Sarma | Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Head UAE and Beauty & Wellbeing Categories, Unilever (Business Coalition)
KEYNOTE regulator perspective - packaging waste and management
Jamila El Mir | Strategy Advisor, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Agency
EU sustainability-related regulations: where are we?
Rachida Semail | Partner, Keller & Heckman
SESSION 7 - SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
An overview of bioplastics, different biodegradation schemes and end of life options for plastic packaging and single use plastic products
  • There are many misunderstandings on what are bioplastics
  • End of life options for bioplastics are many, including recycling composting and anaerobic digestion
  • The chosen end of life options must be supported by infrastructure for collection and e.g. composting
  • The separation of food waste from waste streams should be integrated in the system
  • Waste separation is a critical and clear rules and legislation will be required for consumers

Hugo Vuurens | VP Business Development, CJ Biomaterials
How bioplastics can support the Middle East’s transition to a circular economy
  • Bioplastics like PLA, is fully biodegradable and compostable, thus has lower carbon footprint and leaves no persistent microplastics in the environment. It is a preferred alternative for shorter life and Single use applications.
  • Globally, the bioplastics sector is growing at a faster rate and has proven to help to lessen the impact on the environment as well as limit the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
  • Middle East, particularly UAE which hosted COP28 has envisioned to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, resulting in adoption of sustainable policies such as the UAE circular economy policy, Food security etc.
  • The growing population, tourism industry, GDP growth and per capita plastic consumption creates a need for adopting sustainable consumption practices. Lack of systematic plastic waste management infrastructure and SUP legislation further acts as a catalyst to adopt sustainable materials.
  • Emirates Biotech is the first of its kind in the Middle east set to market and manufacture the world's largest PLA production facility.

Prashant Lohade | Sales Development Manager, Emirates Biotech
Morning networking break
SESSION 8 - BRANDS AND RETAILERS PERSPECTIVES
BIG BRAND & RETAILER PANEL: Brands leading the way in sustainable packaging – focusing on innovations, industry insights, and the impact of circular solutions.
Panellists:
Cynthia Karam I Francise PACS Director MER, Coca Cola
Kaunain Shahidi I Procurement Manager (Group), Almarai
Maria Talu I Packaging Sustainability Program Manager, Mars

 
SESSION 9 - NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN MECHANICAL RECYCLING AND
FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS (FCM)
A recycler perspective – Case study
Majed Saeed Al Marzouqi | Recycling Director, Tadweer Group
Experience, practical solutions and database useful for plastic recycling and upcycling
  • Case studies illustrating the practical solutions adopted to ensure sustainability and safety in recycling processes and the design of safe and effective packaging
  • New technologies validation and management
  • Challenge test
  • IAS and NIAS testing

Dr. Marinella Vitulli | Owner & Director , Food Contact Center srl & Food Contact Services srl
SESSION 10 - NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN CHEMICAL RECYCLING IN MENA REGION
Accelerating circular packaging from advanced recycling in MENA region
  • Incorporating PCR in contact sensitive applications
  • Some success cases
  • Potential boundaries & challenges

Bart Van Hoof | Global Marketing & Competence Leader Circular Economy , SABIC
Exploring chemical recycling solutions for pet: a focus on glycolysis
  • Overview of various chemical recycling methods for PET: pyrolysis, hydrolysis, and glycolysis
  • Discussion of the pros and cons of each method, focusing on environmental impact, economic viability, and scalability.
  • In-depth focus on glycolysis, including its process of depolymerizing PET using ethylene glycol
  • Examination of glycolysis's efficiency in recycling post-consumer PET waste

Jan van Kisfeld | Group Managing Director, revalyu Group
SESSION 11 - DIGITAL INNOVATIONS
Transform the packaging into the future - the next level of on-demand consumer engagement
  • Variable data printing allows brands to reduce the time from "design to shelves" and to increase personalisation 
  • Differentiation in the shelf helps to increase sales
  • Disruptive connected packaging solution for on-demand consumer engagement 
  • Digital platform push sustainability and helps to fulfil new market regulations
  • The combination of both worlds is THE Game Changer for the packaging industry

Thomas Vollmuth | Head of Brand Owner Management, Koenig & Bauer AG
The technology revolution in packaging: how AI and connected experiences are transforming consumer behaviour
As packaging evolves from a passive container to an interactive medium, new technologies are fundamentally changing how brands connect with consumers. This session explores how AI, connected packaging, and digital experiences are creating unprecedented opportunities for consumer engagement and behaviour change.

New technologies are transforming packaging from a passive container into an intelligent communication channel, with AI and connected experiences creating unprecedented opportunities for consumer engagement while supporting sustainability goals through digital-first education and reduced physical waste. Drawing from successful implementations including Sunny Oil's AI-powered recipe platform, this session explores how brands can leverage GPT-4, DALL-E 2, and gamification to create meaningful consumer interactions that drive behavioral change. The presentation will share practical insights on technical implementation, cost considerations, and ROI metrics, providing actionable takeaways for brands looking to innovate their packaging strategy while meeting environmental objectives.
Jenny Stanley | Founder & Managing Director, Appetite Creative
Chairs closing remarks
Networking lunch
End of conference

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Sustpack MENA Agenda 2025
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