Using post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin in packaging and products has environmental benefits over virgin resin including lower greenhouse gas emissions and a reduced carbon footprint. It also results in demonstrated direct and indirect economic benefits to communities. Historically, mechanically recycled plastics have been utilized as a low-cost replacement for virgin plastics and often in lower value applications due to concerns over food safety and technical issues like color or odor. Most regulations for food contact packaging require the feedstock for food grade recycled content to be sourced from known food contact feedstocks like PET beverage bottles. Outside of PET, a significant limitation exists for many other resins because of the mix of non-food contact and food contact applications. Often, there are fewer avenues to achieve a high value second life in food or personal care packaging. Some plastics, namely films and multi-laminates, are immense in volume, but are too low in value and too hard to mechanically recycle. Now, advanced recycling technologies like solvolysis, depolymerization, and pyrolysis are opening up opportunities for low-value plastics to see a next life as food grade plastics. Advanced recycling technologies can create a material comparable to virgin resins and allow for reuse in similar product applications. Developing a deeper understanding of these technologies and how they can create high quality material feedstocks, can have a lasting impact on regional economic development and community prosperity. By shifting the value proposition for these plastics, it can also provide an avenue to reduce ocean plastics. 
 
Anne Johnson | Principal and Vice President Global Corporate Sustainability, RRS

• Tech development for chemical recycling
• As complementary to mechanical recycling, how do we incentive chemical recycling?
• How to improve chemical recycling for a higher end application, such as in food industry

Sreepadaraj Karanam | Director, Sustainability and Circular Economy Strategy, Asia Pacific, SABIC

Len Humphreys | CEO, Licella

Sustainability may have slipped in the focus of consumers and corporates alike in 2020 due to the economic impact of the coronavirus. However, in 2021 will we see a resurgence in sustainability as supply chains and end-users look to press restart on sustainability goals. What are the key drivers influencing changes in the Asia recycling market? How will it develop and shape 2021?

• South East Asia: the potential and the risks for the supply chain
• What and who is driving change in the Asia recycling market
• Barriers to overcome and developments for change

Tan Jia Hui | Analyst, Plastics Recycling, APAC, ICIS

• How materials are recycled
• Recycled materials vs. virgin materials
• Application of recycled materials 
• Materials other than PET which needs to be recycled more: LDPE, PP? 

Carlos Ludlow-Palafox | CEO, Enval

The waste management and recycling industry may not sound like the most exciting investment target but this territory offers the opportunity to balance financial returns with tangible impact in tackling plastic waste. Investing in waste management and recycling in just 5 countries in Asia can reduce the global plastic leakage into the ocean by 45% (Ocean Conservancy). And we can reduce it even further by advancing the circular economy.
Circulate Capital’s goal is to scale companies across the entire plastic value chain that generate economic, social and environmental value, and demonstrably uplift impact and prove the investment case in this area.
Through these investments in the waste management and recycling industry, we can address systemic gaps and pain points such as such as fragmentation, lack of traceability and low-quality of recycled materials to deliver real value.
Karina Cady | Operations and Investment Director, Circulate Capital

In this session, representatives from each links of the value chain including brand owners, converters, mechanical recyclers, chemical recyclers, waste management companies and more will discuss where the gaps and opportunities are and how to collaborate to completely close the loop. 

Moderator:
Sreepadaraj Karanam, Director, Sustainability and Circular Economy Strategy, Asia Pacific, SABIC
Panellists:
Carlos Ludlow-Palafox, CEO, Enval
Andrew Almack, CEO, Plastics for Change
Karina Cady, Operations and Investment Director at Circulate Capital, Circulate Capital
 

Why sustainability is gaining momentum
Understanding sustainability – where is the gap today

• Common misconceptions we face
• Complex terms simplified

Green washing – time to raise & beware

• Misleading claims
• What to look-out for 

Underlying principles to sustainability in design 

• Drive for positive influence 
• Need for change & not rush

Swaminathan SV | Senior Director - Sustainability, Innovation & Packaging Development (APAC), HAVI

