Monday April, 11 2016
7:00
Registration All Day
West Building McCormick Place
TOURS
Tours are from 8:00-12:30 pm
 Method Soap Factory- SOLD OUT
 Behind the Scenes at McCormick Place Sustainability Initiatives
 Goose Island Brewery
 Waste Management Willow Ranch Composting Facility
 Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry
 Sketchbook Brewing CSB
Learn more about the SustPack tours here
WORKSHOPS
Workshops are from 1:30-5:00 pm
Disruptive design method for sustainable innovation and social change
 Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Sustainability Provocateur, Designer, Sociologist, Founder Un-School of
Disruptive Design
Building Your Brand’s Sustainable Promise and Strengthening Brand Trust with your
Consumers
 Bryan Shova - Industrial Design Director, Kaleidoscope
 Alex Weber – Sr. Creative Director, Kaleidoscope
 Jacquie Denham – Director of Strategy, Kaleidoscope
Essentials of Sustainable Packaging by SPC
 Danielle Peacock, Project Manager, GreenBlue
Learn more about the SustPack workshops here
SPC Member Industry Leadership Committee Meetings
(Exclusive for SPC members)
Room 194A:
Multi-laminate Flexible Packaging Recovery Industry Leadership Committee, Led by Kyla Fisher
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Biopolymer Industry Leadership Committee, Led by Kyla Fisher
1:15 - 2:45 PM
Building a Composting Roadmap, Led by Anne Bedarf
3:00 - 4:30 PM
Room 194B:
Forest Products Working Group, Led by Tom Pollock
12:30 - 2:30 PM
Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry Leadership Committee, Led by Tom Pollock
2:45 - 4:30 PM
RECEPTION
Opening Reception
5:00- 7:00 pm
Trashies Awards @Opening Reception
5:30 pm
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Wellness Program – Yoga, Walking Routes around Hyatt (map provided)- optional
6:00- 7:30 am
Registration and Morning Refreshments
7:15-8:00 am
Conference Begins
8:00 Opening Remarks
Nina Goodrich, Executive Director, GreenBlue and Director, SPC
8:20 Welcome from the City of Chicago
Chris Wheat, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Chicago
8:30 Opening Keynote
Investment and Innovation for a Low Carbon Future
In this presentation, he will cover why the world’s largest home retailer, the leader in life at home,
is investing billions of dollars to be completely energy independent by 2020. This includes helping
IKEA customers have sustainable lives at home as well.
Lars Petersson, President US, IKEA
Brands That Lead and How They Lead
9:00 The Long Game: Integrating Product Stewardship
There is a tension between front-end product innovation and end-of-life material recovery. Current
guidelines for product and packaging design are based on today’s infrastructure versus a future
that facilitates reduced environmental impact. And while companies drive for lower impact with
dematerialization, light-weighting, material selection, and new formats, the recycling industry is
challenged to adapt existing infrastructure to recover materials of value …especially small items.
Listen as Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Keurig Green Mountain, explores this
dynamic with Keurig design engineers, product planners, and recycling partners in order to inform
the new recyclable design for Keurig K-Cup® pods and future Keurig innovation.
Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer, Keurig Green Mountain
9:20
Packaging and Sustainability at Nestle
This presentation will describe the Nestlé approach to packaging environmental sustainability and
the importance of considering packaging in the context of the product system of which it is a part.
Nestlé takes a life cycle approach to its products and acknowledges the fact that packaging has an
inherent contribution to sustainable development: to environmental sustainability by protecting
products and preventing waste, to economic sustainability by making business possible by allowing
easy distribution of products, and to social sustainability by providing the consumer with the
benefits of safe, fresh and stable food and beverage products.
Nestlé uses streamlined LCA-based Ecodesign tools as decision support in packaging development
to ensure that packaging is optimized from an environmental perspective so as to contribute to
improved environmental performance of the packed product system life cycle.
David Strauss, Director, Head of Packaging Technical & Production, NESTLE USA
9:40 Mars Inc. Packaging Sustainability: Successes, Challenges, and Learnings
At Mars, Incorporated we know that we need to find ways to protect our products while preserving
resources, reducing greenhouse gases, and limiting the amount that ultimately ends up in landfill.
