SPC Spring Meeting 2012 Agenda Released

We just released the agenda for this year’s SPC Spring Meeting, to be held April 23-25 at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto. You can find the latest agenda here, which we will continue to update as new speakers and sessions are announced. New speakers recently added to the agenda include James Downham, President & CEO of PAC, and Guy McGuffin, VP of Sustainable Packaging for Wal-mart Canada. For additional event information or to register, please visit the event website and stay tuned as we announce the complete agenda in the coming months.

We are also delighted to announce this year’s Spring Meeting hosts and would like to thank them for their generous support and leadership: Be Green Packaging LLC, Shanghai Luxin Packing Materials Science & Technology Co., Ltd.  and TricorBraun. We still have a few hosting spots available and we recently announced two new benefits of hosting: host companies will be able to include a full-page ad in the meeting program and will also have the opportunity to be the sole hosts for specific meeting events. If your organization is considering hosting, please contact Director of External Relations Erin Malec for further information on the benefits of hosting.

SPC Executive Committee Representative Update

We are delighted to announce that Koen Bastiaens from NatureWorks LLC has joined the SPC Executive Committee as a material manufacturer representative. Koen, Commercial Director – Ingeo Films and Cards, leads the company’s Films and Cards business and works with leading sheet and film converters to align them with brandowners and retailers. Koen will be replacing Debra Darby, who has stepped down. We look forward to having Koen join us and to continuing to work with Debra through her consulting company, Darby Marketing.

SPC Strategic Planning

The SPC Executive Committee met in Washington, DC last week for for its annual winter meeting. This year's meeting was focused on the first phases of strategic planning for GreenBlue and the SPC. It was a full two days of meetings where members of the GreenBlue Board of Directors, staff, and the SPC Executive Committee discussed the discovery phase of planning for the next ten years. We look forward to what's to come, getting input on our thinking from SPC members, and updating everyone on the process in Toronto at the upcoming SPC Spring Meeting.

New How 2 Recycle Consumer Survey and Facebook Page

The consumer survey portion of the how2recycle.info website is now live. We hope this feature will help us gather valuable consumer feedback about the SPC’s Packaging Recovery Label System, which recently hit the marketplace. In addition, we recently launched the How 2 Recycle Facebook page to help us spread the word about the label and gather additional feedback throughout the pilot phase. There remains an opportunity for both SPC members and other interested companies to get involved in the Packaging Recovery Label System pilot, so please contact Anne Bedarf for more information on the effort.

SPC Video Challenge Deadline

The deadline for the SPC Packaging Stewardship Video Challenge is quickly approaching. SPC members have until March 15 to submit short videos highlighting their company's progress, innovation, and commitment to sustainable packaging. The theme of the challenge is: How is your company making the SPC definition come to life? SPC staff will choose the top videos to premiere at the SPC Spring Meeting and we will make all the videos available on the SPC website following the meeting. Members interested in participating can refer to the Video Challenge page on our website to find more information on video guidelines and submission instructions.

GreenBlue Staff Promotions

We are excited to announce that three GreenBlue staff members who principally work on the SPC team have recently been promoted. Minal Mistry, who brought to market the COMPASS packaging assessment tool and leads the SPC’s international outreach and education efforts, is now a Senior Manager. Anne Bedarf has also been promoted to Senior Manager, and she leads the SPC’s Packaging Recovery Label System project as well as managing and teaching the Essentials of Sustainable Packaging curriculum. In addition, Adam Gendell has been promoted to Project Manager. Adam most recently authored Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Biodegradation in Landfills and is now the project lead on the SPC’s Design for Recycling Guide. Please join us in congratulating Minal, Anne, and Adam for their excellent work for the SPC over the years!

Sustainability for Store Brands Packaging Seminar

There is still time to register for the Sustainability for Store Brands Packaging Seminar, a three-hour educational seminar distilled from the SPC's Essentials of Sustainable Packaging course we are hosting on February 29 in collaboration with Store Brands Decisions. The seminar will take place before the Store Brands Decisions Innovation & Marketing Summit (March 1-2) in Chicago, IL and will provide store brands retailers and suppliers with insights and best practices for the adoption of sustainable packaging. Registration information is available here.

New Reports of Interest on Recovery

Several new resources related to recovery are now available. The American Chemistry Council has released two reports on non-bottle rigid plastic recycling and flexible bag and film recycling. The new reports are available for free download: 2010 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report and 2010 Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Packaging Report. Eco-cycle, in conjunction with Wood’s End Laboratories, has also released information on micro-plastics found in composting through a new report available here.