Schedule of Events

In this session, recent trends in packaging will be reviewed and factors that affect the sustainability of paper packaging will be discussed. The workshop will cover new package types that, while promoted as “more circular,” are questionable in terms of sustainability. The rapid growth of e-commerce and the implications for shipping packaging will be addressed as well as changes in curbside recycling in recent years and the implications of adding new types of packaging. Different types of paper packages will be analyzed in terms of how they fare when sorted at the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility). Finally, the impact on the recyclability of non-paper elements on packages, such as inks, labels, wraps, and more, will be discussed.

Every aspect of the supply chain has been impacted by the challenges of today's labor market. In this session, representatives from both the public and private sectors will share their successes and lessons learned when it comes to hiring and retaining employees.

Chemical recycling has the potential to complement mechanical recycling, but questions remain about the technology's environmental impacts. In this session, we consider the life cycle assessments of the plastics made from the raw materials generated by chemical recycling and the push-back chemical recycling has seen from NGOs.

Voluntary brand commitments and recycled-content mandates have increased demand and pricing for recovered PET, though the collection rate remains low. Panelists in this session discuss PET market dynamics and whether legislation can help to improve recovery of this material.