This workshop will give updates on the status of materials in recovery and recycling technologies. How does design for circularity link with actual end-of-life?

Abstract coming soon!
Cheryl Coleman | Vice President for Sustainability, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries

Raw material availability, performance and cost are some of the largest challenges facing manufacturers looking to transition to sustainable packaging. Sean Kohl, Global Product Line Director at Industrial Physics will share international research carried out with 255 companies. The results highlighted that almost half (49%) of 255 global packaging professionals surveyed reported that meeting testing standards was the biggest challenge in the adoption of sustainable packaging materials. Even more striking, was that 71% of those surveyed reported that they found quality control processes ‘significantly’ or ‘somewhat more difficult’ with sustainable packaging materials. Along with other illuminating findings, we will set out a roadmap to overcoming these sustainable packaging challenges.
Sean Kohl | Global Product Line Director, Industrial Physics

This panel will cover legislative updates, more on infrastructure progress with cost models within the recycling stream, updates on progress with LCA's and more. Panelists will discuss end-of-life /waste management in packaging, how cities and recycling programs are helping with overall recycle rates and where infrastructure progress is still needed.
 
Moderator: Anne Germain, COO & SVP of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association
 
Panelists Include:

• Michael Pratt | Associate Manager, Sustainability - North America, Sonoco
• Brad Austin | Director of Operations, Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority
• Additional Panelists Coming Soon!

Get a behind-the-scenes look at a materials recovery facility (MRF), one of the infrastructure cornerstones of a circular economy system. It will discuss how MRFs work today (including the latest technological innovations in sorting), opportunities and limitation, and what other value chain partners need to know about recyclability in residential programs. Brands and retailers will leave this presentation with a better understanding of the system that their packaging and products are entering into, and what they need to do to enable those materials to return back to the economy.
Lynn Hoffman | Co-President, Eureka Recycling

The roadmap to sustainability is a journey and not necessarily a prescribed path. Brand owners seeking to attain their targets and goals are scrambling to transform their product lines. Evidence of commercial success can be seen on the store shelves, but the pace is slower than anticipated. Possible contributors are the lack of material offerings which are unable to match performance attained with existing multi-material offerings and challenges with supply chains, infrastructure, litigation, and legislature which force brands to constantly reaffirm they are choosing the most prudent path. Is there a best strategy and how can we make progress with the speed bumps we encounter on a regular basis?
Jeff Travis | Manager of Innovation & Sustainability, American Packaging Corporation

This workshop will cover flexible, plant-based and paper packaging – innovative solutions and the future of packaging. Speakers will address the circular economy, PCR use, market drivers, climate change and material sourcing, consumer education and more.  

The pressure to make and meet climate-focused obligations is intense and multifaceted, which is why companies across all business sectors are refining their visions to fit into a greater scheme of sustainability. As consumers exercise purchasing powers to push industries in sustainable directions, competitors are communicating their efforts to raise industry standards for eco-friendly operations. In this session, Albert Douer, Chairman and Co-CEO of UBQ Materials, will discuss how businesses can work to support a low-carbon economy and reduce operational expenses while implementing environmentally friendly practices.
Albert Douer | Chairman and Co-CEO, UBQ Materials

• Current situation of plastic packaging in the food service and industrial segment
• Single-use plastic ban around the world
• New consumers trends worldwide
• Cross-over innovation and strong partnerships
• Product and process development approach
• Next generation sustainable products

Martin Grandjean | Global Business Development Manager, Tembo Paper

We have developed groundbreaking PureBarrier™, an oxygen and gas barrier material made out of 100% cellulose fibers. This new generation of fiber-based materials rises to the challenges of the flexible packaging industry and offers brand owners and converters an alternative to nonrenewable or plastic based packaging. PureBarrier™ is a mono-material that offers outstanding sustainability credentials as it is produced from responsibly sourced and renewable wood pulp and is certified home compostable. PureBarrier™ also boasts features such as the absence of fibers, heat resistance, an absolute grease barrier without PFAS or other added chemicals. In addition, PureBarrier™ exhibits strong mechanical abilities even in a humid or wet environment. PureBarrier™ is also available in a heat sealable version. All of these remarkable properties allow applications in a multitude of industries like the food & beverage packaging industry, and also in the cosmetics and medical industry. This innovation is part of our ‘from Plastic to Purpose’ initiative which aims to educate the marketplace on the possibilities related to fiber and paper-based alternatives where plastic and non-renewable materials are used today.
Raphaël Bardet | Head of the Product Management and R&D, Ahlstrom