When Mars, Incorporated published our first Principles in Action Summary in 2011, we had three
packaging sustainability goals that include packaging weight reduction, recycled content, and the
recyclability/ recoverability of the package. This presentation will cover examples of how
packaging design reduced impact, the challenge of packaging formats that do not have viable end of
life material recovery options, and the development of a deforestation policy for pulp and paper .
Our strategy is to reduce, recycle and rethink our packaging. This is not easy, as options that appear
more sustainable in one respect often have a greater impact elsewhere. This presentation will cover
how what we learned from these activities is shaping our future packaging sustainability efforts.
Rachel Goldstein, Global Sustainability Director - Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Mars Inc
10:00 A Focus on Reducing Waste and Increasing Recycling
At SC Johnson, reducing waste and increasing recycling are a priority for both our operations and
our products. Historically, SC Johnson has taken ownership to improve the recycling rates of the
products we produce. In 1991, SC Johnson formed a partnership with the Steel Recycling Institute
(SRI) to educate and influence consumers and federal, state and local waste management officials
that empty aerosols can and should be recycled along with other steel cans. SCJ set out to debunk
myths associated with aerosol recycling by gathering research on consumer behavior and
conducting risk assessments at recycling facilities. From these learnings, SCJ, SRI and the Chemical
Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA) developed a multi-level strategy which delivered
educational materials responding to concerns around the safety of aerosol recycling, formed
partnerships with national, state and local organizations, developed a turnkey citizen education
campaign to assist communities which accept aerosols within their recycling programs, and made
hundreds of visits to local and state officials to educate them on environmental and economic
benefits accruing from recycling, rather than landfilling, of aerosols. Today, over 60% of the US
population can recycle empty aerosol cans in their local recycling programs according to the
Consumer Aerosol Products Council. Pam will share how SC Johnson continues to use the learnings
from this program to further promote waste reduction through product packaging, and by
encouraging greater recycling opportunities for consumers.
Pamela Oksiuta, Senior Director Global Sustainability, SC Johnson
Q&A
10:00 am
Networking Break
10:30 am
ROI on Sustainability, a Panel Conversation
Moderator: Kim Carswell, Group Manager, Owned Brands Packaging, Target
11:15 Project ROI: Defining the Competitive and Financial Advantages of Corporate
Responsibility and Sustainability
This presentation will share the findings of Project ROI identifying what claims can be made
regarding the value of sustainability. The presentation will identify the good practices that
companies should adopt to deliver financial value from sustainability.
Steve Rochlin, Co-CEO, IO Sustainability, Cheryl Yaffe Kiser, Executive Director, The Lewis
Institute & Babson Social Innovation Lab, Babson College and Niki King, Senior Manager CSR
Program Office, Campbell Soup Company
Panel Conversation
12:10 The State of Consumer Access to Recycling Programs
Learn about a remarkable collaboration of leading industry groups to study consumer access to
recycling and the materials accepted in those programs. Spearheaded by the SPC and sponsored by
ten leading trade associations and two recycling organizations, the study will present new results
on the prevalence of curbside recycling and drop-off programs as well as key characteristics of
those programs. The study also looks at the acceptance of over 40 types of packaging in those
recycling systems to paint a picture of the recyclability of major packaging types in the US. Get a
sneak peek at the results from RRS's, who is leading the research study.
Jim Frey, CEO, RRS
Networking Lunch
12:00 pm
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout #1
Compostable Packaging
Moderators: Rhodes Yepsen and Susanna Carson
2:00 So Your Package is Certified Compostable — Now What?
Achieving certification for compostable packaging is a major step, but just as important is deciding
whether or not composting is the best choice for your application, and what that actually means in
terms of getting that item composted. What are the critical questions to answer about the
appropriateness of designing a compostable item? What infrastructure currently exists for
collecting and processing those items? And what tools are needed to improve the benefits of
compostable packaging, for the consumer as well as for the composting facility?
Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director, Biodegradable Products Institute
2:25 Compostable Packaging: Promises, Problems & Potential
Compostable packaging in the food industry holds the promise of a zero waste future for food. In
this promise, packaging makes waste management is easier for the consumer, convenient and
efficient for industry, and an easy win for policy developers / regulators. The ideal of compostable
packaging is being embraced by consumers. However, across North America the gap between the
products, infrastructure acceptance, and policy development has created consumer confusion,
disconnected systems, and region-specific policies: all of which jeopardize the circular economy
potential of compostable materials and the waste food it holds. Join Susanna Carson, as she
presents a unique systems-based approach to the challenge of compostable packaging: one that
outlines the current system structure, identifies the disrupters to the system, and assesses their
impact on achieving truly sustainable packaging solutions.
Susanna Carson, CEO, BSI Biodegradable Solutions
2:50 15+ Years of Compostability Standards: What have we learned on a global and
national level?
First international compostability standards were published around the turn of the century. Several
others have followed since. Although largely comparable, some technical differences may be
relevant. Also the application field and the geographical relevance must be carefully considered.
Feedback from the real-composting world regarding standards varies from (very) positive to rather
skeptical. On the other hand, composting technologies themselves vary from basic to quite
advanced which has an important impact on feedstock which can be accepted (including
compostable products). Indeed, acceptance of the latter is sometimes poor, how can this be
overcome or even better, turned around? What benefits can compostables offer to composting
plants. The presentation will cover all this as well as focus on DO’S and DON’T’S regarding the use
of compostability standards.
Bruno de Wilde, Lab Manager, OWS
3: 15 The SPC's How2Compost Label
The SPC is building on the successful How2Recycle Label Program by incorporating compostability,
as it's imperative that compostable packaging be a key part of the evolving food waste recovery
infrastructure. In this session we'll cover the How2Compost Label history, elements, and planned
implementation.
Anne Tate Bedarf, Senior Manager, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, GreenBlue and Amy
Duquette, Sustainability Project Manager, HAVI Global Solutions
Networking Break
3:35 pm
How to Solve the Marine Debris Problem
Moderator: Betsy Dorn, Director, USA Consulting, Reclay StewardEdge
4:15 Implementing Marine Debris Solutions: Plastics Industry Support
a) Why and how is the plastics industry supporting marine debris solutions?
b) Discussion of key projects:
 Oahu Litter Abatement Project
 Ocean Conservancy/McKinsey Study – implementing the findings to significantly
reduce plastic waste leakage in the five (reference to Jambeck et al. paper in Science)
focus countries
 Development of a Guidance Manual for UNEP on Best Available Technologies for
Waste Management to Prevent Marine Litter
b) How can others get involved?
Emily Tipaldo, Director, Packaging, Plastics Division, American Chemistry Council
4:35 EPA’s Trash Free Waters Program – Stewardship Strategies to Keep Packaging Trash
Out of the Water
EPA’s Trash Free Waters Program (TFW) pursues innovative strategies to keep trash from entering
U.S. Rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, and thereby reduce to zero the country’s contribution to the
ever-increasing volume of trash (particularly plastic trash) in the world’s oceans. TFW Program
activities support trash prevention and reduction efforts by many public and private stakeholders.
Given the land-based origins of the trash problem, the program has a strong emphasis on helping
states, municipalities, and businesses work together to explore more effective ways to reduce litter,
block trash entry into water, and reduce packaging waste. The TFW Program uses an inclusive
approach of multi-stakeholder consultations, strategic planning, innovative project initiatives, and
public/private collaboration. Bob Benson of EPA will provide an overview of the TFW Program and
an update on the creation of public/private partnerships that will tackle several of the most
innovative ideas for technology, public motivation to reduce littering, and business leadership to
prompt recovery and reuse of materials.
