March 8-10, 2023
Swissotel Chicago
Taking place March 8-10, 2023, Sustainability in Packaging US will return to Swissotel in Chicago, to unite a wide variety of stakeholders from brand owners and retailers, to packaging converters, manufacturers, suppliers, recyclers and more, to network, connect, and explore the future of sustainable packaging. Learn more about the key challenges, industry trends, market drivers, and new solutions that are steering the supply chain towards an increasingly circular economy and more sustainable future.
With three workshops, four tours, and two full days of general sessions, this year's event can't afford to be missed by anyone in the industry.
Thank you to Ink Factory Studio and our 2022 visual note taking sponsor UPM Raflatac. Click here to learn more about sponsoring in 2023.
In 2022, attendees heard from key influencers and leading industry experts including PepsiCo, Target, HanesBrands Inc., Etsy, Walmart, Campbell Soup Company, Rothy's, The Recycling Partnership, and many more!
Learn more about Sustainability in Packaging US 2022 below.
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Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni is the founder and President of KoolEarth Solutions Inc., a technical consulting and business development company focused on helping companies develop and commercialize new sustainable packaging solutions as well as to improve the sustainability footprint of existing packaging and to reduce/eliminate packaging waste. He is also VP, Plastics and Packaging at Ubuntoo (www.ubuntoo.com), a unique environmental solutions platform to address plastic waste, plastic litter, food waste, sustainable fashion and so on.
Sandeep has over 20 years of industry experience working for several large packaging companies, such as International Paper, Neenah Paper and Georgia Pacific. Most recently he worked for PepsiCo, in the area of sustainable beverage packaging. His diverse expertise includes recycling, bioplastics, paper based as well as molded fiber packaging. Sandeep has 7 granted patents as well as several publications in industry journals. He has also served on conference advisory boards and has delivered several invited presentations, at international conferences, on the topics of sustainability and sustainable packaging. Sandeep serves as an Adjunct Professor at The Packaging School (a spinoff from Clemson University) as well as the North Carolina State University. Recently he was elected to serve as member of the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) for 3 year term (2021-2024)
Jennifer McCracken is Director, Sustainability for HAVI’s N.A. Packaging service line. In her role, she is responsible for N.A. leadership for HAVI Sustainability, including strategy, alignment, and services.
In her thirteen-year tenure at HAVI, Jennifer has fostered positive impacts for client’s products and supply chain through integrating Sustainability into internal HAVI operations, partnership with Suppliers and industry collaborations. For example, she has initiated a sustainable fiber sourcing program, led the implementation of grease barrier coatings with an improved material health profile, and spearheaded environmental packaging regulatory compliance management. She also developed and implemented sustainability-related processes, tools and reporting to drive continuous improvement, such as ISO 14001.
Jennifer also participates on working groups focused on sustainability issues such as the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), where she served as an Executive Committee member (2005-2011), the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Paperboard Recovery Alliance (FPI PRA) and AMERIPEN (board member 2012-present).
Jennifer holds a M.Sc. in Applied Environmental Economics from the University of London, a B.A. in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado. Professional certifications achieved include ISSP Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA), and Sustainable Business from the University of Vermont.
Kelly L. Helein brings 29 years of executive leadership in the capacity of sales, marketing and business development having worked for specialty paper companies, converters and manufacturers. A self-described highly motivated connector and collaborator, she has extensive experience in driving innovation and growth while working with leading consumer products companies. Passionate about sustainability and the impact of packaging on the global network, Kelly has championed change as the past Board President for the Paper Discovery Center and the Paper International Hall of Fame. She also serves on the advisory committee for Smithers Pira Sustain Pack Europe and US. Kelly previously worked as Vice President, Industrial for Coveris, now TC Transcontinental and now serves as Vice President, Strategic Accounts for Footprint.
Sameer is a Senior Manager of External Innovation within the Technology Ventures team at PepsiCo R&D. In this role, he manages PepsiCo’s open innovation platform and strategic partnerships to source external technologies that can impact the company’s wide portfolio of food and beverage products. These technologies can range from packaging materials, ingredients and processing to digital technologies and business model innovations.
Prior to his current role, Sameer held various roles within Packaging R&D at PepsiCo and before that at the Wm. WRIGLEY Jr. Company, successfully leading packaging development for commercial launches of new beverage, food and confectionary products as well as longer term development on new packaging materials and technologies. Sameer began his career in the materials industry working on polymer films and coatings as well as glass and fiberglass for GE Plastics and PPG Industries. He has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Rose Shulman recently joined LEGO as the Sustainable Packaging Manager. Previously, Rose had been a Packaging Engineer at Hasbro since 2011. There, she is a member of the Sustainability Center of Excellence and helps lead the company’s packaging sustainability initiatives. She is passionate about making the world a better place by designing for the environment and innovating for the future. Prior to working at Hasbro, she was a Packaging Engineer at The Hershey Company. She has an Industrial Design degree from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Bio coming soon!
Chris Fox has led global corporate social responsibility and sustainability programs at HanesBrands since 2005 and is responsible for developing and overseeing the company’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, including operational policies and internal and external programs. His areas of focus have included Hanes’ ethics, diversity and inclusion, factory compliance, product safety, environmental sustainability and philanthropy programs. With his many years in the sustainability space, Chris is now the brand’s first chief sustainability officer responsible for driving HanesBrands toward its 2030 sustainability goals outlined in detail at www.HBISustains.com. Chris joined the organization in 1999 and has also held several roles within the HanesBrands legal function, including representing the supply chain and Asia business development teams. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary and his J.D. and MBA degrees from Wake Forest University.
Bio coming soon!
Simon is a sustainability innovation and circular economy professional with over 10 years’ experience of sustainability within cosmetics and retail. In his current role, Simon plays a leading role in reinvigorating a culture of informed risk taking and adventure within packaging, design experiences and circular economy inspired thinking at The Body Shop and the Natura & Co group.
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
Marie-Anne Champoux-Guimond joined the Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) Canada team in June 2017 and acts as the company’s Sustainability Manager. In her current role, she leads Keurig Dr Pepper Canada’s sustainability initiatives and partnerships, from environmental stewardship to circular economy, responsible sourcing, and everything in between. Over the past 5 years she has been deeply involved in Keurig’s circularity journey and has contributed to the development of fruitful partnerships with industry leaders, governments and other stakeholders. She helped foster KDP Canada’s reputation as a sustainability leader and is confident that the company can play an active role in the development of a Canadian Circular Economy, namely through its role as the co-founder of the Circular Plastics Taskforce.
Prior to joining Keurig Canada, Marie-Anne worked for over 10 years in the philanthropic and international development sectors. She holds a master’s degree in International Studies from Laval University in Québec City.
