Action Summit Agenda: Nov. 11-12
Tuesday, Nov. 11 Morning Sessions |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am: Breakfast and Welcoming Remarks Jonathan Quinn, President & CEO, U.S. Plastics Pact |
| 9:00 – 9:30 am: Strategic Sparks: What’s Powering the USPP Forward Crystal Bayliss, Director – Strategy and Engagement, U.S. Plastics Pact Don’t miss this high-energy roundup of the U.S. Plastics Pact’s most game-changing moves of 2025! From unlocking recyclability breakthroughs to turbocharging PCR efforts, this session is your backstage pass to the initiatives reshaping the future of plastics. Crystal Bayliss will take you inside the Recyclability Advancement Task Force, the PET Thermoform Recycling Project, and other bold collaborations driving real impact. Plus, get an exclusive first look at what’s coming in 2026—including the next evolution of the Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List. If you care about innovation, action, and being part of the solution, this is the session everyone will be talking about. |
| 9:30 – 10:15 am: Building the Blueprint for the New Source Reduction Workstream Megan Byers, Program Manager – Circular Design, U.S. Plastics Pact Annika Furr, Program Manager – Reuse and Reduction, U.S. Plastics Pact Reduction is the first step in the Waste Management Hierarchy, but how do companies know where to focus efforts? Functionality requirements, consumer acceptance, and environmental trade-offs complicate these decisions. Our new Source Reduction working group (or “Workstream”) launches in 2026 to support companies as they navigate these challenges to make progress toward Target 1 and a 30% reduction in virgin plastic. In this session, we will work together to develop and refine key Workstream deliverables, including definitions, guidelines, and priorities. |
| 10:15 – 10:45 am: Break and Networking Grab a bite and some coffee and network with other Activators! |
| 10:45 – 11:45 am: Film & Flex Roadmap to Circularity Crystal Bayliss, Director – Strategy and Engagement, U.S. Plastics Pact Sarah Paleg, Director of Sustainability, Amcor Elizabeth Sheaffer, Director of Global Marketing Communications, Sustainability & Policy Compliance, Hi-Cone Don’t miss the unveiling of the draft Journey to Film & Flex Circularity: Roadmap of Necessary Design, Collection, and End Market Levers! This roadmap outlines progress made to date and existing gaps in the areas of design, collection, and end markets, as well as specific actions that can be taken to overcome them. It is intended to galvanize the necessary innovation, investment, and policy to advance circularity for film and flexible plastic packaging. Join us for a first look at the draft roadmap and hear the research done by the Workstream to develop it. |
| 11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Lunch and Networking Enjoy lunch while connecting and sharing ideas with fellow Activators! |
Tuesday Afternoon Sessions |
| 12:45 – 1:00 pm: Update from Canada Plastics Pact Cher Mereweather, Managing Director, Canada Plastics Pact Get the latest intel on how our partners to the north are progressing on their strategic Roadmap. |
| 1:00 – 2:30 pm: A Collaborative Discussion on Chemicals of Concern Jonathan Quinn, President & CEO, U.S. Plastics Pact Megan Byers, Program Manager – Circular Design, U.S. Plastics Pact Margaret Spring, Chief Conservation and Science Officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium Joe Grzyb, Director of Sustainability at EFP and Co-founder of NatureKool Clint Pugh, Director of Resin Sales, KW Plastics Recycling Division A circular economy for plastic packaging must be safe for human health, as well as the environment. The U.S. Plastics Pact has a unique role in creating guidance and advancing solutions to create a circular economy that works for everyone. Increased research and public scrutiny of chemicals of concern has led to a special focus in our upcoming Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List update. Hear from expert speakers on the science behind emerging chemicals of concern and discuss the framework that will be used for evaluating and recommending chemicals to be included on the list. |
| 2:30 – 3:00 pm: Break and Networking Grab a bite and some coffee and network with other Activators! |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm: Pathways Principles: Help Us Pave the Way Megan Byers, Program Manager – Circular Design, U.S. Plastics Pact Designing for recyclability, compostability, or reuse is more defined than ever before, but how do companies know which option is the best? Join us to hear from the experts on best practices and considerations in choosing the most effective circularity format for your individual packaging and get the opportunity to provide feedback and input into a decision tree to help guide these individual choices. |
