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Program

MAY 17 - 19, 2022 | ATLANTA, INTERCONTINENTAL BUCKHEAD

ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN TIME (EST). PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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Stakeholders & Storytelling

Sponsored by: 
SC Johnson - Track Page
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
9:00am to 12:00pm
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Tools of the Trade: How to Measure and Standardize Circularity

Tutorial
Trippe II & III

What is the landscape of standards, metrics and tools measuring the transition to a circular economy, and how can your organization leverage them in practice?

To advance a more circular strategy, system or economy, it is time to move beyond theoretical, anecdotal success towards data-driven decisions and outcomes. Yet the landscape of metrics, standards and tools measuring circularity is nascent and evolving. What tools exist to measure circular outcomes, and which will best serve your strategy? What are the intended applications for these tools, and how can your organization leverage them in practice? 

This half-day tutorial will explore the leading technologies and tools measuring circular success. A fireside chat will explore the humble — yet critical — life-cycle assessment, followed by deep-dive use cases and instructive explorations for the leading tools measuring circularity: Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard, World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Circular Transition Indicators and The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circulytics. 

 

  • All-Access Pass Required

Speakers

  • Danielle Nkojo
  • Christina Raab
  • Kellie Ballew
  • Dylan Siegler
  • Casey Rowland
  • Ilma Stankeviciute
  • Bill Sisson
  • Taylor Price
  • Suzanne Kuiper
  • Jim Hartzfeld

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Scaling Circular Fashion

Tutorial
Hope I & II

What are the leading trends and innovations in the world of circular fashion, and what will it take to bring these strategies to scale?

It’s no secret that the fashion industry has an environmental problem: The global fashion industry accounts for 10 percent of global carbon emissions, 20 percent of wastewater and relies on 98 million tons of non-renewable resources each year. And this is to say nothing of the dwindling life cycle of clothing and the resulting waste of more than 10 million tons of textile waste each year in U.S. landfills alone. The need for urgent action is clear. 

Fashion is ripe for a redesign, and applying circular principles to every phase of a garment’s lifespan has the power to revitalize and reimagine the industry as we know it. Revised design principles and new business models — like resale, rental, and repair — can extend product life and redefine ownership. Technological breakthroughs can enable new textiles made from recycled materials and biological sources. Redesigned recycling systems, manufacturing processes and supply chain flows can reduce inefficiencies and prioritize sustainable solutions. 

This half-day tutorial will follow a garment’s trajectory from sourcing and design to the business model within which it’s sold to its end of life management, uncovering leading circular solutions along the way. Bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the apparel value chain, together we’ll explore what it will take to redesign the apparel industry of today. 

 

  • All-Access Pass Required

Speakers

  • Irys Kornbluth
  • Karla Magruder
  • Kabira Stokes
  • Kristy Caylor
  • Jeannie Renne-Malone
  • Suz Okie
  • Matteo Magnani
  • Asha Agrawal
  • Kim Gallagher
  • Axelle Schmit
  • Deonna Anderson

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The Race to 2025: Achieving Plastics & Packaging Goals

Tutorial
Venetian I & II

What will it take to move beyond packaging commitments to meaningful action?

Compostable, recyclable, renewable, reusable or made from recycled content. From fashion to food and beverage to consumer packaged goods and beyond, diverse sectors have announced 2025 packaging goals with these commitments front and center. Now comes the hard part. Many of these goals require significant internal action, not to mention functioning external circular systems, like reliable sources of recycled content or composting and recycling infrastructure at scale. What will it take to accomplish your company’s goals?

This half-day tutorial will feature brands that are leading the charge towards 2025 — along with the solutions they’re leveraging. Together we’ll dive deep into the plastics value chain, explore the importance and use cases for various tools — including a tutorial on the Plastics IQ tool and a dialogue on plastic offsets — all while creating opportunities for meaningful networking across industries and value chains. 