Robert S. Benson, Senior Program Advisor Trash Free Waters, US EPA
Q&A
3:35 pm
Breakout #2
Alliances and Alignment for Sustainable Innovation
Moderator: Christopher Davidson, Director, Corporate Sustainability, WestRock
2:00

Developing Consumer-relevant Sustainability Solutions through Partnerships
Introduction to Carlsberg and WestRock; two companies focused on a sustainable business
model
 How successful partnerships act as a catalyst for packaging innovation & the circular
economy, exemplified in the Carlsberg Circular Community & the partnership with
Westrock
 How the Cradle-to-Cradle design framework and LCA can be used to optimize your
packaging portfolio
 Sustainable packaging innovation within the beer and beverage industry, in the form of the
Green Fiber Bottle
Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Carlsberg Group and
Christopher Davidson, Director, Corporate Sustainability, WestRock
2:40 Improving the Sustainability of Seventh Generation's 100 oz Laundry Bottle
Derrick Lawrence, Director of Packaging Development, Seventh Generation and Joe
Henderson, Sales Director, Household and Chemical, Consolidated Container Company
3:05 Partners in Sustainable Barrier Packaging: Wegmans and Kuraray
We will present how Wegmans is looking to change how retailers drive innovation in packaging,
particularly around Sustainability. This presentation will focus on their partnership with Kuraray’s
Plantic team in the adoption of sustainable barrier packaging, PLANTIC, for their organic fresh meat
and poultry categories, its impact on their environmental metrics and the potential for food waste
reduction through extended shelf life.
Steve Glenning, Director of Indirect Procurement at Wegmans Food Markets and Tom Black,
International Sales, Plantic at Kuraray Americas Inc.
Networking Break
3:30 pm
Transformation in the Aluminum Packaging Industry
4:15 Latest Trends in Aluminum Bottles
The Can Industry, especially in the Beverage Market, is evolving rapidly from a strong focus on
mass production efficiencies, to Innovation through the development of more distinctive Packaging
forms. Examples include new technologies for Shaped Cans and Aluminum Bottles that enable new
ways to differentiate products and brands while still delivering high volume production.
This presentation includes an overview of the latest innovations in Aluminum bottles, the primary
drivers behind its accelerating growth and a discussion of the current challenges and opportunities
for further advancement of this packaging format.
Ricardo Ruiz de Gopegui, Vice President - Branded Packaging Solutions, Belvac Production
Machinery, Inc., a Dover Company
4:35 Bottom’s Up: Driving Packaging Sustainability through Grassroots Innovation
Scott will discuss the differences between the packaging selection and innovation processes for
large consumer brands and those of small emerging brands, with a focus on ways in which smaller
brands can ultimately lead larger corporations to advance their packaging sustainability. Using the
example of ALeco’s innovation of a lightweight, high recycle content aluminum bottle specifically
for craft beverages, we will review the benefits to emerging brands of differentiating themselves
with innovative sustainable packaging, thereby influencing a growing consumer following who
identify with these values, and whose influence and buying power extends to many other larger
“mainstream” products they purchase.
Scott Coors, CEO, ALeco Container
4:55 How will packages Shape-up? - Disruptive Innovation For Sustainability
Under constant pressure from government, the media, customers and consumers, the packaging
industry is increasingly being forced to consider how its products can be made more sustainable.
Successful brands need to both build trust and to be perceived as young and dynamic. Paper
presents two Novelis solutions that drive positive change and dynamism for the consumers and
bring value to our customers.
Adriano Ferreira, Director Global Technology, Novelis
Q&A
3:35 pm
Breakout #3
Packaging Design
Moderator: Laura Rowell, Global Sustainable Packaging Manager, Consumer Packaging, Sonoco
2:00 Innovation, Design, and Sustainability
Innovating and Designing a “sustainable product” is about a lot more than just being
environmentally conscious. This presentation explores good, bad, and questionable approaches to
sustainability in product and package design and innovation, with particular discussion about the
need for a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainable design.
Noah McNeely, Principal, Product QuickStart a Slingshot initiative
2:20 Redesigning an Industry Standard
Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout has been widely celebrated and highly acclaimed since
it was first brewed in 1992. For the 2015 release, we really wanted to do something special so we
embarked on a full packaging makeover. Every element of the beer’s packaging was re-imaginedfrom the bottle itself, to the labels, to the secondary packaging. Learn how this packaging makeover
allowed us to reach a wider audience while maintaining a strong connection with our existing fan
base.
