Action Summit Agenda: Oct. 26 & 27
All sessions taking place at Sazerac House, 4th floor
Monday, Oct. 26: Afternoon Sessions |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Registration |
| 1:00 – 1:10 pm: Welcome & Opening Remarks Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact |
| 1:10 – 1:45 pm: Fireside Chat with the USPP Executive Director & Board Chair Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity and USPP Board Chair Join the USPP’s Executive Director and Board Chair as they kick off the summit with an open conversation about how the evolving national and global landscape is shaping our work, what Activators need most in this pivotal moment, and how the USPP is responding to fill gaps and drive meaningful progress. Attendees will gain foundational insights into the organization’s priorities, strategic direction, and the vision leadership has for the next chapter of the USPP. |
| 1:45-2:10 pm: The Evolution of the USPP and the Road Ahead Marcu Alexander, Director of Strategy and Engagement, USPP As the plastics packaging and circularity landscape continues to evolve, the U.S. Plastics Pact is evolving with it. In this session, our Director of Strategy and Engagement will share insights on the current state of the industry, reflect on achievements and lessons from Roadmap 2.0, and outline where USPP can create unique value moving forward. Attendees will gain context on emerging priorities, key Impact Areas, and the shift toward collaborative, project-based work in our workstreams, setting the stage for identifying the most impactful and feasible projects throughout the remainder of AAS. |
| 2:10 – 2:40 pm: Roundtables – Identifying System Gaps and Emerging Challenges in Today’s Landscape Facilitators: USPP staff Building on recent Activator conversations about the evolving policy and industry landscape, these roundtable discussions will help attendees identify critical gaps, emerging challenges, and opportunities for impact across USPP’s focus areas. Together, we will explore where USPP is uniquely positioned to convene stakeholders, provide practical resources and guidance, and drive meaningful progress toward a circular economy for plastics. This discussion will help refine USPP’s role in supporting implementation and accelerating action, while setting the stage for project-focused collaboration throughout the remainder of the event. |
| 2:40 – 3:00 pm: Networking Break Your time to connect and share ideas with fellow Activators! |
| 3:00 – 3:30 pm: USPP in Action – Project Case Studies Annika Furr, Program Manager – Reuse & Reduction, USPP Olivia Merritt FitzGerald, Program Manager – Circularity & Key Initiatives, USPP As the USPP makes the shift into more project-based work, it’s important to understand what we’ve learned from past initiatives and how those lessons are informing future our future approach. Through a case study of the Reuse in Retail Initiative (RRI), we’ll explore what went well, key insights gained, and lessons that can be deployed to other areas. We’ll then look ahead to the Commercial Film Collection Project, examining how lessons from the RRI are shaping this future project’s design and scalability. This session will provide a foundation for the project-focused discussions and prioritization activities that will take place throughout the rest of the event. |
| 3:30 – 4:20 pm: Future Projects – Supporting Effective Policy (Working Session) Facilitators: Workstream leads and co-leads The next chapter of USPP will be shaped by the ideas and expertise in this room. Through facilitated working sessions, participants will envision bold new projects, initiatives, and partnerships designed to accelerate progress in overcoming key barriers. The session will conclude with each group reporting out its top priorities and recommendations. |
| 4:20 – 4:30 pm: Closing Remarks Marcu Alexander, Director of Strategy & Engagement, USPP |
| 4:30 – 6:00 pm: Sazerac House Experience – Self-Guided Museum Exploration & Spirits Tasting |
| 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Activator Networking Reception (heavy hors d’oeuvres served) |
Tuesday, Oct 27: Morning Sessions |
| 8:00 – 8:30 am: Breakfast |
| 8:00 – 8:05 am: Welcome Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director, USPP |
| 8:05 – 8:30 am: Fireside Chat – Advancing Effective EPR Systems with CAA Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director, USPP Roxanne Spiekerman, Plastics Director, Circular Action Alliance Our Executive Director will sit down with Circular Action Alliance (CAA) to explore the realities of the current legislative landscape and how to build the systems and collaboration needed to drive progress. Drawing from CAA’s experience implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs across the nation, this conversation will examine what’s working well, where significant challenges remain, and the critical gaps that still need to be addressed. Attendees will gain an outside perspective on the evolving policy ecosystem, helping to inform where the USPP can play the most meaningful role in advancing collaboration, supporting system development, and driving impact for a circular economy. |
| 8:30 – 9:20 am: Future Projects – Redesigning for Compliance & Advancing Collection Systems (Working Session) Facilitators: Workstream leads and co-leads The next chapter of USPP will be shaped by the ideas and expertise in this room. In these facilitated working sessions, participants will break out into a chosen Impact Area to envision bold new projects, initiatives, and partnerships that can accelerate progress in overcoming the key barriers identified. Toward the end of the working session, group leaders will report back to the full group on the key priorities they identified. |
| 9:20 – 9:40 am: Networking Break |
| 9:40 – 10:30 am: Future Projects – Strengthening End Markets for PCR & Scaling Reuse Systems (Working Session) Facilitators: Workstream leads and co-leads The next chapter of USPP will be shaped by the ideas and expertise in this room. In these facilitated working sessions, participants will break out into a chosen Impact Area to envision bold new projects, initiatives, and partnerships that can accelerate progress in overcoming the key barriers identified. Toward the end of the working session, group leaders will report back to the full group on the key priorities they identified. |
| 10:30 – 11:25 am: Innovation Awards Ceremony & Spotlight Moderator: Megan O’Brien, Program Manager – Policy & Reporting, USPP Speakers: Award winners (to be announced) The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Awards recognize Activators and partners advancing meaningful progress across the packaging value chain. This session celebrates this year’s honorees with a brief awards ceremony followed by short spotlight presentations from each winner, an opportunity to hear directly from the innovators behind the work about their solutions, what they’ve learned, and where they’re headed. |
| 11:25 – 11:30 am: Closing Remarks Marcu Alexander, Director of Strategy & Engagement, USPP |
| 11:30 am: Lunch & Conclusion of the Activator Action Summit |
| 1:00 pm: APR Fall Member Meeting – Separate event for APR members; less than a 10-minute walk from the Sazerac House. |