Circular Plastics Summit

Thursday, October 18 | 12:15pm - 4:30pm

Thursday, October 18, 12:15pm - 4:30pm  | Washington Inn, Oakland, CA

The Circular Plastics Summit is a half-day, invitation-only working session focused on what will it take to redesign the plastics value chain to eliminate waste.

The challenge of curbing plastic waste dates to the dawn of the modern environmental movement. More recently, concerns over plastic litter, particularly in marine environments, has reached feverish pitch among consumers, governments and companies themselves. Addressing the waste challenge requires engaging the entire plastics value chain, from polymer manufacturers to brands to waste haulers, in order to create truly systemic solutions.

It’s a significant business opportunity. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 14 percent of plastics are recycled, resulting in a loss of as much as $120 billion a year to the global economy.

In recent months, some of the world biggest brands and plastics manufacturers have issued bold challenges to create new supply chains from plastic waste. It’s a critical start, but success will require broad, global engagement among companies, governments, policy makers and others to create a truly circular plastics economy.

 

VERGE Circular Plastics Summit

Past Participants Include

VERGE Circular Plastics Summit

Agenda

The Summit begins with an opening lunch to establish the focus and frame for the session. Participants will then engage in a series of facilitated discussions focused on what it will take to redesign the plastics value chain to eliminate waste. The Summit is designed to be an interactive, roll-up-your-sleeves experience, with a limited number of speeches and slide presentations.

 

What You Can Expect

  • Deep learning about what technologies and new models are on the cutting edge of advancing more circular plastics

  • Focused networking with a diverse group of leaders who can be powerful and effective allies and potential partners

  • Collaborative investigation of key actions you can take, individually and through your organization, that can move the needle

Who Should Attend

Participants include leaders in:

  • Product and packaging design
  • Brand strategy
  • Chemistry and advanced materials
  • Supply chain management
  • Logistics and reverse logistics
  • Procurement
  • Recycling and waste management
  • Plastic pollution advocacy
  • Venture investing

Topics We Will Address

During the primary working session, we will explore pathways to key solutions, including:

  1. Commercializing compostables at scale

  2. Eliminating foodservice packaging beyond straws, cups and lids

  3. Scaling new product delivery models that eliminate plastic packaging altogether

  4. Ensuring that promising materials advance beyond niche solutions

  5. Increasing affordable and effective alternatives to multi-material packaging

  6. Deploying local and national policies to encourage circular supply chains

  7. Eliminating chemicals of concern from food and beverage packaging

  8. Creating closed-loop value chains in apparel and footwear