Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) President Robert Budway announced the promotion of Scott Breen to senior vice president, effective January 2, 2024. Breen, a strong sustainability thought leader and communicator, leads the association’s sustainability and recycling efforts. Upon his promotion, Breen will lead the industry’s sustainability policy, infrastructure and communications efforts as its senior vice president.
Breen started with CMI in July 2019, and has elevated the association’s vision for the metal can to be recognized as the superior sustainable package. A sought-after speaker and coalition builder in the sustainability space, Breen has facilitated several initiatives to advance the metal can industry’s sustainability performance. The aluminum can is already the most recycled beverage package in the world with the highest average recycled content, but the industry is investing in Breen to improve those key performance indicators for the U.S. market.
Scott Breen
“Scott effectively articulates how the attributes of the metal can make it the sustainable solution,” said Budway. “His extensive knowledge about sustainability and the circular economy, along with his analytic ability and facilitation prowess, create new energy to effectively fortify the sustainability narrative and further communicate the metal can’s sustainability superiority.”
Prior to joining CMI, Breen was the associate manager of the sustainability and circular economy program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He is also the creator and co-host of the Sustainability Defined podcast. Breen began his career as an attorney-advisor at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“It is an honor to lead the sustainability program within the metal can industry and tell the story about the most sustainable package,” said Breen on his promotion. “This position allows me to further the industry’s sustainability profile by facilitating initiatives and actions that drive continued advances in the metal package's sustainability profile.”
Breen graduated magna cum laude from his undergraduate program, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political economy from Georgetown University, and his joint graduate program, a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Affairs and Social Entrepreneurship Certificate from Indiana University.