Matt Miller, Procurement Coordinator, Goose Island Brewery
2:40 How to tell a social mission through packaging
How does an organization tell their social mission effectively through packaging without being too
cluttered, without guilt, and while still communicating the ingredients, benefits, and RTB's of the
product? It's a tricky balancing act, and one that SoapBox Founder & CEO, David Simnick knows all
too well after various packaging challenges and rebrands. David is going to share the mistakes,
lessons, and "ah-ha" moments that he and his team have discovered through over 5 years of
building SoapBox into a brand sold nationwide in Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid,
Meijer, and various other retailers across the country.
David Simnick, CEO & Co-Founder, SoapBox Soaps
3: 00 Rigid to Flexible Packaging Category Changers and Why
A review of recent introductions in flexible packaging that are creating an impact in new categories
due to their shelf impact, differentiation, functionality, sustainability and design.
Sal Pellingra, VP of Innovation and Technology, ProAmpac
Networking Break
3:30 pm
4:15 The APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability: Linking Brand Owners with
Recyclers
The APR believes that functional, attractive, and economical plastic packaging can be designed that
protects and enhances the ultimate product while also fully compatible with material recovery and
plastics reclamation systems. The APR is committed to working with all stakeholders, including
consumers, package designers, supply chain buyers, government agencies, and corporate
sustainability officers to ensure that recycled plastics retain quality and value during collection,
recovery, and reprocessing. The APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability evaluates plastic
packaging in a data-driven process that measures the compatibility of package innovations with
plastic reclaimers’ systems and needs. This presentation will cover:
o What are the goals of the The APR Design® Guide?
o Who decides what the guidelines are?
o How does APR encourage and promote use of The APR Design® Guide?
o How does The APR Design® Guide complement the SPC How2Recycle process?
o What are some examples of success stories?
Sandi Childs, Film and Flexible Programs Director, Association of Postconsumer Plastic
Recyclers
4:35 Changing Recycling Behavior Through How2Recycle
How2Recycle is an on-package recycling label that provides clear consistent instructions to the
public. Since first appearing on package in 2012, How2Recycle has grown to over 45 member
companies with application on thousands of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs). In this session,
How2Recycle staff will reflect on their experiences influencing recycling behavior through the
program. Hear their experiences with on-package messaging, challenging recycling misperceptions,
and partnering with other organizations.
Danielle Peacock, Project Manager, GreenBlue
Joint Q&A with speakers from the session
4:55 pm
Evening Activities
Dinner and Dialogue and Pub Crawl
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Wellness Program – Walking Routes around Hyatt (map provided)- optional
6:00- 7:30 am
Registration and Morning Refreshments
7:15-8:00 am
Day 2 Begins
8:00 Opening Remarks
Nina Goodrich, Executive Director, GreenBlue and Director, SPC
Keynote Presentation
8:15 Designing Change for Circular Systems
How can positively disruptive design be used to create innovation outcomes and new business
models that enhance sustainability and circle systems? Leyla's keynote will explore the design
approaches for sustainable innovation and present fascinating case examples of effective systems
design.
Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Sustainability Provocateur, Designer, Sociologist, Founder Un-School of
Disruptive Design
E-Commerce and Emerging Tech: What Role Does Packaging Play
8:45 Reusable Packaging in E-Commerce
Finland base startup RePack has introduced returnable and reusable delivery packaging for ecommerce. Its unique solution is available in several European webstores shipping varying goods
from fashion to electronics, furniture and pharmacy products. RePack improves customer
experience, increases sales while not producing any trash. RePack packages come in several sizes,
shapes and materials ranging from durable polypropene, corrugated cardboard and upcycled PVC.
In his talk RePack CEO Jonne Hellgren tells his experiences of introducing reusable and returnable
packaging and where the startup is headed next.
