Biopolymers Symposium 2012 Agenda
The Biopolymers Symposium attracts hundreds of the industry's decision makers each year and 2012 was no different!
Keep reading to learn more about the 2012 program and the many cutting-edge presentations that took place in San Antonio, including our first look at anaerobic digestion. 
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Monday, October 15, 2012: Workshops & Anaerobic Digestion Forum
An additional fee is required to attend the workshops or Anaerobic Digestion Forum
Room I- Workshop # 1 (full day)
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Communicating the Value Proposition of Bioplastics - Using Biobased Carbon Content, Designing for End-of-life, and Implementing LCA Protocols
Dr. Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University
Room II- Workshop #2
8:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Additives for Bioplastics
Edwin Tam, Manager, New Strategic Initiatives, Teknor Apex Company
>>>> Learn more about the workshops
Room II- Anaerobic Digestion Forum
12:00 p.m.- 5:15 p.m.
Full agenda is available; click here to view!
Opening Reception
5:45 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
All registrants for the Biopolymers Symposium 2012 are invited to our opening reception to begin their networking.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
CONFERENCE Day 1
Registration and Continental Breakfast
7:45 a.m.
Opening Remarks from the Co-Chairs
Dr. Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University and Dr. Paul Fowler, Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, UWSP.
State of the Bioplastics Business -- The Happenings in 2012 and Beyond
8:40 a.m.
Hear from industry experts, brand owners and new technology makers the state of the industry, latest innovations, success stories in bioplastics adoption, challenges and applications like semi-durables and durables.
Chair: Dr Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University
Development of a Bio-Based Process for Isoprene
David Benko, R&D Fellow - Innovation Center, Goodyear
The Road to Bio-Based Plastics at Ford Motor Company
Angela Harris, Plastics Research Group, Materials and Processes Department, Ford Motor Company
Nike's Perspective on Bio-polymer Performance and Innovation
Eraina Duffy, Sr. Materials Researcher, Nike
Networking break
Sustainable Feedstocks
10:20 a.m.
This session will spotlight efforts to secure feedstock sustainability for biopolymer resins and end-use applications. The perception, even when industrial, non-food grade starches are used as feedstocks, is that potential food-use materials are being diverted to non-food uses.
For some time, agricultural waste products and cellulosic raw materials have been championed as alternative feedstocks that will not impact on the human food chain. Nevertheless, issues such as new opportunities for rural communities, water use in their cultivation, whether or not they are of GM origin, transportation miles between their cultivation and point of use, direct or indirect land use changes as a result of increased demand have all come to the forefront in the sustainability discussion.
Hear how 6 companies and associations are evidencing the sustainability of their feedstock development platforms and addressing questions of economic, environmental and social concern as a part of that work.
Chair: Dr. Paul Fowler, Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, UWSP
Forest Products and Agricultural Waste as Sustainable Feedstocks
Mike Belliveau, Vice President, Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine
Innovation through Connecting the World of Agriculture to Biopolymers and Industrial Products
Akin Ozkutan, Global Construction Materials & Chemicals Director, Cargill
The Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol: Sugar, Ethanol and Beyond
Leticia Phillips, Representative - North America, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association - UNICA
Advanced Carbohydrates, the Path to Commercialization
Philippe Lavielle, President & CEO, Virdia
Sustainable Production of Bioplastics
Hugo Vuurens, Director Business Development PLA, Purac Netherlands
Addressing Feedstock Sustainability Concerns - An Ingeo Case Study
Steve Davies, Director - Marketing & Communications, NatureWorks
Luncheon Keynote: Bringing Metabolix's PHA Technology to Commercialization
- The role of foundation technology: Leveraging Metabolix's PHA capabilities to access markets ranging from biobased plastics to renewable chemicals
- Managing partnerships: Lessons learned from commercializing technology through partnerships
- The future of Metabolix's PHA technology and products and trends for bioplastics
Richard P. Eno, President and CEO, Metabolix
International Policy Drivers for Growth of Biopolymers in North America and Their Real Life Effects
1:30 p.m.
A compelling public policy session for non-public policy or government affairs practitioners, this session will focus on the role of various policy mechanisms - legislation, regulations, standards, and others -- to benefit the development and use of biopolymer products. You'll learn who's in the driver's seat in the US, Canada, and Europe, implementing cutting edge policies designed to advance the market for biopolymers. Learn how these policies are similar, different, and which type of policy is looking most effective given actual versus intended results.
Canada
Making Choices: Investing in the Alberta, Canada Bioeconomy
Stan Blade, CEO, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions
Policy Initiatives for the Bioeconomy in Ontario, Canada
Gord Surgeoner, President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
United States
Biobased Initiatives - Driving to Success
Darden Hood, President, Beta Analytic Inc
Plastic Bag Legislation: Past, Present and Future
Sue Vang, Californians Against Waste
Networking break
Partnering across the Value Chain
3:30 p.m.
Hear how new technology push & pull is combined, how breakthrough technology could enter bulk polymer markets. In this session we will also analyze the disconnect between certain companies in that value chain and how to overcome them, as well as discussing the difference in views on implementation from innovator, producer, recycler and user.