There is no way to achieve true circularity without including thermoforms. The volume of thermoforms in the market presents a tremendous opportunity to build a novel source of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material. New sources of PCR will be needed to be cultivated for there to be enough supply for brands to meet their PCR commitments and legislated mandates. There’s simply not enough PCR recovered from bottles to satisfy the demand. This presentation from Plastic Ingenuity will provide insights into the current state of thermoform recycling, the challenges that lay ahead, and some examples of how brand owners are contributing to a circular system for this emerging PCR material.
Zach Muscato | Corporate Sustainability Champion, Plastic Ingenuity

The biopharmaceutical industry is one of the most regulated industries and unique challenges exist to meet sustainability goals. We are all committed to a sustainable future and most major companies are moving toward a sustainable future. To provide how our industry is implementing new innovative solutions to meet our environmental sustainability goals. While some regulations facilitate transition to a more sustainable environment, other regulations are preventing the industry from moving forward. For example, the pharmaceutical industry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) have been wanting to remove unnecessary paper copies of professional labeling that are required to accompany packages. These paper versions are outdated and create unnecessary waste. However, political barriers prevent the U.S. FDA and industry from eliminating these paper copies. In addition, due to the voluminous length of these paper inserts, packaging must be larger than needed. This panel discussion will discuss the environmental and other advantages in removing paper. Market drivers in the biopharmaceutical industry don’t exist as they do in most consumer segments. This affords an opportunity, but also comes with unique challenges. Developing sustainable packaging solutions (in the Biopharmaceutical industry) requires a measured and thoughtful approach to both design and implementation, balancing between the rapid adoption and implementation of broad environmentally focused regulation, and those regulations specific to the safety of our products. We must balance our desire to eliminate packaging waste with the implications and practicality of doing so.
Ryan Stolzenbach | Program Manager, Sustainability, Global Packaging, Abbvie

This panel will address sustainable packaging supply chains, sustainability innovations, market drivers for sustainable packaging, experiences in consumer education and more. How are brands choosing their materials? What innovation solutions are they looking for? What innovations are their outside of just standard food & bev packaging?
 
Moderator: How Lau | Consultant, How Lab Consulting, LLC
 
Panelists Include:

• Lael Hamilton | Senior Packaging Engineer, Kroger
• Patrick Keenan | Packaging Engineer, General Mills (Annie’s)
• Renata Neri, Principal Category Lead for Packaging Compliance and Sustainability, Chick-fil-A Corporate
• Xavier Bonamour | Application Manager, Bobst
• Bineke Posthumus | Director Business Development at the Renewable Polymers department Avantium

Henkel representative coming soon!

Packaging waste and environmental degradation are urgent and growing challenges. In the U.S., packaging and containers comprised more than 20 percent of the solid waste sent to landfills in 2018. Even when packaging is placed in recycling bins, mixed materials, labels, adhesives, and other attributes may result in packaging that is not recyclable and contaminates the recycling stream.
 
Manufacturers and consumer goods companies worldwide are prioritizing efforts to minimize single-use packaging, use more sustainable packaging materials, and reduce consumption of virgin materials after decades of growth.
 
Moderator: Doug Gatlin, CEO, Green Seal

Panelists coming soon!

Brittany Onslow | Conference Producer, Smithers

Jeff Tverdek | Director Of Engineering, Swissôtel Chicago

• Brief intro about the sustainability journey in packaging.
• How Mondi defines and develops sustainable packaging solutions to make them recyclable, reusable and compostable.
• The challenges & benefits of paper vs plastic: will paper ever replace plastic?
• Case study examples illustrating that there is more than one way to sustainability

Marco Macoratti | Head of Sustainable Solutions & Circularity for Retail Channel, Mondi
Thomas Kahl | Head of Sustainable Packaging Solutions Channel, Mondi

This panel will go over the successes and challenges of implementing real world examples of refill options for consumers. How are these options working in retail locations for pay and go? How willing are consumers to adapt and adopt? Where can the industry help push this further, globally?

Moderator: Brandon Frank | President, PPC Packaging

Panelists Include:

• Annika Greve | Business Development, Loop
• Mark Pszczolkowski | Principal R&D Scientist, The Clorox Company
• Evan Abel | Head of Service Design, The Rounds

