Pick up your attendee badge and conference materials.

Coffee, tea and breakfast provided to power attendees through the day’s schedule.

Peruse the booths in our Exhibit Hall and make connections with your plastics recycling and textile recovery peers.

Breakfast will be available outside the session room.

SPEAKER

• Mbongeni Buthelezi, Renowned Plastic Artist

MODERATOR

• Ben Cuevas, Art Director, Resource Recycling

This session will feature:

• A captivating live demonstration where Mbongeni Buthelezi transforms discarded plastic into stunning works of art using his signature melting technique.

• An engaging conversation with Buthelezi about the inspiration behind his art, his creative process and his mission to promote environmental awareness through his work.

• Insights into how art can drive conversations about sustainability and reimagine waste as a resource.

• An exclusive opportunity to view and purchase Buthelezi’s unique artwork, available for sale at the conference.

INNOVATORS

• Jae Allen, Founder and CEO, FabricFeed

• Adam Baruchowitz, CEO and Founder, Return to Vendor

• Rebecca Geppert, Director of Partnerships, Refiberd

• Julia Viner, Director of Ecosystem Innovation, The Footwear Collective

• Christopher Wai, Co-Founder and CEO, Sixone Labs Ltd

JUDGES

• Matt Allen, Head of Business Developement, Reju

• Aly Bryan, Ventures Investor, Closed Loop Partners

• Neil Cameron, Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures

• Katarina Goodge, NRC Postdoctoral Research Chemist, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

MODERATOR

• Maite Quinn-Richards, President, Resource Recycling/Re-Colab

The Innovation Stage will feature:

• Cutting-edge innovations that are shaping circularity in the textile recycling space.

• Start-ups and companies that are pushing boundaries in textile fiber recovery and recycling.

• Judges providing insights into scalable solutions.

• An audience vote to announce the winner at the end of the day!

SPEAKERS

• Anne Bedarf, Director, Packaging and Plastic Sustainability, Colgate-Palmolive

• Dr. Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy

• Neil Menezes, Vice President of Material Services, Circular Action Alliance

• Jonathan Quinn, President and CEO, U.S. Plastics Pact

• Mark Watts, Associate Director - Packaging Sustainability, Church & Dwight Co. Inc.

MODERATOR

• Nina Bellucci Butler, CEO, Stina Inc.

This session will cover:

• Key barriers preventing brands from meeting sustainability goals, including supply chain and infrastructure challenges.

• Shortcomings in materials and recycling systems, and the impact on brand goals.

• The role of policy and regulation in contributing to slow progress.

• How innovation fatigue and risk aversion hinder sustainable investment and progress.

• Actionable solutions for overcoming barriers through collaboration, innovation and better goal setting.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Constanza Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO, Sortile

• Jennifer Wang, Partner, Full Cycle Resource

• Mauricio Batres, Chief Operating Officer, Grupo Tayacana

MODERATOR

• Brian London, President and CEO, Whitehouse & Schapiro and President, SMART

This session will cover:

• The global trade flow of secondhand clothing, with a special emphasis on reusing items in good condition.

• The vital roles of exporters and processors in keeping textiles out of landfills.

• Challenges faced by key textile export markets such as Kenya and Chile, and how North American textiles can address those challenges.

• Opportunities for innovation in used textile sorting and recovery processes.

SPEAKERS:

• Sunil Bagaria, Chairman, GDB Circular

• Scott Coleman, CEO, Revolution Sustainable Solutions, LLC

• Anna Rajkovic, Market and Innovation Manager, Mechanical Recycling, NOVA Chemicals

MODERATOR: Colin Staub, Associate Editor, Resource Recycling

This session will cover:

• How reclaimers can position themselves as essential partners for brands seeking sustainability solutions.

• Key motivators and incentives that drive brands to commit to film recycling partnerships.

• Real-world examples of successful brand-reclaimer collaborations and the factors that made them work.

• Identifying and addressing the biggest barriers preventing deeper brand engagement.

• Strategic approaches to building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with brands.

• The role of policy and funding in encouraging brand investment in sustainable recycling solutions.

SPEAKER

• Taylor Uekert, Circular Economy Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

MODERATOR

• Dan Holtmeyer, Managing Editor, Resource Recycling

This session will cover:

• How models simulate material recovery, recycling, product life cycles and waste management.

• Using life cycle analysis (LCA) to measure environmental impacts across product life cycles and guide decision-making.

• Optimizing resource use, reducing energy consumption and minimizing waste in recycling systems.

• Evaluating EPR and other policy programs through scenario analysis to make informed decisions.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Alec Hilton, Waste Management & Recycling, Circular Economy, U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration’s Office of Energy and Environmental Industries Industry and Analysis

• Nicholas Laneville, Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells US LLP

• Adam O’Malley, Director of Energy and Environmental Technologies, U.S. Department of Commerce

MODERATOR

• Steve Alexander, President and CEO, The Association of Plastic Recyclers

This session will cover:

• A detailed exploration of the Trump Administration's policies impacting the recycling industry and related sectors.

• The role of Congress in shaping legislation for domestic recycling markets and waste management infrastructure.

• Analysis of international trade policies, including tariffs, and their implications for recycling material flows.

• Strategies for fostering collaboration between government and industry to enhance recycling programs and drive innovation.

• Insights into opportunities and challenges for advancing sustainability and circular economy initiatives under current federal leadership.

SPEAKERS

• Matt Allen, Head of Business Developement, Reju

• Jennifer Lake, President and CEO, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes

• Raymond Randall, Senior Manager, Textiles, WM

MODERATOR

• Beth Forsberg, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona

This session will cover:

• How strategic partnerships can help drive scalable impact in textile recycling.