Chair: Edwin Tam, Manager, New Strategic Initiatives, Teknor Apex Company
Bio-based Succinic Acid and 1,4-Butanediol: Enabling Bioplastics
Michael Mang, Product Technology and Applications Manager, Myriant Corporation
The importance of strategic partnerships and joint development projects for commercial success
- Description of efforts and success of DaniMer Scientific to provide innovative solutions to our customers
- New materials and opportunities that exist for biopolymer manufacturers
S. Blake Lindsey , President, DaniMer Scientific LLC
Environmental Benefits of Sugarcane based PE in "Real World" Applications:
Terry Glass, Strategic Marketing Analyst, Braskem America Inc
Panel Discussion: Opportunities and Challenges for Start-up Companies in the Biopolymers Arena
4:40 p.m.
Moderator: Joseph Mecca, Senior Consultant, ERM
Panelists:
- Toby Reid, President, Solegear
- Philippe Lavielle, President & CEO, Virdia
- Sonny Meyerhoeffer, President, Eastern BioPlastics
Evening Networking Reception
5:45 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
CONFERENCE Day 2
Continental breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks from the Co-Chairs
Melissa Hockstad, Executive Director, SPI Bioplastics Council
8:30 a.m.
Innovative Management Strategies for End of Life
8:40 a.m.
In this session, we will cover new developments in management strategies and end of life scenarios that go beyond composting, covered by the new methods developed as well as companies and associations implementing them in different industries.
Chair: Brenda Platt, Co-Director, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
PLA Recovery and Recycling Pilot Project on the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Campus
Dr. Paul Fowler, Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, UWSP
Seattle's Single-Use Food Service Packaging Law - How One City's Regulations Impacted the Biopolymers Industry
Dick Lilly, Business Area Manager for Waste Prevention and Product Stewardship, Seattle Public Utilities Solid Waste Division
Biopolymers Role in Zero Waste Programs
Steve Davies, Director, Marketing & Public Affairs, NatureWorks and Holly Elmore, Founder & CEO, Elemental Impact
Read Holly's recent blog post about compostable packaging and anaerobic digestion.
Networking break
New Innovations in Performance and Technology
11:00 a.m.
As the biopolymers industry continues to evolve, novel developments are entering and influencing the marketplace. In this session hear from industry leaders focused on new innovations impacting performance and driving new technology. Key areas include new biomonomer development, cutting edge new biopolymers, and performance enhancements that will take these materials to the next level.
Chair: Melissa Hockstad, Executive Director, SPI Bioplastics Council
Single Step Polymers: Utilizing Self-assembly in Living Systems to Manufacture Affordable Biopolymer Fibers from Low Value Waste Streams
Gavin McIntyre, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Ecovative
Biosuccinium, Enabling Sustainable Polymer Solutions
Lawrence Theunissen, Manager Application Development, DSM Bio-based Products & Services & Reverdia (JV of DSM & Roquette)
Novel Modified Biopolymers for Durable Applications
Dr. Adam Pawloski, Technical Director, Interface Solutions
How Bio-polymers have become True Performance Polymers...a Business Case
Thomas Black, President, Plantic The America's
Bioplastics- Engineered for Rigid Applications
Kelly Lehrmann, General Manager US, FKuR Plastics Corp
Lunch will be served for speakers and delegates
1:30 - 3:00 Sustainability insight from Europe
This session will provide an update on the experience in Italy following the ban on plastic carrier bags last year and how the industry has responded. You will also hear about how the wide use of compostable goods was implemented at the London 2012 Olympics this summer. Finally, a European roadmap towards sustainable industry will be outlined.
Chair: Dr. David Newman, Segretario Generale, Assobioplastiche Italy
Bioplastics in Food Service- A case study: London 2012
Dr. John Williams, Head of Materials for Energy & Industry, NNFCC
European scenarios for compostable plastic shopping bags
David Newman, General Secretary, Italian Bioplastics Association
Successful Pilot Project in Germany- Compostable Ecovio® Bio-Waste Bags for Separate Organic Waste CollectionDr. Carsten Sinkel, Advanced Materials & Systems Research - Biopolymers, BASF
Biowaste source separation, quality, compost, waste-reduction; compostable bags
David Newman, Managing Director, Italian Composting Council
3:00 Networking break
3:20-4:20 Labeling and Certification Interactive Discussion Panel
Labeling and certification programs have proliferated as uptake of biopolymers has increased. Join the panelists in a discussion that gets to the heart of the labeling and certification debate. Can one universal standard each for labeling and certification become reality? Is the consumer confused or does she not care? Are regulations bringing about a change in labeling practices? Who do bio-based content standards help? Contribute to a better understanding of the issues.
Chair: Brenda Platt, Co-Director, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
10 minutes intro by each panelist and 30 minutes for discussion
Panelists:
- Dr. Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University
- Tom Bruursema, General Manager, Environmental and Sustainability Services, NSF International
4:30 Closing remarks from the Co-Chairs
Dr. Ramani Narayan, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University and Dr. Paul Fowler, Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, UWSP