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Clemson University to Host Sonoco FRESH Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit

Industry leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EY, and the PepsiCo Foundation will deliver keynote presentations at the annual Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit on Sept. 18 – 19, 2023.

2023 Sonoco Fresh Summit Keynote Speakers

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The Sonoco FRESH Summit will focus on measuring progress and driving change as many organizations near their 2025 sustainability goals and are striving to accelerate progress. Keynote speakers include:

National Sustainability Strategies

Grant Cope

Senior Counselor to the Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyGrant Cope, Senior Counselor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyGrant Cope, Senior Counselor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The National Recycling Strategy and the Plastics Strategy are the first two in a series of strategies to support EPA’s vision of a circular economy for all. A circular economy reduces material use, redesigns materials to be less resource-intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program provides grants to implement the National Recycling Strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure; support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs; and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. Lastly, the United States 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal is the first-ever domestic goal to reduce food loss and waste. The goal seeks to cut food loss and waste in half by the year 2030.  The presentation will include an overview of these strategies toward a more sustainable U.S.

The Path to 2030: Delivering a Sustainable Future

Jim Doucette Principal – EY-Parthenon

Global Consumer and Retail Practice Leader

The world currently finds itself just past the halfway mark of an ambitious journey to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations in 2015. Jim Doucette, Principal – EY-Parthenon, Global Consumer and Retail Practice LeaderJim Doucette, Principal – EY-Parthenon, Global Consumer and Retail Practice Leader

The 17 goals have provided a framework to bring together governments, organizations, and companies to deliver a better, more sustainable future. As the 2030 deadline approaches, activities must be scaled to ensure that the SDGs can be met.

Join Jim Doucette, Global Consumer Sustainability Leader, EY LLP US, to learn about the progress made during the first half of the SDGs program, lessons learned, and the pathway forward. Presentation will be followed by Q&A.

PepsiCo Foundation: The Creation of Innovative and Sustainable Solutions

C. D. Glin President, PepsiCo Foundation

Global Head of Philanthropy, PepsiCo

As the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo – the PepsiCo Foundation invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system to help communities thrive. Working with local non-profits and global experts, the potential of people and communities is supported by investing in sustainable solutions to increase C. D. Glin, President, PepsiCo FoundationC. D. Glin, President, PepsiCo Foundationequitable access to nutritious food, safe water, and economic opportunity. The PepsiCo Foundation strives for tangible impact in the places where PepsiCo’s associates live and work and to be a pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) force for good.

The 2023 FRESH Summit will focus on measuring progress and driving change as many organizations near their 2025 sustainability goals and are striving to accelerate progress. FRESH is pleased to provide a program that features subject matter experts who engage stakeholders from each sector of the food value chain to drive circular solutions.

“We are thrilled to welcome stakeholders to Clemson to advance the conversation on sustainability throughout the food value chain,” said Anne Barr, Executive Director of Sonoco FRESH. “The 2023 Summit will present strategies, partnerships and success stories to address the challenges and opportunities facing industry and will include extensive opportunities for attendees to network and brainstorm with peers from multiple business sectors.”

The Summit will begin the evening of September 18 with a welcome reception featuring student poster presentations, a dinner with the U.S. EPA keynote presentation and a lakeside dessert networking reception. September 19 will kick off with remarks from Clemson and Sonoco leadership, followed by the EY keynote. Additional morning sessions will focus on trends and implications for sustainability across the value chain and advances in achieving a circular packaging system. The afternoon will feature case studies of successful partnerships as well as the PepsiCo Foundation keynote. Attendees can participate in walking tours of the Clemson campus, and the Summit will conclude with a “Tailgate Tiger Style!” reception in the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. 

Registration for the FRESH Summit is $499 for individuals, and $349 per person for groups of 5 or more registering together. Proceeds from the Summit will support future activities of the FRESH initiative at Clemson University. More information on the Summit, including agenda and speaker updates, can be found at www.SonocoFRESHSummit.com. Sponsorships are available.


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