 

  • All-Access Pass Required

Speakers

  • Sinclair Vincent
  • Matt Kopac
  • Emily Tipaldo
  • Julie Zaniewski
  • Danielle Jezienicki
  • Svanika Balasubramanian
  • Charlie Schwarze
  • Robert Flores
  • Katherine Huded
  • Joe Riconosciuto

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Ready, Set, Circularity: Setting Strategy and Kick-Starting Organizational Readiness

Tutorial
Venetian V & VI

How can you build an effective, comprehensive organizational strategy, and what it will take to upskill your workforce to achieve it?

The benefits of circularity can ripple throughout a business and its supply chain, creating opportunity and disruption in its wake. But no matter how visionary, a circular economy strategy will only translate into real-world impact if it breaks through silos and takes hold across an organization and its ecosystem. 

In this half-day tutorial, we’ll hear from leaders that have established comprehensive circular economy strategies that touch on diverse departments — from design to supply chain management to marketing. Together we’ll map your organization's ecosystem, uncovering partners and collaborators across your organization, supply and value chain that can help you in your journey towards an effective circular transition.  

 

  • All-Access Pass Required

Speakers

  • Uvini Lokuge
  • Natalia Vasquez
  • Nicole Ray
  • Ken Voeller
  • Katie Schindall
  • John Davies
  • Jeffrey Hogue
  • Maggie Howekamp
  • Eric King

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4:00pm to 5:00pm
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Bending Behaviors: How to Effectively Engage Consumers

Breakout
Venetian V & VI

How can companies shift consumer behaviors to advance circular outcomes?

What do recycling, reusable packaging and rentals all have in common? They rely on consumer behavior to succeed. From renting a dress to successfully using a blue bin, the consumer plays an active role in returning materials and ensuring circular outcomes.  But when a consumer is unfamiliar or unwilling to participate, circular initiatives and business models can fail. How can you encourage your consumer to change their behavior and ensure circular success? Join this panel to learn from practitioners who are studying and provoking consumer behavior change. 

 

Speakers

  • Jennifer Patrick
  • Satyakam Sharma
  • Suzanne Shelton
  • Steve Schmida

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Sponsored: Partnering Across the Value Chain to Drive Circularity

Breakout
Venetian III Room

From hair care to power tools, Eastman is partnering to help drive sustainability across the value chain. Today’s circular economy is developing at an unprecedented pace, thanks in large part to consumer demand. But how do brands meet these demands? Long story short: They can’t do it alone. Partnerships along the value chain are critical to circularity.

In this session, Holli Alexander, sustainability strategic initiative manager from Eastman, will moderate a panel discussion with representatives from a consumer goods brand and an industrial tools and hardware brand to discuss: how each were able to introduce circular products to market thanks to value chain partnerships; the hurdles and challenges each company overcame along the way; why consumer messaging was critical to overall success; and advice they have for attendees looking to achieve circularity for their brand.

This session is sponsored by Eastman. Sponsored sessions are sponsor-created and hosted breakouts, created independently by the sponsor without input from GreenBiz. Please note that attendee contact information will be shared with the sponsoring company.

Speakers

  • Holli Alexander
  • Matt Storey
  • Rachel Zipperian
  • Dan Fitzgerald

Sponsors

Eastman

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Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
9:00am to 10:00am
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Meet your MRF: Behind the Scenes of a Recycling Facility

Breakout
Trippe I

And what can MRFs teach you about aligning your packaging strategy with recycling infrastructure? 

Materials recovery facilities, known as MRFs, are taken for granted. This critical infrastructure is a cornerstone of a circular economy for packaging, ensuring materials from residential and commercial recycling programs are sorted and sold as commodities — but only if packaging producers, brands, retailers and consumers set them up for success. It’s time to meet your MRF for a behind-the-scenes look at these facilities. 

MRF operators from across the country will share how MRFs work today, including the latest technological innovations in sorting, regional and facility-specific differences; why facilities can and can’t adjust to changes in the packaging landscape; and what other value chain partners need to know about recyclability in residential programs. Come with your questions to better understand the system that your packaging and products are entering into — and what steps you can take to enable your products and packages return back to the economy.