• Real-world examples of initiatives that have successfully bridged the gap between supply and demand.

• The role of collaboration in overcoming inefficiencies in textile recycling markets.

• Innovative solutions to boost the adoption of circular systems.

Enjoy a plated networking lunch to keep your energy up through the afternoon.

Winners to be announced at the conference.

Lunch will be available outside the session room.

MODERATOR

• Scott Trenor, Technical Director, The Association of Plastic Recyclers

This session will cover:

• Visionary leadership driving systemic change in sustainability.

• The cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing material recovery.

• Sustainable packaging solutions that reduce waste and enhance recyclability.

• Strategies for increasing recycled content while maintaining performance.

• The personal journeys and challenges faced by the APR Recycling Leadership Award winners in advancing sustainability.

SPEAKERS

• Débora Pacheco, Sustainability Projects Officer, TEXTILE house

• Helio Moreira, Head of Sorting, TEXTILE house

MODERATOR

• Silvia Gregorini, PICVISA

This session will cover:

• Cutting-edge sorting technology supporting textile recycling for end-of-life clothing and shoes.

• Industry partnerships and collaborations that span the textile recovery value chain.

• Case studies of successful collaborations between textile brands, recyclers and technology providers.

• Innovations that are helping to enable efficient sorting processes and resource recovery for textiles.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Neil Darin, Senior Director of Resiliency and Holistic Packaging, tms (a HAVI company)

• Robert Flores, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Berry Global

• Edward Kosior, President, NEXTLOOPP Americas

• Jeff Snyder, Senior Vice President, Recycling, Rumpke

MODERATOR

• Dan Liswood, Senior Director - NextGen Consortium, Closed Loop Partners

This session will cover:

• Material recovery and recycling innovations in sorting and processing polypropylene to meet food-grade standards.

• Navigating safety standards and certification requirements for food-grade PP.

• How to improve efficiency and quality in collecting, sorting and processing PP for food packaging.

• Emerging technologies for advanced sorting, purification and decontamination to meet food-grade requirements.

• Balancing sustainability, cost-efficiency and consumer safety in food-grade PP packaging.

SPEAKERS

• George Gigounas, Partner, Co-Chair, U.S. Environmental Practice, DLA Piper LLP

• Jesse Medlong, Senior Associate, DLA Piper LLP

MODERATOR

• Antoinette Smith, Reporter, Resource Recycling

This session will cover:

• Emerging trends in legal challenges to recyclers and brand owners.

• What differentiates recent high-profile lawsuits from one another, examining what their outcome could mean for future suits.

• A forward-looking perspective on what 2025 and beyond may look like from a legal angle.

• How recent complex lawsuits concerning plastics can help provide best practices for recyclers to anticipate potential problems.

• Insights into how the new administration’s policies on recycling and other environmental issues may impact the plastics industry.

• Potential challenges and opportunities recyclers should be aware of.

SPEAKERS

• Dr. Joanne Brasch, Director of Advocacy, California Product Stewardship Council

• Jessica Franken, Government Affairs Director, SMART

• Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of EPR Solutions, Reverse Logistics Group

• Chelsea Murtha, Senior Director, Sustainability, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

MODERATOR

• Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS

This session will cover:

• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) efforts to advance textile circularity.

• Preparation for SB707 Responsible Textile Recovery EPR Law.

• Definition of recycling for textiles.

• Data collection and reporting.

Enjoy a short break before the day’s final session and reception.

SPEAKERS

• Joel Morales, Vice President, Polymers Americas, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

• Roberto Ribeiro, Vice President, Global Ethylene Oxide, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

MODERATOR

• Antoinette Smith, Reporter, Resource Recycling

This session will cover:

• The latest macro trends affecting supply and demand of PET and polyolefins across both the virgin and recycled resin landscapes.

• Outlooks for resin production capacity-building in North America and globally, as well as insight on the key projects to watch in the months and years ahead.

• Analysis of markets for crude oil, natural gas and other key production feedstocks and a look at how transitions in the energy market could influence plastics industry economics over the next five to 10 years.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

• Katarina Goodge, NRC Postdoctoral Research Chemist, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

This session will cover:

• Advancing Circular Economy for Textiles – Exploring strategies to enhance resource efficiency, drive sustainable growth and strengthen domestic supply chains.

• Standards and Measurement Challenges – Key takeaways from NIST’s recent workshop with ASTM and AATCC, outlining a roadmap for standard development in textile recycling.

• Innovative Research Initiatives – Overview of three NIST research projects addressing near-infrared sorting (NIR-SORT dataset), contaminants in chemical recycling and mechanical separation of fiber blends.

• Impact and Industry Implications – How these efforts contribute to improving textile recycling processes, supporting a more resilient and circular economy.

INNOVATION AWARDS JUDGES:

• Matt Allen, Head of Business Developement, Reju

• Aly Bryan, Ventures Investor, Closed Loop Partners

• Neil Cameron, Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures

• Katarina Goodge, NRC Postdoctoral Research Chemist, National Institute of Standards and Technology

INNOVATION AWARDS PRESENTERS:

• Judges’ Award and Q&A with the Winner: Aly Bryan, Ventures Investor, Closed Loop Partners

• Audience Award and Q&A with the Winner: Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS

INNOVATION AWARDS MODERATOR:

• Maite Quinn-Richards, President, Resource Recycling/Re-Colab

Gather with your peers in our exhibit hall for our networking reception.