Jonne Hellgren, Managing Director, RePack
9:05 Sustainable Packaging Innovation at More Speed and Less Cost
Consumers, regulators, and social trends are all driving an increase in the demand for sustainable
packaging. This presentation shares how Dell created an innovation pipeline to quickly
commercialize advances in sustainable packaging for its technology products.
Oliver Campbell, Director Procurement and Packaging Innovation, Dell
9:35 Driving Sustainability through Value Chain Collaboration and Packaging Innovations
Driving sustainability in a circular economy requires collaboration across the value chain and
packaging innovations. Dow’s packaging business is uniquely positioned to drive sustainability
with its broad offering of packaging solutions, broad market presence and ability to collaborate
across the entire value chain. This presentation will describe key efforts Dow is undertaking to
broadly improve the sustainability packaging solutions, highlighting the need for greater
collaboration to achieve a more circular economy. New technologies that enable increased
recycling and use of recycled materials will also be discussed.
David Parrillo, Global R&D Director Packaging and Specialty Plastics, The Dow Chemical
Company
Q&A
9:55 am
Networking Break
10:10 am
Breakout Sessions
Breakout #1
Cities That Lead and what it takes to Lead
Moderator: Danielle Peacock, Project Manager, GreenBlue
10:50 Establishing Circular Supply Chains – Scaling Up the Materials Marketplace
The U.S. Materials Marketplace is a joint pilot project led by the US Business Council for Sustainable
Development (US BCSD), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and
the Corporate Eco Forum (CEF). Championed by Nike and GM, the U.S. MM brought together 22
major companies with operations in the United States, to help participants recognize beneficial
ways to reuse or exchange undervalued materials via an online platform to establish new circular
supply chains.
This session will present lessons learned from participating companies and how lessons from the
pilot project are being used to scale material reuse projects worldwide -- notably through the
WBCSD’s Global Network of nearly 70 national business councils representing thousands of
companies.
Andrew Mangan, Executive Director, United States Business Council for Sustainable
Development
11:10 Municipal Development of a Circular Economy – Scaling Up Domestic Markets for
Recyclables and Organics
Austin Resource Recovery, a City of Austin service department, has developed a road map of actions
to achieve Zero Waste, through the 2011 City Council adoption of a Master Plan. Through a detailed
waste composition study, Austin’s landfilled waste is composed of 44% recyclables and 46%
compost materials, which if captured before landfilling, supports the city’s 90% landfill-diversion
goal.
This session will present the various programs the city of Austin is engaged in toward
transformation from solid waste management into materials management; Austin Materials
Marketplace, Austin [re]Manufacturing Hub, Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance, Shop
Local – Shop Zero Waste program, and other partnerships with local businesses toward a
sustainable circular economy evolving around waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.
Bob Gedert, Director of Austin Resource Recovery, City of Austin
11:30 How Good Companies Become Great Through Multidisciplinary Sustainability
Collaboration
As the global business climate evolves, corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly
important. Today, customers and stakeholders look upon corporations to create sustainable
products, packages and services that not only meet the economic, social and environmental needs
of today, but the future as well.
This presentation discusses methods for implementing waste reduction programs that impact all
aspects of business. Global, regional and local challenges, along with specific packaging and other
examples will be discussed that allow sustainable projects to be deployed quickly and efficiently,
improving the company’s bottom line, while benefiting society. This is how good companies
become great. They inspire creativity and selflessly work on a multidisciplinary basis with
communities and organizations to benefit all.
John Bradburn, Global Manager of Waste Reduction, General Motors
11:50 Packaging Recycling Reality Check
Misconceptions around packaging recycling abound and brands and packaging producers
sometimes pay the price. Join the Recycling Partnership as they highlight key areas brands and
retailers can make sure they’re making the most of their current and future recyclable packaging.
As the national nonprofit leader on the realities of recycling from the community and MRF level, the
Recycling Partnership aims to support companies and communities in getting more, good
recyclables into the bin. Community Recycling Leaders from East Lansing, MI will join the
conversation to highlight that though their recent program expansion helped expand the types of
packaging they can recycle, some material roadblocks remain.