 

Speakers

  • Kate Bailey
  • Joaquin Mariel
  • Lynn Hoffman
  • Lauren Phipps
  • Brent Shows

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You Are What You Teach: How to Upskill Your Organization for Circularity

Breakout
Hope I & II

How can you educate and upskill your workforce on the complexity of circularity, and what will it take to enable their success as your organization pursues a more circular future? 

Launching circular strategies — from piloting new business models to sourcing recycled materials to designing and taking back products with a new life in mind — requires new positions, mindsets and skills. Workers across your organization — and throughout the supply and value chain — will need relevant expertise and mindsets to adapt to this new approach to business. But what does it take to effectively explain the circular economy to your colleagues and teammates? What knowledge base does your work force need to pursue a circular strategy? What will a just, equitable transition look like and how can your company upskill both your workers and those your company relies on? Join this session to dive into what it will take to upskill your organization for circularity. 

Speakers

  • Katie Schindall
  • John Davies
  • Trent Gross
  • Ilma Stankeviciute

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Sponsored: Stoking the Fire: Engaging Consumers in Circularity

Breakout
Venetian III Room

Where are consumers when it comes to circularity, and what will it take to engage them more effectively? In this session, SC Johnson is pleased to have Chris Coulter, CEO of GlobeScan present the latest global consumer insights from the Healthy & Sustainable Living research program. Uncovering findings from this 31-market consumer research study, Chris will explore opportunities for successful consumer engagement. Join this dynamic session to ask questions, share comments and to better understand how to activate and engage 8 billion consumers.

This session is sponsored by SC Johnson. Sponsored sessions are sponsor-created and hosted breakouts, created independently by the sponsor without input from GreenBiz. Please note that attendee contact information will be shared with the sponsoring company.

Speakers

  • Chris Coulter

Sponsors

SC Johnson

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1:30pm to 2:30pm
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Funding Options for Circular Economy Startups

Breakout
Trippe II & III

What will it take to advance circular innovation and collaboration, and what funding mechanisms exist to advance the circular economy transition? 

The future may be circular, but how do we get there? The answer: innovation and collaboration across the ecosystem — and it’s time to reconsider the role of startups in the broader circular ecosystem. This panel will highlight the power that can be unlocked by connecting global organizations that are seeking circular innovation with disruptors seeking to scale their solutions. You will hear from companies creating new mechanisms to fund innovation, and from representatives of cross-industry partnerships that are collaboratively funding cutting-edge circular economy solutions. Learn about the challenges and opportunities related to financing the transition to the circular economy, and the role you can play in funding or scaling circular economy startups.

 

Speakers

  • April Crow
  • Steve Bradley
  • Sherrie Totoki

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A Regenerative, Inclusive Transition at Scale: The Circular City Coalition

Breakout
Hope I & II

How can authentic, meaningful social improvement align with strong economic performance? 

Upstream and regenerative circular economy platforms are not new, they've just never been prioritized in the modern take-make-waste economy. The circular economy is not just about shiny new product-as-a-service businesses — it's also about celebrating, empowering and growing traditional businesses like tailors, pawn shops, cobblers and electronics repair.  For many, the circular economy or circular cities remain abstract ideas, are considered a luxury or are simply deemed otherwise inaccessible for many residents. How can the circular economy create real value for historically marginalized communities? This session focuses on how companies, institutions and non-profits — when properly motivated by a common theory of change — can unlock good at scale and be a critical platform helping humanity live within the planetary boundaries. 

 

Speakers

  • John Holm
  • Eva Gladek
  • Vivien Luk
  • Marcus Krembs
  • Garr Punnett

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Sponsored: A Collaborative Approach to Increase Recycling Access and Rates

Breakout
Venetian III

Confusion and chaos often define today’s recycling infrastructure. But a collaborative approach across the value chain—from ensuring a product can be recycled and educating consumers to proper sorting support and identifying end-use markets—can make a difference.

 Join this session to learn how stakeholders in the food and beverage carton industry came together and increased recycling access rates by nearly 240 percent since 2009. In this discussion, you’ll hear how nuts and bolts solutions were identified and how stakeholders worked together to remove recycling barriers, build consumer knowledge, change consumer habits, and more.

