Michael Okoroafor, Ph.D.

Weekly Friday Personal Post: I'm excited to lead a small group discussion at the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum on how to optimize recovery with recycling policy amid political realities. This event is taking place October 29-30 in Philadelphia. This is the first time they've done this event in the U.S., but it's been held in other parts of the world. I'm impressed with the speaker list and honored to be included. My understanding is that it will be a relatively small conference of about 200 people so that should enable better networking and conversations and make it easier to find people. Agenda topics include the global plastics treaty, corporate packaging targets, circular packaging innovation, advanced/chemical recycling, reuse, and many other important topics. Link to the agenda is in the comments. I particularly like their use of the concurrent small roundtables so people can engage in more small group discussions on key issues. I'm thankful for the opportunity to lead a roundtable discussion on a key topic for my organization, Can Manufacturers Institute. We know policy is the lever that can deliver the greatest increase in metal can recycling. However, policy is difficult to pass in certain states and also the policies that can deliver the greatest amount of material (e.g., recycling refunds or deposit return systems) have their own political challenges. We'll share in the roundtable about how policy can deliver better recycling rates, what policies deliver the best recycling rates, and how to approach recycling policy advocacy given political realities in certain states and around certain policies. I hope to share what I know on this topic and learn from many others as well. Look forward to seeing many familiar faces and making new friends too! Registration is still open. Let me know if you'll be there. #sustainability #packaging

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Did you know that GreenBlue Org's How2Recycle® (H2R) standards and labels are changing? ♻️ This week at Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) Advance, our friend Paul Nowak, Executive Director of GreenBlue, spoke on the launch of the How2Recycle Forward campaign. Paul Stated: "The How2Recycle Forward campaign isn't just about a label—it's not even just about recycling. It's about changing our relationship to disposal to drive better environmental outcomes. The How2Recycle program has the base, the reach, and the drive we need to create a more circular economy and cleaner environment for generations to come." The photo below capture by our very own Drew Felty shows the new labels. What are your thoughts on the new labels? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #sustainablepackaging #SPCAdvance #circulareconomy #packaging #recycling

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Transforming the Future of Plastic Use: U.S. Plastics Pact Roadmap 2.0 The U.S. Plastics Pact has launched Roadmap 2.0, an actionable plan to eliminate plastic packaging waste and transition to a circular economy. Building on the progress of the initial roadmap, the new plan sets ambitious targets, including designing for circularity, eliminating problematic plastics, and enhancing recycling infrastructure. By fostering collaboration and innovation, Roadmap 2.0 aims to drive systemic change across the plastics value chain. Join us in supporting a sustainable future! https://lnkd.in/gXydpxSC #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #USPlasticsPact #ESG

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🤝 The alternative protein industry needs to be far more collaborative to reach its commercialization goals. 🌱 This is the view of Laine Clark, The Good Food Institute's Senior Corporate Engagement Manager, Innovation. "Collaboration is the path to fueling R&D, establishing adequate infrastructure, driving state and federal support, maintaining a robust supply chain, expediting time to market, and accessing large pools of capital," writes Laine. "The key is to think of collaboration as a force multiplier for reaching milestones. Working with a partner or partners can reduce costs, provide access to inputs and equipment, avoid redundancies by using existing solutions, and add credibility." 📰 Read more in Laine's latest column for the Protein Production Technology International: https://hubs.ly/Q02B4Lcn0 #collaboration #alternativeprotein #innovation #futureoffood

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The US Plastics Pact today released its "Design for Reuse," "Design for Compostability," and "Design for Recyclability" Playbooks — each offering Activator organizations and industry leaders with comprehensive guidelines to enhance packaging sustainability. Drawing on nearly four years of experience and touching on Targets 1, 2, and 5 of the U.S. Pact's Roadmap 2.0, these resources help standardize packaging design and set new standards for circularity. Explore the Playbooks! https://lnkd.in/gfQuM8GK #Circularity #CircularEconomy #Packaging #Design #RoadmapToCircularity

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