Upstream measures for circular and sustainable plastics
Plastics are useful, but problematic. We can make better plastics and use them smarter.
This session draws attention to some of the overlooked challenges as well as climate and environmental impacts of upstream activities of the plastics life cycle, such as fossil-fuel lock-in. Solutions in focus include smarter use and increased circularity of plastics and switching to renewable raw materials. It concludes with a discussion on how upstream measures can become a central part of the forthcoming UN plastic treaty.
Welcome
Ioannis Bakas
Circular Economy Monitoring Expert
European Environment Agency
Ioannis Bakas holds a PhD on life cycle assessment and waste. His professional background includes extensive expertise in circular economy policies, including product and waste legislation. He has recently published work around consumption-based environmental impacts and consumer behaviour in a circular economy, among others. Ioannis is currently involved in the monitoring of various EU policy initiatives such as the circular economy, zero pollution and the 8th environmental action programme.
Tobias Dan Nielsen’s work areas include plastics, circular economy monitoring and how the circular economy intersects with other key agendas including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Before joining the EEA, he worked at the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL). He has a PhD in global environmental politics from Lund University.
Keynote: Public-private cooperation for upstream plastic action
Kristin Hughes
Director, Resource Circularity
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Kristin Hughes is a member of the Executive Committee at the WEF. Resource Circularity creates infinite value in a world of finite resources. Over the past twenty years Kristin has driven complex global programmes on sustainability, economic development and inclusivity for companies, governments and international organisations. Focusing an approach that addresses both social and environmental impact, she has addressed the needs of those working in a variety of supply chains, improving working conditions in factories and remediating human rights atrocities while designing sustainable environmentally focused strategies for value chains and communities. Kristin has a law degree from American University and has spent most of her career delivering positive impact by connecting private and public sectors, civil society and international organisations. She develops collaborative partnerships that focus on the needs of emerging markets and drive meaningful social and environmental change to improve the state of the world.
Video: Delivering a circular economy for plastics: A message from Consumer Goods Forum Plastic Waste Coalition CEOs
Panel debate on upstream solutions
Ioannis Bakas
Circular Economy Monitoring Expert
European Environment Agency
Ioannis Bakas holds a PhD on life cycle assessment and waste. His professional background includes extensive expertise in circular economy policies, including product and waste legislation. He has recently published work around consumption-based environmental impacts and consumer behaviour in a circular economy, among others. Ioannis is currently involved in the monitoring of various EU policy initiatives such as the circular economy, zero pollution and the 8th environmental action programme.
CEO and Founder
Bye Bye Plastic Bags and YOUTHTOPIA
Melati is a 22-year-old full time changemaker and movement builder. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the age of 12 and has since then spoken on world stages such as TED and the UN. Recently, Melati co-chaired the World Economic Forum GPAP committee, sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize, and has had her film, Bigger Than Us, premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in 2021. Her new company, YOUTHTOPIA, focuses on youth empowerment through short, meaningful peer to peer programmes and providing them the tools they need to be changemakers.
Paul Collins started his career modelling angioplasty balloon inflation as part of the Canadian National Research Council’s Industrial Materials Institute. He was recruited into a start-up in 2005 and lead the development of innovative injection moulded closures for the beverage industry. Paul moved into aerospace in 2008 to scale a manufacturing process for carbon fibre aircraft wings and then returned to packaging in 2013 leading R&D for a European poultry producer. After heading the European packaging R&D team for PepsiCo, he moved into a global packaging sustainability role. His current role at Huhtamaki began in February 2023, where he leads sustainability for products, operations and technology.
Iida is a true pioneer in reusability and waste reduction. She is an impact entrepreneur who believes that circularity plays a key role in securing a better tomorrow. Iida is focused on finding digital solutions that reduce waste and save our natural resources. Her mission is to speed up the circular transition from single-use to reuse.
President & co-founder
InOff Plastic and PlaNet Reuse
After working in the CSR department of one of the world's Top 4 consulting firms, Manon co-founded a consulting company specialised in accelerating the transition to a world without plastic waste. InOff Plastic supports fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, hospitality and cosmetic industry leaders in adopting upstream solutions – reusable and refillable packaging and single-use non-plastic alternatives. To support this transition, they develop methods and tools including PlaNet Reuse, the first European online platform and network connecting professionals to learn and collaborate on reuse and reusable packaging solutions. This platform was initiated along several European partners in Germany and the Netherlands.