This session is sponsored by Tetra Pak. Sponsored sessions are sponsor-created and hosted breakouts, created independently by the sponsor without input from GreenBiz. Please note that attendee contact information will be shared with the sponsoring company.

Speakers

  • Jordan Fengel
  • Lena Zodda
  • Mark Bond
  • Sherry Yarkosky

Sponsors

Tetra Pak

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3:00pm to 4:00pm
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Sponsored: Atlanta Spotlight: Advancing Circularity Through Local Community Efforts

Breakout
Venetian IV

How can we learn from community organizations working to advance circular economy initiatives in ever-changing metro Atlanta? 

Dubbed at different occasions as the “City in the Forest,” “The City Too Busy to Hate” or the capital of the “New South,” Atlanta is ever-changing but always unique. Even as new residents and businesses continue to migrate to the area, the Atlanta metro has some of the highest levels of income inequality in the country. Many of the flaws in our current “take-make-waste” model of production and consumption have been solved for in hyperlocal context by boots-on-the-ground organizations. Residents, both new and old, have found ways to both foster community and advance sustainability.

This session will spotlight Atlanta-based organizations developing creative circular solutions and empowering local communities. Join us for this engaging discussion featuring Rubicon, Live Thrive, Bearings Bike Works and Partnership for Southern Equity. Come away with ideas for how your local, community organizations can build circularity from the ground up.

This session is sponsored by Rubicon. Sponsored sessions are sponsor-created and hosted breakouts, created independently by the sponsor without input from GreenBiz. Please note that attendee contact information will be shared with the sponsoring company.

Speakers

  • Carolyn Burch
  • Natasha Dyer
  • Becky O'Mara
  • Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe

Sponsors

Rubicon

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Collaborating with Waste Collector Communities

Breakout
Hope III

What role do waste collectors play in your company’s supply chain, and how can you ensure dignity and equity when procuring recycled materials?

The demand for post consumer recycled plastics is outpacing supply. To source this high-demand feedstock companies across industries have partnered with waste collector communities to identify, sort and sell plastics to be recycled. Beyond aiding recycled-content goals, these partnerships prevent waste in the environment and open up the potential for more socially responsible sourcing. But what will it take to build a meaningful engagement with waste collectors beyond one-off partnerships? How can your company do so with equity, dignity and respect for the work of these individuals? What human rights considerations should be top of mind when engaging with workers down the supply chain? Explore these questions with representatives of waste collector communities and the companies effectively partnering with them. 

 

Speakers

  • Keiran Smith
  • Vivien Luk
  • Cynthia Shih
  • Dave Ford

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Leveraging E-Waste for Rare Earth and Precious Metals Recovery

Breakout
Trippe II & III
What is the state of recycling and recovering rare earth and precious metals from electronics waste, and how must this technology evolve for future supply chain resilience? 

Rare earth elements and precious metals are an essential component of modern life, critical to the electronics we rely on and to the batteries, panels and technology required for the renewable energy transition. But with limited or difficult-to-access supply, it will be essential to leverage the bounty of resources already embedded in our devices today to ensure supply chain resilience for the future. This session will discuss the technologies for recycling and recovering rare earth and other precious metals. It will explore what’s capable today, as well as the business models, infrastructure, policy and other systems needed to advance these critical solutions for the future.

Speakers

  • Heather Clancy
  • Mike Werner
  • Ikenna Nlebedim
  • Megan O'Connor

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4:30pm to 5:30pm
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Equity in a New Economy: Ensuring Access and Inclusion

Breakout
Trippe II & III

How can circular systems and services enable inclusion and what does it take to design them with all communities in mind?

Speakers

  • José Manuel Moller
  • Kristin Kagetsu
  • Deonna Anderson
  • Chris Zwicke

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ESG, meet CE: The Role of Finance in the Circular Economy

Breakout
Venetian I & II

What role can finance play in achieving ESG goals while accelerating the circular transition? 

Capital is a key enabler of the circular economy, encouraging innovation and enabling transformative companies to bring their solutions to scale. As more circular economy-focused investors join the space, each comes with unique financing objectives, skills and approaches. In this session, Closed Loop Partners will convene representatives from across the capital stack and share experience from uniting diverse groups of investors –– including institutional investors and strategic corporate investors –– to scale circular supply chains and meet diverse financial and impact commitments, including ESG goals.

