The USA-EU joint business workshop on packaging and environment

Thursday 6 June 2024
Le Méridien Boston Cambridge, MA (USA)
9AM - 5PM EST

THE PROGRAMME

With 45% of the world’s GDP and around 10% of the world population, the USA and (Western, Central) Europe together constitute a significant acting force in the field of packaging. Both regions share challenges in packaging and environment. Sustainability issues are on the rise, legislation on recycling and eco-responsible package design is being implemented and there is a clear need for the implementation of better ICT solutions to cope with the wide variety of packaging materials. This intense joint business workshop inventarises the trends, shares the highlights and shapes the vision of the industry for the future in the field of packaging and environment in the USA, Europe and worldwide.

On Wednesday 5 June 2024, the USA-EU joint business workshop on pharmaceutical packaging innovation takes place at the same venue.

YOUR CO-MODERATORS

Todd Bukowski (Principal at PTIS, LLC the leading USA packaging and management consultancy)

Michael Nieuwesteeg MSc MEng (Managing Director NVC Packaging Centre and project lead of the NVC PUMA Project, working together to end packaging as an environmental issue worldwide)

PROGRAMME:

08.00-09.00 Registration

09.00-09.15 The challenges for society and the USA-EU business community regarding packaging and environment
Presented by co-hosts Todd Bukowski (PTIS Global) and Michael Nieuwesteeg (NVC Packaging Centre)

① The current and future legislation on packaging and packaging waste in Europe and the USA: status of the EU PPWR and insights in achieving progress through harmonised and efficient enforcement

② Frontend, Collect-Control and Backend: the future of the collection and subsequent material (re)processing of packaging materials in the USA and Europe

③ The potential of GenAI and robotics in successfully addressing the USA-EU environmental challenges in packaging and packaging waste

09.15-10.00 Status and future developments in the EU PPWR (legislation and enforcement) compared to the USA
Todd Bukowski (Principal at PTIS Global) , followed by plenary debate with two special invited guests

10.00-11.00 How to cope with the upcoming changes in the regulatory and societal USA-EU landscape? The industry and retailer perspective
Short intro by Michael Nieuwesteeg (NVC Packaging Centre) followed by a plenary debate, including seven invited industry thought leaders with a USA-EU business footprint

11.00-12.00 Packaging waste collection schemes in the USA versus EU: in-depth views of leaders in industry and society
Short intro by Todd Bukowski (PTIS Global) followed by plenary debate, including two invited recycling industry leaders and two State of Massachusetts government representatives

12.00-12.15 Concluding plenary debate

12.15-13.00 LUNCH BREAK

13.00-13.45The future of packaging recycling: facts and fables from Europe, overview of Frontend and Backend packaging material converting processes
Serra Anker (junior manager packaging materials and processes at NVC Packaging Centre)

13.45-14.30 Frontend plastics for packaging: biobased or recyclate?
Short intro by Serra Anker (NVC Packaging Centre) followed by plenary debate, including three invited suppliers addressing the materials PEF, PET, PE, PLA and PP, respectively

14.30-15.30 Novel information technologies like GenAI in successfully addressing the USA-EU environmental challenges in packaging
Invited lecture by two leading scientists in the field of AI and robotics, from a leading research institute in the Boston Cambridge Area

15.30-16.00 The Coding and identification needed to enable efficient Collect-Control and material recycling
Michael Nieuwesteeg (representing the NVC-GS1 EU Thinktank Coding and identification of packaging)

16.00-16.55 The PUMA LEGO recycling simulation game

Discover the challenges in packaging material recycling with all other physical participants in this ground breaking game, using the iconic LEGO bricks in a way you have never thought of – and will never forget…

16.55-17.00 Conclusion and informal after-party

VENUE

Anchoring the renowned University Park at MIT, Le Méridien Cambridge-MIT stands amidst an area legendary for its infrastructure of invention. Notably, the Boston-Cambridge area is one of the world’s impactful regions on packaging consumer and industrial markets. Moreover, the region is a showcase for responsible post-use packaging collection and processing.

REGISTRATION

5 June 2024 - Pharmaceutical Packaging Innovation
costs: $345 (working at NVC member company), $690 (others)
6 June 2024 - Packaging and Environment
costs: $345 (working at NVC member company), $690 (others)
5 and 6 June 2024 - Pharmaceutical Packaging Innovation and Packaging and Environment
costs: $590 (working at NVC member company), $1180 (others)