Keefe Harrison, Executive Director, The Recycling Partnership and Cathy DeShambo,
Environmental Services Administrator, City of East Lansing
Joint Q&A
12:15 pm
Breakout #2
To Compost or To Recycle: Challenges in Quick Service Restaurants
Moderator: Lynn Dyer, President, Foodservice Packaging Institute
Panelists:
11:00 Resource Coordination for Establishing Local Foodservice Composting Initiatives
Establishing composting programs in foodservice operations takes the coordination and
communication of multiple stakeholders across several industries. Nonprofits, restaurants, wastehaulers, and the City of Chicago must all align to ensure execution. This inevitable complexity can
create obstacles at different stages in the implementation process. This presentation will explore
the process in detail as it applies to the City of Chicago and the local non-profit, the Green Chicago
Restaurant Coalition (GCRC).
Amanda Schield, Associate Director, Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition
11:10 Sustainable Service Ware for Food Courts
I will speak about his experience with paper goods at the Museum of Science and Industry. We have
experimented with all kinds packaging options- paper, plastic, recyclable, recycled content,
compostable, bio-based, and reusable. As sustainability coordinator, I have weighed the economic
and environmental costs and benefits. Ultimately we have settled on a mix of all of the above, which
satisfies our and our customers' needs.
Matt Rundquist, Sustainability Coordinator Sodexo, Museum of Science and Industry
11:20 Institutionalizing Sustainability: The Field Museum's Journey from Landfill to LEED
In 2010 the Field Museum worked with Greg Christian to design an institute-driven sustainable
food operator program, featuring 3rd party audited sustainability practices written into the
foodservice contract. The program went live in 2013 with the opening of the Field Bistro, joined in
2014 by the opening of the Explorer Cafe, and was instrumental in the cultural shift that ultimately
resulted in the Museum receiving LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and
Maintenance in 2015.
Carter O'Brien, Sustainability Manager, Field Museum
11:30 Container Composting: Closing the Loop
Commercial composting is a simple idea but a complex process. The proper organic inputs are vital
to the most efficient decomposition and high quality end product. This presentation will explore the
current composting landscape within Chicagoland and provide next steps for manufacturers,
consumers, government, and composters to increase participation in commercial composting
programs.
Craig Loss, Waste Specialist, Waste Master
11:40 Composting Sustainable Packaging: From the Fields
The composter is the end consumer of compostable and sustainable materials. Nature’s Little
Recyclers has tested and feed many compostable materials into their systems with a focus on
compostable bags, food service such as plates and plastic ware, and general packaging. In this we
will present results from actual use and composting, what works and what hasn’t.
Ed Hubbard, CEO, Nature’s Little Recyclers
11:50 Panel Conversation
Disruptive Innovation
12:10 Disrupt or die: Five revolutionary packaging technologies transforming the
sustainability landscape
In its many manifestations, sustainability has been a driving and pervasive force in packaging
research and development for many years, yet the priorities set, regulations and technologies
adopted vary widely around the world. This has created a vast array of existing and new packaging
technologies, many of which are aimed at disrupting and taking share from the existing packaging
formats by offering better environmental performance alongside packaging’s traditional roles of
product containment, protection and promotion.
With packaging technology rapidly changing, a strong focus on sustainable design and increasing
concern as to how to deal with more complex multilayer and barrier materials in the waste-stream,
companies cannot stand still and need to understand which sustainable packaging technologies will
have most impact and over the next few years and the consequences for end-of life and recovery
systems.
In this presentation, Dominic Cakebread, Head of Packaging Consultancy at Smithers Pira, examines
five revolutionary disruptive technologies that he believes will have a major impact on the
sustainability landscape over the next few years, the factors critical to their adoption and the wider
implications for the packaging industry.