 

Speakers

  • Bridget Croke
  • Suzanne Klatt
  • Alessandra Pistoia
  • John Caturano

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Ripple Effects: The Impact of EU Policy

Breakout
Hope III

What circular policies are in play in Europe and how will they impact your organization? What role should they play in the evolution of your circular strategy?

Speakers

  • Kyle Wiens
  • Elizabeth Balkan
  • Rakesh Vazirani
  • Eva Gladek
  • Jim Giles

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Thursday, May 19th, 2022
9:00am to 11:30am
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The Future of Reverse Logistics

Workshop
Hope I & II

How is reverse logistics being leveraged today, what role will it play in the future of a robust circular economy, and what will it take to re-distribute goods and materials profitably and sustainably at scale?

Underpinning the circular transition, reverse logistics and the (re)distribution of previously used products has become a key enabler of the circular economy transition. While some companies are leveraging reverse logistics as a competitive advantage, investing millions into advanced robotics downstream and aiming to design out waste at product creation, many companies are still trying to define their own reverse logistics strategy and reacting to market conditions. Conversely, a new branch of reverse logistics is emerging: material reverse logistics focuses on the redistribution and repurposing of materials at scale. Given the complexity, many questions emerge.

In designing a profitable and sustainable reverse logistics strategy, where should a company begin? Why do some industries like tech seem to flourish while other industries fall behind? What role does technology play in the reverse logistics space? How can ESG be leveraged as a valuable tool to enable reverse logistics strategy internally? How does the emerging role of circular policy such as EPR and the European Green Deal factor into a company’s reverse logistics strategy? What does the future of reverse logistics look like?

Join this long-form session to learn from practitioners across diverse industries on the evolving and critical role that reverse logistics plays in the transition to a circular state.

 

Speakers

  • Tony Sciarrotta
  • John Holm
  • James George
  • Rachel Kibbe
  • Ian Rosenberger
  • Sean Magann
  • Joy Hicks
  • Anita Kedia Schwartz

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9:00am to 10:00am
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Nailing the Narrative: Embedding Circularity Into Your ESG and Communication Strategies

Breakout
Trippe I

What does it take to effectively communicate your circular strategy? 

We need to ensure that circularity is understood and embraced by all. While the circular economy has become integral to many corporate sustainability strategies, companies often struggle to translate this into stories that inform and inspire employees, customers, investors, and other stakeholders. To unlock the circular economy’s full potential, effective communication is key. 

Following a tumultuous year —  from the health risks of COVID-19 to shipping delays, supply chain shortages, and more — global brands have begun to prioritize circularity in their ESG strategies. This session will explore how companies have continued to embrace circularity in an uncertain world, and how leading brands leverage the power of narrative to engage stakeholders on their circular ambitions, products, and service offerings. 

 

Speakers

  • Mike Hower
  • Ali Mize
  • Chelsey Evans
  • Cash East

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10:30am to 11:30am
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Justice-Centered Strategies: Regenerating Communities Through Economic Inclusion

Breakout
Hope III

What does it take to launch community enterprises that prioritize those most harmed by the linear economy, and how can you meet your sustainability goals with justice-centered strategies?

Communities most harmed by the linear economy’s wastefulness must be central in the design and implementation of a new, circular and just economy. In pursuit of that ideal, Microsoft partnered with the Just Transition PowerForce — an advisory committee of U.S.-based environmental and climate justice organizations — to align zero-waste strategies and circular initiatives with community regeneration.  

This session will unveil key learnings and outcomes from the partnership, including an established framework for measuring and evaluating environmental justice and opportunities to advance justice-centered strategies while meeting sustainability goals. Together we’ll explore an Atlanta-based pilot project geared towards co-creating and incubating community-led and -owned zero waste enterprises, designed to bring more Black-owned suppliers and partners into its business ecosystem.

 

Speakers

  • Danielle Decatur
  • Felicia Davis
  • Michelle Wiseman
  • Carol Hunter

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