Highlights of the Program
2 days business program:
Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.
SHOWCASING INNOVATION:
Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.
leaders talk:
Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
MULTIPLE STREAMS:
A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES:
Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.
roundtable discussion:
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Program
Day 1 :
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2026
08:00 - 09:00
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:40
RESERVED PRESENTATION
09:40 - 10:05
SUGARCANE PVA ENGINEERING A WATER-SOLUBLE BIO-PROGRAMMED POLYMER
Jim Reinerston
Culture Organics LLC
- Converting sugarcane leaf waste into a water-soluble PVA resin meeting USDA and FDA standards
- Demonstrating biologically programmed polymer behavior that performs like plastic before safe breakdown
- Discussion on applications across packaging, agriculture, PPE, and consumer goods using scalable materials
- Differentiating the platform from PLA, PBAT and PHA through true end of life and circular value chains
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON WATER SOLUBLE BIO POLYMERS IN PRACTICE
10:10 - 10:35
ENGINEERING PATHWAYS TO SCALABLE SUSTAINABLE POLYMERS
Jihene Dhaouadi
GreenContributor
- Addressing why many sustainable polymers stall at scale due to processing limits, stability, and cost pressures
- Designing materials for manufacturability to ensure smooth performance on extrusion, molding, and blow-molding lines
- Assessing rheology, thermal behavior, and mechanical data needed for producers to commit to new materials
- Practical commercialization paths using LCA, techno-economics, pilot trials, and industry partnerships
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON PRACTICAL PATHS TO SCALING SUSTAINABLE POLYMERS
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS
11:30 - 11:55
FOOD-CONTACT PACKAGING IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY: COMPLIANCE BEFORE INNOVATION
Veronica Ramos
DQS Inc.
- Discussing contamination pathways in recycled and bio-based packs and quantifying risk levels
- Regulatory and certification hurdles showing why sustainable materials fail approval
- Looking at design and testing steps innovators must take to prevent recalls and breaches
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON COMPLIANT FOOD PACKAGING IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY TODAY
12:00 - 12:25
SOLEIC: PLANT-BASED POLYURETHANES TO ELIMINATE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Ryan Simkovsky
Algenesis Labs
- Exploring how plant-based chemistry replaces fossil feedstocks while matching high-performance polyurethane durability
- Molecular strength and verified biodegradation in soil and marine settings supported by peer-reviewed scientific data
- Applications in footwear, automotive foams, and molded goods with seamless integration into existing machinery
- Understanding the carbon reduction benefits and the Bio-ISO™ breakthrough enabling fully plant-sourced production
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING BIOBASED POLYURETHANES FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH & VISITING THE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS EXHIBITION
13:30 - 13:55
EU APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS: A LEGAL OVERVIEW
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre
Mayer Brown
- Providing a high-level overview of the EU policy framework for sustainable plastics under the Green Deal
- Key EU strategies and action plans shaping circular economy and plastics regulation
- Adopted and upcoming legislation across the plastics life cycle from design to use
- Addressing recycling targets, waste reduction rules, and green claims affecting plastic products
13:55 - 14:00
Q&A SESSION ON EU PLASTICS REGULATION ACROSS THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
14:00 - 14:25
MOLECULAR SORTATION OF BIO-BASED PACKAGING FROM PETROLEUM PLASTICS USING THERMAL HYDROLYSIS
Andrew Walsh
Jones Celtic Bioenergy
- Introducing a technology that separates bio-based packaging from petroleum plastics at an industrial scale
- Highlighting valorization of hydrolyzed bio-packaging to generate biofuels at higher yields than food waste
- Presenting a process for preventing microplastics when treating mixed loads of plastics, bio-packaging, and bio-waste
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON THERMAL HYDROLYSIS FOR CLEANER PACKAGING STREAMS
