What will it take to accelerate the circular economy?

Welcome to Circularity 20. The opening will set the stage for the virtual event, offer an overview of the program and ground attendees in what circularity means today. 

What is the state of the circular economy today, how can we encourage stakeholders to adopt its principles, and what systemic shifts should we prioritize to advance this model’s future?

Stay Tuned! 

Stay tuned!

What is the current state of bioplastics, and what role should they play in a sustainable packaging future?

In the scramble to swap single-use plastics for sustainable alternatives, some companies are turning to bioplastic as a seemingly effective replacement. These plant-based alternatives promise the same advantages of traditional plastics without contributing to the world’s growing waste epidemic. Yet bioplastics raise a slew of tough questions for the packaging industry and leave significant confusion in their wake. Do bioplastics count as plastic? Do they work? How, where and under what conditions can they be recycled? What about composting? When does it make sense to use them? This session will provide an overview of the family of bioplastics and their fit in the world of sustainable packaging.

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What will it take to build robust composting infrastructure at scale in the United States?

Composting should be a win-win. In theory, corporations and cities could divert food waste from landfills and create a valuable agricultural product in the process. Yet examples of large-scale composting infrastructure are hard to find in the United States. According to the most recent EPA data, less than 10 percent of food waste finds its way into composting systems. Contamination of waste streams, haulage costs and “compostable” materials that don’t actually biodegrade are all part of the problem. 

Join this  session to meet the entrepreneurs, city officials and corporate leaders who are turning things around. Speakers will share details of successful composting businesses, systems for scaling up food waste collection and strategies for diverting corporate food waste into composting systems.

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What emerging strategies have been employed to tackle food waste during the pandemic, and how can we scale these strategies in the future?

When the coronavirus pandemic first disrupted food supply chains earlier this year, huge amounts of animals and produce raised for human consumption were lost. But the food system sprang into action — adapting operations, overcoming barriers and scaling promising innovations to reduce the amount of waste. In this session, industry experts who have been leading efforts to tackle food waste during the pandemic will share what they have learned. Hear innovative thinking about scaling food-waste technologies, building more resilient donation systems and developing new supply chains that connect farmers with food recovery channels.

How do we design for the future amid the disruptive present?