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SPE Foundation Debuts Sustainable Packaging Patch for Girl Scouts

The new Girl Scout Gold Award SPE Foundation Grant is now available for eligible Girl Scouts who wish to make a positive impact on community recycling, sustainability, or diversity in STEM, helping fund Girl Scout troops interested in participating.

The hands-on curriculum behind the patch is intended to change the perception of packaging, teach basic recycling, promote packaging degree programs, teach girls to create a personal sustainability plan, and to make a career in packaging seem “cool” by exposing participants to people (especially women) that exemplify cool packaging careers.
The hands-on curriculum behind the patch is intended to change the perception of packaging, teach basic recycling, promote packaging degree programs, teach girls to create a personal sustainability plan, and to make a career in packaging seem “cool” by exposing participants to people (especially women) that exemplify cool packaging careers.

The SPE Foundation, convened by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), aims to support the development of plastics professionals by funding inclusive educational programs, grants, and scholarships emphasizing science, engineering, sustainability, and manufacturing. In a new project that harmonizes these goals, the Foundation is engaging with Girl Scout Councils around the country to introduce girls to opportunities in plastics engineering through STEM patches related to polymer science, packaging, and sustainability.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Society of Plastics Engineers on our Sustainable Packaging Patch. Their support has been instrumental in shedding new light on the significance of plastics in our ecosystem,” says Nasaile Peterson, program coordinator, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. “The hands-on curriculum not only educates Girl Scouts on the crucial aspects of plastic disposal and its chemical properties but also delves into how nature shapes product design. We're equipping our young leaders to champion sustainable practices and make the world a better place.”

To fund Girl Scout troops interested in participating, the new SPE Grant to support Girl Scouts working toward their Gold Award is now available for eligible Girl Scouts who wish to make a positive impact on community recycling, promoting sustainability, or addressing diversity issues in STEM.

Through SPE’s partnership with the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and the material agnostic Sustainable Packaging Patch, the SPE says that it not only dives into what it describes as “Positive Plastics Education,” but also cover topics to help girls understand why packaging is necessary in the first place. 

“We talk about materials generally used for packaging—plastic, glass, metal, paper, and biopolymers—and the pros and cons for each. We hope to spark an interest The SPE Foundation is engaging with local Girl Scouts of the USA councils around the country to introduce girls to opportunities in plastics engineering through STEM patches related to polymer science, packaging, and sustainability.The SPE Foundation is engaging with local Girl Scouts of the USA councils around the country to introduce girls to opportunities in plastics engineering through STEM patches related to polymer science, packaging, and sustainability.in girls so they’ll join the packaging industry one day to innovate solutions to our most pressing challenges. We’re looking to engage youth who care about our environment and empowering them as future scientists and engineers,” says Eve Vitale, manufacturing engineer and SPE Foundation chief executive.

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