14:30 - 14:55
FROM REGENERATIVE CORN TO CIRCULAR BIO PET: ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Éverton Simões Van-Dal
Sustainea
- Characterizing Sustainea converting regeneratively grown corn into high-performance plant-based glycols
- Verifying plant-based glycols enabling low-carbon PET across packaging, textiles, and more
- Detailing U.S.-manufactured, drop-in bio-PET integrated with current production and recycling
- Quantifying emission reductions, stronger supply chains, and measurable circularity gains
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON SCALING LOW CARBON BIO PET VIA REGENERATIVE CORN
15:00 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:30 - 15:55
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCORPORATING PCR INTO HIGH PERFORMING FILM PRODUCTS
Jay Bolus
IPG
- Providing an overview of IPG including its product portfolio, engineered film solutions and sustainability initiatives
- Considering the advantages and limitations associated with incorporating PCR into high performing engineered film products
- Sharing success stories demonstrating the use of PCR in stretch and shrink film applications
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON INTEGRATING RECYCLED CONTENT IN FILM APPLICATIONS
16:00 - 16:25
BEYOND RECYCLABLE: THE SMALL FORMAT PLASTIC SUSTAINABILITY GAP
Charlotte Wintermann
REearthable®
- Assessing how small-format plastics bypass sorting systems, undermining real-world recyclability outcomes today
- Accelerating EPR regulations and consumer scrutiny, driving measurable end-of-life accountability
- Next-generation materials matching polypropylene performance while enabling assured degradation
- Aligning sustainable material adoption with manufacturing continuity, regulatory readiness, and long-term brand value
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON END-OF-LIFE PLASTICS ACCOUNTABILITY
16:30 - 16:55
RETHINKING CIRCULARITY FOR PET BOTTLES
Michael Dolgovskij
SI Group Inc.
- Current PET recycling practices that rely on corrective additives to address degradation during thermal processing
- Utilization of stabilizers designed to prevent degradation and improve the overall quality of rPET streams
- Improvements in rPET color, intrinsic viscosity, and reduced acetaldehyde generation through stabilization
- Advancing stabilizers as a solution for reducing toner dependence while mitigating impacts from cross contaminants
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON IMPROVING PET RECYCLING QUALITY THROUGH STABILIZERS
17:00 - 17:25
HAVE WE LOST SIGHT OF THE GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS
Bob Wright
Smart Plastic Technologies
- Recycling performance and assessing whether recycling alone can deliver credible long-term sustainability outcomes
- Comparing paper, bio-plastics, and conventional plastics while balancing litter reduction and life cycle carbon impacts
- Regional plastic additive policies and their influence on innovation, regulation, and sustainability results
17:25 - 17:30
Q&A SESSION ON REASSESSING SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS GOALS
17:30 - 18:30
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026
08:30 - 09:00
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
CONVERGING STANDARDS COMPETITORS ALIGNING TO ACCELERATE CIRCULAR PLASTICS
Caroline Deshayes
WSP
- Framing the growing momentum for standardization driven by regulatory pressure and supply chain challenges
- Real world examples of alignment such as shared wash hub investments and unified EPR reporting templates
- Emphasizing pre-competitive collaboration as a strategic advantage that reduces uncertainty and accelerates innovation
- Looking ahead to interoperable systems, digital product passports, and industry wide certification schemes shaping the next phase
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS FOR PLASTICS CIRCULARITY
09:40 - 10:05
PET RECYCLING VIA CO-ROTATING TWIN-SCREW EXTRUSION
Edward Gay
Krauss Maffei Corporation
- Co-rotating twin-screw extruders and their role in efficient PET recycling processes
- PET recycling process section design for material quality and production throughput optimization
- Lab-scale implementation and real-world examples transitioning to production scale
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON EXTRUSION-BASED PET RECYCLING SOLUTIONS
10:10 - 10:35
THE MESSY FUTURE OF FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
Kevin Kelly
Emerald Packaging, Inc.
