Plan to attend Sustainable Packaging Symposium 2011

Slated for March 16 to 18, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the debut event will examine the critical role of packaging in implementing sustainability across the complete business supply chain.

"Sustainability plays a pivotal role in the packaging supply chain, yet critical questions remain," says Christine Smallwood, Greener Package director of business development. "Our engagement with the Institute for Sustainability offers packaging industry professionals and a robust group of scientists and engineers the opportunity to come together and share insights on how to unleash sustainable packaging within a least-cost portfolio, while optimizing environmental outcomes."

If you're involved with sustainable packaging decisions at a consumer packaged goods company or package development firm or if you're a retailer or supplier to the field, you won't want to miss this new event. The conference is dedicated to providing a forum for education and discussion of the practical and technological advances related to sustainable packaging.

The event comprises four main topic areas—"Supply Chain: Raw Material to Package on the Shelf," "Horizon Issues on the Supply Chain," "Measurements, Data, and Analysis," and "Unintended Consequences/Global Perspective"—each featuring a number of presentations from industry experts. Among the speakers are:

• Andrew Speck, Packaging Buyer, Marks & Spencer (keynote)
• Greg Norris, PhD of The Sustainability Consortium/Harvard University (keynote)
• Roger Zellner, Director Sustainable Packaging, Kraft Foods (keynote)
• Lars Lundquist, Packaging Research Scientist for Nestlé
• Cynthia Arnold, Chief Technology Officer at Sun Chemical
• Jim Hanna, Director of Environmental Impact for Starbucks Coffee Company
• Charles Walsh, Sustainability & Business Solutions, ECRM
• Victor Bell, President of Environmental Packaging International (EPI)

Program Session Co-Chairs for the event are Sean Sabre, Manager, Global Supply Chain Innovation for ModusLink; Beth Beloff, President of Bridges to Sustainability Institute; Ron Cotterman, Executive Director of Sustainability for Sealed Air Corp.; Paul Earl-Torniainen, Senior Packaging Engineer for General Mills; Sara Hartwell, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, EPA; Laura Rowell, Director, Sustainable Packaging, for MeadWestvaco; and Lisa Grice, Principal, Sustainability and GHG Management Practice, for Environ.

Two full days of education will include keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions, a tabletop exhibit area, and ample time for networking.