Circular Economy Monitoring Expert
European Environment Agency
Ioannis Bakas holds a PhD on life cycle assessment and waste. His professional background includes extensive expertise in circular economy policies, including product and waste legislation. He has recently published work around consumption-based environmental impacts and consumer behaviour in a circular economy, among others. Ioannis is currently involved in the monitoring of various EU policy initiatives such as the circular economy, zero pollution and the 8th environmental action programme.
Paul Collins started his career modelling angioplasty balloon inflation as part of the Canadian National Research Council’s Industrial Materials Institute. He was recruited into a start-up in 2005 and lead the development of innovative injection moulded closures for the beverage industry. Paul moved into aerospace in 2008 to scale a manufacturing process for carbon fibre aircraft wings and then returned to packaging in 2013 leading R&D for a European poultry producer. After heading the European packaging R&D team for PepsiCo, he moved into a global packaging sustainability role. His current role at Huhtamaki began in February 2023, where he leads sustainability for products, operations and technology.
Iida is a true pioneer in reusability and waste reduction. She is an impact entrepreneur who believes that circularity plays a key role in securing a better tomorrow. Iida is focused on finding digital solutions that reduce waste and save our natural resources. Her mission is to speed up the circular transition from single-use to reuse.
President & co-founder
InOff Plastic and PlaNet Reuse
After working in the CSR department of one of the world's Top 4 consulting firms, Manon co-founded a consulting company specialised in accelerating the transition to a world without plastic waste. InOff Plastic supports fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, hospitality and cosmetic industry leaders in adopting upstream solutions – reusable and refillable packaging and single-use non-plastic alternatives. To support this transition, they develop methods and tools including PlaNet Reuse, the first European online platform and network connecting professionals to learn and collaborate on reuse and reusable packaging solutions. This platform was initiated along several European partners in Germany and the Netherlands.
Circular Economy Monitoring Expert
European Environment Agency
Ioannis Bakas holds a PhD on life cycle assessment and waste. His professional background includes extensive expertise in circular economy policies, including product and waste legislation. He has recently published work around consumption-based environmental impacts and consumer behaviour in a circular economy, among others. Ioannis is currently involved in the monitoring of various EU policy initiatives such as the circular economy, zero pollution and the 8th environmental action programme.
Nick is the product manager at Notpla for their flagship Ooho product, an edible bubble made from seaweed that revolutionises how liquids are packaged. His formal education is in engineering and design with Mmaster’s from the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. Previous to Notpla he was co-founder and CEO of Jelly Drops, a London-based company supporting people with hydration challenges to hydrate more often, independently and with dignity. He is also author of the best-selling book “Wild Guide Greece”, a guidebook to over 1,000 hidden places and great adventures.
Director, Resource Circularity
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Kristin Hughes is a member of the Executive Committee at the WEF. Resource Circularity creates infinite value in a world of finite resources. Over the past twenty years Kristin has driven complex global programmes on sustainability, economic development and inclusivity for companies, governments and international organisations. Focusing an approach that addresses both social and environmental impact, she has addressed the needs of those working in a variety of supply chains, improving working conditions in factories and remediating human rights atrocities while designing sustainable environmentally focused strategies for value chains and communities. Kristin has a law degree from American University and has spent most of her career delivering positive impact by connecting private and public sectors, civil society and international organisations. She develops collaborative partnerships that focus on the needs of emerging markets and drive meaningful social and environmental change to improve the state of the world.
Tobias Dan Nielsen’s work areas include plastics, circular economy monitoring and how the circular economy intersects with other key agendas including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Before joining the EEA, he worked at the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL). He has a PhD in global environmental politics from Lund University.
CEO and Founder
Bye Bye Plastic Bags and YOUTHTOPIA
Melati is a 22-year-old full time changemaker and movement builder. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the age of 12 and has since then spoken on world stages such as TED and the UN. Recently, Melati co-chaired the World Economic Forum GPAP committee, sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize, and has had her film, Bigger Than Us, premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in 2021. Her new company, YOUTHTOPIA, focuses on youth empowerment through short, meaningful peer to peer programmes and providing them the tools they need to be changemakers.