- The growing influence of regulations such as PCR requirements, alongside major questions around cost and responsibility
- Challenges emerging from EPR policies, with California offering a clear example of regulatory complexity
- Real progress toward circularity through large-scale shifts from virgin polyethylene to post-consumer recycled materials in packaging
- Remaining gaps in the recycling system, sustainability pressures, and the reasons some companies are scaling back their commitments
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON PACKAGING REGULATION AND INDUSTRY CHANGE
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:25
WHY ADVANCED RECYCLING BY GLYCOLYSIS FOR “HARD” PET WASTE TRAYS AND FILMS
Jan Van Kisfeld
revalyu Resources GmbH
- The PET packaging gap between bottle-grade recycling streams and under-recycled trays, films, and laminates
- Addressing contamination and variability challenges, thereby limiting recovery of thermoforms and complex PET structures
- Detailing glycolysis as a depolymerization pathway, resetting PET into BHET and oligomers for purification and reuse
- Focusing on higher capture rates and reduced virgin demand while supporting food-grade circularity through glycolysis
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON EXPANDING FOOD-GRADE CIRCULARITY FOR HARD PET WASTE
11:30 - 11:55
SCALING CERTIFIED CIRCULARITY: HOW ISCC PLUS ACCELERATES SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS TRANSFORMATION
Berk Büyükbas
International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
- The ISCC PLUS chain of custody models enabling auditable recycled and bio-based feedstocks
- ISCC PLUS chain-of-custody models enabling auditable recycled and bio-based feedstocks
- Global alignment and third-party verification, strengthening strategies, and scaling circular solutions
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON TRACEABILITY, MARKET ADOPTION, AND CERTIFICATION OF CIRCULAR MATERIALS
12:00 - 12:25
SCALING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WITH ML
Rajan Manocha
Materia Bioworks Inc.
- Outlining the technical and regulatory challenges brands face when developing products with bioplastics
- Material variability, processing limits, and performance risks affecting scale-up decisions
- Utilization of data and machine learning to evaluate materials before physical trials
- Real-world examples showing faster development cycles and reduced pilot failures
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON USING ML TO SCALE BIOPLASTICS DEVELOPMENT
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH & VISITING THE SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS EXHIBITION
13:30 - 14:00
RESERVED PRESENTATION
14:00 - 14:25
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS: READY FOR PRIME-TIME PLASTIC RECYCLING
Humberto Kravetz
Enztimatiko
- Introducing enzymatic recycling as a scalable alternative to traditional mechanical and chemical recycling methods
- Presenting a lower-cost, lower-energy pathway supporting true circularity in plastics and sustainable material recovery
- Expanding beyond PET to include polyolefins, ABS, and polystyrene as viable future recycling feedstocks
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON INDUSTRIAL SCALE ENZYME-BASED PLASTIC RECYCLING
14:30 - 14:55
FROM WASTE TO 100 PERCENT RECYCLED FIBER PLASTIC COMPOSITE PANELS
Alfredo Faubel
Miura Board®
- Transforming mixed and contaminated plastic scrap directly into durable composite panels through Miura Board’s upcycling process
- Eliminating water use with a dry manufacturing approach while reducing the environmental footprint of production
- Assessing durable recycled panels as a pathway to circular building materials through full recyclability and closed-loop potential
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON UPCYCLING PLASTICS INTO CIRCULAR COMPOSITE PANELS
15:00 - 15:25
FROM PLASTIC WASTE TO RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCK: DEFINING AND SCALING TRUE CIRCULARITY
Nick Spina
Denovia, Inc.
- Defining true circularity and distinguishing closed-loop recovery from downcycling and energy recovery
- Advanced depolymerization and its role in producing food-grade, virgin-equivalent outputs
- Outlining how brands, procurement, and regulators can create credible demand signals for investment
- Identifying operational, financial, and partnership factors for scaling advanced recycling to reliable systems
15:25 - 15:30
Q&A SESSION ON COMMERCIALIZING TRUE CIRCULARITY IN PLASTICS
15:30 - 15:45
FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW
15:45 - 16:00
CLOSING REMARKS
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