| 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Break Time |
Tuesday Evening Event |
| 5:30 – 6:00 pm: Complimentary charter bus to Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center |
| 6:00 – 9:00 pm: Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center Facility Tour and Networking Reception |
| Great food, great drinks and great recycling–this reception has it all! See recycling in action at North America’s largest recycling center–the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center. Enjoy, networking, cocktails and food, and then visit the 3,000-foot Rumpke Education Center. You’ll experience interactive exhibits taking you through making in-store purchases, to recycling at home, to sorting items at the material recovery facility, and finally to the manufacturing of recyclables into the new products. After visiting the education center, take a walking tour through the material recovery facility. This facility processes an average of 16,000 tons of material a month at a rate of 70 tons per hour with a 97% recycling recovery rate. Come see AI, optics, ballistics and trommel technology working together to sort recyclables by commodity. It’s a reception you’ll never forget! |
Wednesday Nov. 12 Morning Sessions |
| 7:30 – 10:00 am: Breakfast, followed by a panel discussion – Exploring our Shared Opportunities & Responsibilities to Co-create a Circular Plastics Economy Tom Koutroulis, Director, County of Orange, OC Waste & Recycling Pete Keller, Vice President, Recycling & Sustainability, Republic Services Margaret Spring, Chief Conservation & Science Officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium CPG TBD Moderator: Jay Young, President & CEO, McKinley Advisors |
| 10:00 – 10:30 am: Break and Networking Grab a bite and some coffee and network with other attendees and activators! |
| 10:30 – 11:15 am: Environmental Justice: Social LCAs for Industry Guidance Autumn Buford, Community Reuse Program Manage, Perpetual Environmental justice is a less-discussed topic within the plastic packaging industry, but it can be better embedded into industry practices and help reduce potential litigation. Join this session to learn about the upcoming social life cycle assessment deliverable developed by the Environmental Justice workstream and Trayak, and provide feedback to help finalize this industry tool. |
| 11:15 am – 12:00 pm: Reuse in Retail Initiative: Current State & Fireside Chat Annika Furr, Program Manager – Reuse and Reduction, U.S. Plastics Pact Mike Newman, CEO, Returnity Dave Ford, Founder & Partner, CIRCLE by Ocean Plastics Leadership Network The U.S. Plastics Pact, in partnership with WRAP and Upstream, has launched a pre-competitive, collaborative initiative to harmonize efforts and advance reusable packaging in mainstream retail environments. Aimed at helping companies make progress toward legislative mandates, this program pulls together brands, retailers, and reuse providers to align efforts on categories most likely to succeed in converting to reusable packaging formats. Hear the latest updates from the initial Scoping Phase and get a preview of the plan ahead. Then, Mike Newman of Returnity and Dave Ford of CIRCLE by OPLN will join Annika on stage for a Fireside Chat where you can ask all your burning questions about reuse, including successes, challenges, opportunities, and how EPR is driving it forward. |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch and Networking Enjoy lunch while connecting and sharing ideas with fellow Activators! |
Wednesday Afternoon Sessions |
| 1:00 – 2:20 pm: Innovation Awards Ceremony Megan O’Brien, Program Manager – Reporting and Strategic Projects, U.S. Plastics Pact Crystal Bayliss, Director – Strategy and Engagement, U.S. Plastics Pact Meet the winners of the 4th annual U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Awards! Winners will share their groundbreaking solutions and how they can help brand owners achieve their circularity commitments. Following the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to visit the winners’ booths to learn more! |
| 2:20 – 3:50 pm: From Policy to Practice: Maximizing the U.S. Plastics Pact’s Strategic Resources Megan O’Brien, Program Manager – Reporting and Strategic Projects, U.S. Plastics Pact Megan Byers, Program Manager – Circular Design, U.S. Plastics Pact The U.S. Plastics Pact has released a suite of important resources, including policy positions on EPR, Reuse, Composting, PCR, and Chemical Recycling. In this interactive session, we will discuss ways to expand the impact of these key documents, as well as particular states where the USPP can support the development and implementation of effective EPR. |
| 3:50 – 4:00 pm: Action Summit Q+A and Closing Remarks Jonathan Quinn, President & CEO, U.S. Plastics Pact |