Dominic Cakebread, Packaging Consultant, Smithers Pira
Networking Lunch
12:30-2:00pm
The Evolution of Recycling as Seen Through the Lens of Glass, a Panel
Conversation
2:00 Moderator: Anne Bedarf, Senior Manager, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, GreenBlue
Panelists:
 Curt Bucey, Executive Vice President, Strategic Materials
 Katie Wallace, Assistant Director of Sustainability, Purveyor of The Good Life, New
Belgium Brewing
 Mike Centers, Founder and President, Titus MRF Services
 Ryan Modlin, Vice President North American Government Affairs, O-I
 Scott Mouw, State Recycling Director, North Carolina Division of Environmental
Assistance & Customer Service
Recycling Roundup
Moderator: Susan Robinson, Sr Federal Public Affairs Director, Waste Management
2:45 Closing the Gap between Aspiration and Infrastructure
For more than a decade, the US waste stream has been changing, due in part to a growing
preference for electronic media, eating out, and love of convenience. How has this effected our
ability to meet diversion goals? It's complicated - just ask a MRF operator. The US is largely a
binary waste management system of landfills and recycling, with some waste-to-energy facilities
sprinkled in. Yet organics are a major portion of the waste stream and there are those not-yetrecycled plastics that NGOs and companies alike would like to find a good recovery solution for.
How do we reconcile the limitations of the current system with the aggressive Zero Waste to landfill
goals of many companies, cities, and some states if we want to realize the promise of a Circular
Economy? The values and vision of communities have historically shaped our waste and recovery
systems. And as shared value around recovery has grown, public-private partnerships are playing a
bigger role, from research to investment, in shaping what the future will look like, especially
recycling systems. As communities and companies strive to meet the combined goals of enhanced
consumer convenience, collection of a broader suite of materials, it is important to
understand recovery systems - single stream or mixed waste processing - and how they align with
a community's goals, impact recovered materials and their ultimate economic value.
Anne Johnson, Principal -Vice President, RRS
3:05 Recycling challenges and solutions
The current state of recycling has been brewing for several years. Just as there is no single reason
for the challenges we face, there is also no single solution to our recycling woes. The slowdown in
the Chinese economy, the low price of oil, and the strength of the US dollar have reduced demand
for US recyclables. The low demand accentuates other troublesome trends that we see inside
recycling carts, such as changes in the waste stream and high contamination rates. These real
world issues are running head-on into lofty city/corporate recycling goals. The material being
collected curbside is becoming more expensive to handle - further increasing the cost of recycling in
a world of light weighting and low material prices. Now is the time to transition to long-term
solutions for successful recycling by rationalizing our contract language, and by contemplating a
shift in thinking about our goals to better reflect optimal environmental solutions.
Susan Robinson, Sr Federal Public Affairs Director, Waste Management
3:25 The Power of Collaboration: REFLEX and MRF for the Future Projects
On a path to a circular economy, we must combine our efforts into one proactive, comprehensive
strategy and implementation blueprint. Building a circular economy is not something Dow can do
alone. We must work together to achieve a sustainable tomorrow. During this presentation, two
collaborative and innovative approaches to a circular economy for flexible packaging will be
explained. Starting with the two-year REFLEX (Recycling of Flexible Packaging) project, co-funded
by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, aims to create a circular economy by exploring ways of
increasing the recyclability of flexible packaging by targeting each step in the supply chain. And
closing with the recently announced industry collaboration project; Material Recovery for the
Future (MRFF) which aims on recovering more packaging that is currently destined for landfill by
using existing technology to create a mainstream sortation solution for flexible packaging.
The holistic approach of these projects by bringing together the entire value chain, from polymer
and packaging manufacturers to brand owners and waste management providers, unveils the
potential that science and collaboration play in developing a circular economy for flexible
packaging.
Dr. Han Zhang, Sustainability and Advocacy Manager Packaging & Specialty Plastics, The
Dow Chemical Company
All’s well that ends well? A Panel Conversation
Moderator: Jerry Powell, Executive Editor, Resource Recycling
3:45 Are we heading into a waste management crisis? Is the system broken? What would
be the solutions?
Panelists:
 Bill Moore, President, Moore & Associates
 Susan Robinson, Federal Public Affairs Director, Waste Management
 Myles Cohen, President, Pratt Recycling
 Susan Collins, President, Container Recycling Institute