How do we design to make our world better than we found it?  Understanding and prioritising impacts along the full supply chain is critical to designing to achieving the best outcomes from packaging solutions.  From food packaging to e-commerce the challenges of increasingly complex supply chains and multiple channel options demand more advanced and robust packaging solutions. Hear how Sealed Air tackles these design challenges and gain insights into how smart packaging solutions can deliver more value to customers and consumers.
Alan Adams | Sustainability Director, APAC, Sealed Air

With Loop, packaging is an asset – aesthetics matter! The challenge: With an ever increasing focus on reducing waste Touch were tasked with generating a reusable (at least 100 times), durable and widely recyclable 1 pint container for Häagen-Dazs which would become part of the Loop doorstep delivery system.
James Pryor will share the Häagen-Dazs case study in detail as well as many other successful sustainable packaging design projects.
James Pryor | Co-founder & Creative Director, Touch Design

Sustainability has become very important as it is a global common goal, and now many value chains in the industry are looking for how to implement rather than highlighting the necessity. Despite the attention and efforts of many people, there are still many obstacles to overcome in the field of processed food packaging.
First, current technologies are limited in replacing plastics for food packaging because processed food packaging should achieve sustainability while maintaining packaging-specific functions such as food safety. In other words, technologies for sustainability are not yet in the final stage, and new technologies are still being researched. In addition, various technologies related to sustainability that are currently feasible are in high demand but in insufficient supply.
Second, to realize a circular economy, countries are reorganizing environmental laws and regulations, and because each country has different infrastructures, there are different regulations. This means that global companies need to design their packaging in consideration of the region.
Third, even with sustainable packaging technology, consumers often don't know why this is an eco-friendly product because the product often have the same look and feel. Not only CPG, whose consumers are end users, but also VCs within the industry should communicate honestly and transparently with end users.
Olivia Park | Manager of Global Packaging R&D, CJ CheilJedang

Brands are paying closer attention to designing for sustainable outcomes. This panel will consider how to design packaging for better recycling in the first place?  Where are the quick wins for better design? What will needed for long term and complete circularity?

Moderator:
James Pryor, Co-founder & Creative Director, Touch Design
Panellists:
Grace Kim, Head of Global Packaging R&D, CJ CheilJedang
Neil Court-Johnston, Vice President of Strategy, Zotefoams plc
Nidhi Aggarwal, Head of R&D Packaging – Asia Pacific, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
Wannaros Natt Tantranont, Business Development and Sustainability Lead, Ball

• What's needed from the brand owner perspective.
• The role of the packaging value chain in collaborating for sustainability 
• Consumer education – who is responsible?
• Investment and innovation in recycling – who's funding it and who will benefit?

Moderator:
Dr. Lu Jianzhong, Board Member, Global Reporting Initiative, Deputy Director General, China CSR Think Tank, President Greater China General Affairs, Essilor
Panellists:
Nanqing Jiang, Secretary-General, Committee of Green Circular and Inclusive Development
Gary Calicdan, Ethical Buyer – Packaging and Print, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
Quentin Yan, Sr. Manager/Director, Asia Pacific Market Development, Consumer Packaging, WestRock
Victor Barichello, Commercial Director, Selerant

• Is flexible plastic packaging recycling a possibility? 
• Innovation for the sustainability of flexible plastic packaging

Richard Smith | Director Sustainability – Asia Pacific, Amcor Flexibles AFAP

More and more brands, retailers and packaging companies, including WestRock, are partnering to drive towards a circular economy and to achieve sustainable packaging goals with the full life cycle in mind.  Innovation plays a vital role in imagining and delivering on the promise of a sustainable future.  We will share case studies around how we work together with our customers and their customers to create fiber-based packaging to protect and preserve the essential products we all rely on, including maintaining food safety, while also minimizing impact on the environment.
Quentin Yan | Sr. Manager/Director, Asia Pacific Market Development, Consumer Packaging, WestRock

