Tackling Global Challenges - Plastic

A quarterly lecture series where you will hear from industry experts about pressing sustainability challenges so you can apply your expertise and ingenuity to develop solutions that will make an impact.

The 2020-21 Tackling Global Challenges speaker series will bring in experts who will speak to the sustainability challenges and opportunities that exist around plastic manufacturing, recycling, and pollution.

Episode 1: Challenges & Opportunities in Plastic Recycling & Disposal

Speaker: Mike Biddle, Managing Director, Evok Innovations; Founder, MBA Polymers
Based on his decades of experience in the industry, Mike shared his perspectives on plastic end-of-use options, the plastic pollution crisis, and where he sees opportunities for researchers and entrepreneurs to make an impact.

Episode 1: Presentation slides (PDF)

Episode 1: Briefing Materials We highly recommend you take a few minutes to review these resources and information. They provide a broad overview of the plastics landscape with the intent of allowing you to engage in this space in the most productive and inspiring way.

Episode 2: Reducing Plastic Waste and Recovering Value

Speakers:
Dr. Jay Fitzgerald, Chief Scientist, Bioenergy Technologies Office, DOE's EERE
Dr. Jack Lewnard, Program Director, DOE's ARPA-E

Through a proactive, solution-focused lens, the speakers provide insights into plastic recycling and energy recovery, highlighted by discussions of persistent challenges and examples of emerging innovations.

Episode 2: Presentation slides (PDF)

Episode 3: Can Plastic Waste be Turned into Useful Products on a Meaningful Scale?

Speakers:
Bob Powell, Founder & CEO, Brightmark
Sean Weaver, Founder & President, Neo

The speakers describe how their companies are using plastic waste to generate fuels, chemicals, and pavement.

Episode 3: Presentation slides
Bob Powell, Brightmark (PDF)
Sean Weaver, Neo (PDF)