It has been one year since the United Nations made history by voting in favor of an international legally binding agreement to address the plastic pollution crisis. And with an expedited treaty drafting process underway until the end of 2024, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to rally private sector support and influence to ensure the final global treaty delivers the impact that the world needs. 
In this keynote Erin Simon, World Wildlife Fund's Head of Plastic Waste + Business, will provide an overview of what has been accomplished in the first year post-resolution, and where we still need to go from here. She’ll also share why—and how—we need corporate leaders to seize this critical moment to help rewrite this environmental crisis and design a circular system that works for business, people and the planet.
Erin Simon | Senior Program Manager, Packaging, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Achieving ambitious environmental sustainability goals is a priority for every member of the value chain as they face increased pressure from consumers, NGOs, lawmakers, as well as industry peers. This is particularly true in the pulp and paper packaging industry, which is characterized by high energy, water, and emission intensity throughout the production process. Companies can make great strides by conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which will help them better understand the total environmental impact of their packaging and provide a benchmark to set targets and make operational changes to improve sustainability metrics. This includes data on global warming potential, acidification, and water use – important reference points for all major stakeholders when evaluating potential partners.
Nate Pajka | Sustainability Specialist, Metsӓ Board, Americas

Digital transformation is rapidly driving changes in the industrial world, and recycling is now on this transformative journey. The real and digital worlds are beginning to intersect at upstream points on the recycling supply chain including at collection, sortation, and recovery. Emerging concepts unique to recycling, combined with technologies adopted from other industries, are introducing methods to track end-of-life packaging, control and automate at higher rates and speeds, and advance data-driven decision making into post-consumer material recovery. While this is an evolving and rapidly accelerating topic, and we might not have the complete picture until we look back 10 years from now, we will look at the technologies, trends, and companies that are driving this digital transformation right now.
Rob Writz | Director of Industry Relations and Strategic Partnership, AMP Robotics

In a city of 250,000 people, roughly 3,000 tons of cups, containers, boxes, and paper bags are generated annually. If we imagine a 10% recovery rate, that would mean 300 tons of material (230 tons of paper and 70 tons of plastic) going to a MRF instead of the landfill. Through collaborative efforts with communities, MRFs, and end markets, the Foodservice Packaging Institute has facilitated the increased acceptance of foodservice packaging in recycling programs. This includes items like paper and plastic cups, pizza boxes, and plastic takeout containers. FPI’s Community Partnership program conducts outreach to stakeholders (MRFs, haulers, end markets, composters, and communities), collects data on stream composition and program parameters, and develops strong communications components to increase residents’ understanding and participation in recycling. Additionally, FPI recently facilitated a statement of commitment from mills and end markets that represent 75% of mixed paper demand in the U.S. and Canada to accept paper cups in mixed paper bales (ISRI grade 54) and polycoat bales (ISRI grade 52). This session will provide details around the Community Partnership program, debunk myths around paper cup and pizza box recycling, and share resources communities can utilize to improve their recycling programs.
Ashley Elzinga | Director of Sustainability & Outreach, Foodservice Packaging Institute

Sponsorsed by

This session will feature speakers talking about alternative materials, recyclability of alternative materials and compostable packaging.

This panel will talk about the infrastructure for compostable packaging, stats and current availability of facilities, materials that are considered compostable, and the future of legislation. Panelists will also talk about applications of compostable packaging and consumer education.

Moderator: Savannah Seydel | Vice President of Sustainability, Better Earth

Panelists Include:

• Rhodes Yepsen | Executive Director, BPI
• Kate Flynn | Co-Founder and CEO, Sun & Swell Foods
• Gary Robinson | Vice President of Enterprise Solutions, Lomi. Pela Earth

From significant delays, to surging prices, global supply chain issues are disrupting industries worldwide. In this session, Zume’s Annette Groenink will discuss how technology enables a more sustainable packaging lifecycle from design and raw material selection to production, distribution, and disposal, and in turn solves supply chain woes. Annette will outline some technological breakthroughs that transform locally-sourced natural materials into high-performing molded fiber packaging, so compostable packaging can be localized to reduce stress on the supply chain, meet consumer demand, and help improve bottom lines.
Annette Groenink | EVP of North & Latin America, Zume Inc.

Please join NOVA Chemicals to learn more about consumer perceptions on plastics, packaging and sustainability.  We will be presenting the results from consumer surveys conducted over the past four years to understand and quantify consumer perceptions about plastic packaging, from pre-COVID-19 through the pandemic and until now - to gain insights about what matters most to consumers when it comes to packaging.  In this session, we’ll provide insights to help innovate sustainable products with consumer priorities in mind and how to communicate these innovations more effectively.  This will be a great opportunity to learn more about how consumers’ opinion of plastics has been influenced by the pandemic and how it continues to evolve and drive packaging changes.
Brant Wunderlich | Caps and Closures Market Manager, NOVA Chemicals, Inc.