Circular economy is a key driver towards a sustainable environment. The packaging industry has been actively exploring cutting-edge and innovative methods to deliver sustainable solutions without compromising on the fundamental requirements of plastic packaging. As a leading polyolefins producer, Borouge is committed to the development of a circular economy and strives to take the lead in providing viable sustainability solutions through initiatives like offering packaging options made entirely from renewable feedstock, designing for recyclability and incorporating recyclates into its portfolio. With its comprehensive offering of circular solutions, Borouge aims to create a positive and dynamic impact with packaging applications that enhance the quality of life and the environment. 
Pratyush Bandyopadhyay | Head, Circular Economy Solutions, Borouge

The topic of single-use plastic (SUP) has attracted considerable global attention. Even though it has been investigated extensively by the research community, there is no existing literature that succinctly reviews the progress and developments of its uses, associated impacts, viable alternatives, and end-of-life scenarios through the lens of the food services industry (FSI). Through our research, we attempted to answer the question if the use of SUP foodware in the FSI can be more sustainable, and if possible, participate in the circular economy. We have determined that it is technologically possible for disposable foodware to achieve circularity using bio-based biodegradable foodware materials, organic recycling, and industrial symbiosis. All three components need to be operated and utilized simultaneously for any disposable foodware to be truly circular. However, we found the adoption rate of these technologies to be relatively low, and we discussed the reasons for our findings in detail. To mitigate against this situation and encourage greater adoption, we proposed using policy action as an intervention mechanism.
Jovan Tan | Researcher , National University of Singapore

As a leader in adhesive technologies, Henkel understands how adhesives and coatings can impact the sustainability of packaging and consumer goods. Henkel believes there is value in everything and this value can be captured by RETHINKing processes, product design and use of resources. Henkel is committed to enable customers to reach their sustainability targets as well as current packaging design trends via three different pillars: Carbon footprint reduction, circular economy, health & safety. This presentation will share different solutions for flexible packaging and specific examples of laminating adhesives and coatings that can make a sustainable difference.
Alexander Bockisch | Global Head of Market Strategy – Flexible Packaging, Henkel

Darren Milligan | VP & GM, Label and Packaging Materials, ASEAN, Avery Dennison

Cindy Qian | Regional Flexible Packaging Segment Manger, HP

Impression Marketing by Coating in Packaging -- it is a trend to add haptic elements to printing and packaging, and to quickly create brand characteristics through sensory experience. The past three SKINS® solutions include  Rubbert (rubber touch),   Silky (Silky touch),  VEL-VEETO (velvet touch), and Sandy(Sand touch). The aim is to meet this need by achieving different textures in a variety of printing and packaging materials. These innovative special coatings, whether used in skincare products or food packaging, coated or uncoated paper, cardboard, plastic or even aluminum, will bring a wealth of creativity to the brand.
In the same time, waterborne technology could enable circular economy in big scale with functional performance: with such coating, paper can replace plastic in certain application which need grease/waterproof, in the same time achieving recyclable packaging. The water-based solution also makes the packaging safer, easy to heat seal, and easy to tear open, making the experience much better. Covestro RFM's innovative waterborne resin technology creates a better impression in life for brands and enable the possibility of recycling million tons of paper like paper cup/bag.
 
Johnson Zeng | Marketing Manager APAC, RFM, Covestro

Today, brands globally rely on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to select packaging materials for their products. These tools have evolved and improved over time, but they still present only a partial picture of a material’s environmental impact. It’s time for another step-change. Trivium Packaging is taking sustainability in packaging to the next level by expanding the traditional LCA methods to include factors such as circularity, packaging waste reduction and improved shelf life. We will share how this holistic approach can support brands to better position their sustainability commitments and reduce the environmental footprint we all leave behind at the same time.
Jenny Wassenaar | Vice President Sustainability, Trivium Packaging