What materials are available and how can they be used? Where is packaging innovation going in the next 5-10 years? How is mixed use materials taking part in packaging innovation? This session will address these questions and more

James Harmer | Planning & Innovation Strategy Leader, Cambridge Design Partnership

Tackling plastic pollution - in packaging and otherwise - begins with understanding a company's materials inventory, followed by taking actions within the value-chain to redesign products and processes to lessen impacts, and finally to mitigate residual footprints beyond the value chain investments. The talk will guide the audience through a three step process that can help us achieve a circular economy for plastics at the pace and scale required to meet the challenge: measure, manage, finance.
Irene Hofmeijer | Practice Lead Circular Economy, South Pole

Michelle Cliffe | Senior Corporate Campaigner, Canopy

Join brand representatives for breakfast as they discuss key topics, such as: How will the definition of sustainability change over the next 5-10 years? What does this mean for packaging and climate change? How will education on sustainability change for future generations?

Moderator: Lynn Dyer, Chief Sustainability & Public Affairs Officer, Pactiv Evergreen
 
Panelists Include:

• Danielle Zola | Global Packaging & Branding, Patagonia
• Emily Lin | Global Packaging Sustainability, Diageo
• Linda Roman | Head of Packaging Growth and Technology, The Kraft Heinz Company
• Damian Massa | Sr. Manager, Packaging Development, Away

In this session, we’ll discuss how circularity can be achieved for hard-to-recycle plastic packaging with bio-based alternatives. We will share actionable tips on how to choose the right material for different packaging and how to consider the overall environmental footprint in the evaluation process.

• Current challenges in the sustainable packaging industry
• How can we go beyond the 3 R’s of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?
• How to choose the right packaging materials & product applications
• The future of single-use plastic products

Nuha Siddiqui | CEO and Co-Founder, erthos

Abstract coming soon!
Dustin Schadt | Director of Business Development and Key Account Manager, Stora Enso

It is an evolution that has been going on across the globe in the past years: re-designing packaging in the supermarket shelves ready for recycling! Although the label seems like a small part of the overall packaging – it can have a significant impact on reducing, re-using and recycling the packaging at the end-of-life. This session explores best practices on how brands have re-shaped their packaging by using new product decoration features – to boost recycling rates of different materials such as glass, HDPE and PET bottles. Small changes can have a huge effect!
Marika Knorr | Head of Sustainability, CCL Label

Consumers are overwhelmed with eco-buzzwords, from “sustainability” to “carbon footprint.” But which ones resonate? More importantly, what are the right words — and the right communications approaches — to move consumers to prefer and buy a package or product based on its sustainability benefits? Suzanne Shelton will share her firm’s latest consumer surveying, as well as examples of real-world campaigns that have moved the needle with consumers, to help you better tell your sustainable packaging story.
Suzanne Shelton | President & CEO, Shelton Group

Designers are often challenged by clients to seek "plastic-free" packaging solutions in pursuit of sustainability, but these solutions can incur higher carbon footprints and lead to increased failures such as food spoilage or breakage. How can packaging designers best navigate the complex trade-offs that go into designing sustainable packaging? And what does it really mean to design for sustainability? Use case studies from their sustainable packaging work for organizations across the CPG world, Ian Montgomery from Guacamole Airplane will break down their process and real world successes and failures as designers navigating the nuance of designing for sustainable packaging.
Ian Montgomery | Founder and Creative Director, Guacamole Airplane

Sponsored by 

This panel will address the concept of tying packaging and product development together for purposes of enhanced sustainability. This is where the most beneficial decisions can be made, because you’re starting from a clean slate, and the benefits are both cumulative and multiplicative.

Moderator: Robert Lilienfeld | Executive Director, SPRING
 
Panelists Include:                                                                              

• James Harmer | Planning and Innovation Strategy Lead, Cambridge Design
• Charles Ho Fung | Senior R&D Packaging Design, Strategy and Supply Chain Business Partner, Molson Coors
• Mary Jo Werlein | Senior Packaging Manager – Sustainability, Adept Packaging

Brands are struggling to tackle EPR. There are regulations, eco modulation and PCR levels. How can companies tackle new regulations successfully? With implementation across many different states and countries, what are the steps needed to accommodate?
 
What can companies plan for the future? Will other changes and requirements come down the pipeline? What are your hopes for the future of sustainable packaging and the circular economy?
 
Moderator: Lynn Dyer | Chief Sustainability & Public Affairs Officer, Pactiv Evergreen
 
Panelists Include:

• Myles Cohen | Member of the Board of Advisors, Pack Green Initiative
• Scott Cassel | CEO and Founder, Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)
• Emily Tipaldo | Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact
• Charles David Mathieu-Poulin | Manager of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations, TC Transcontinental

Tim Cooper | Project Director, Packaging Consultancy, Smithers