Overview:
Considering the fact that new product development almost always keys on the needs and wants of consumers and brand owners/OEMs, it is appropriate that this should be the lead off session. Results from recently completed studies will be presented by leading consumer market research and branding organizations, aimed at clarifying these and other related issues: Do bioplastics really resonate with consumers and brand owners? Are biobased products sufficiently important to consumers that they are willing to pay a premium, or at least select biobased products versus petro alternatives? Do brand owners view biobased products as marketing tools? Is the BioPreferred Label Certification a significant barometer of how brand owners view the value of marketing biobased products? Are they resistant to paying a premium for biobased materials? Are durables and disposables viewed differently? Are biobased products starting to be viewed as niche or mainstream?

Moderated by:
Dr. Ronald S. Schotland

Panel Discussion
Dean Piepiora, Materials R&D Manager Rubbermaid Consumer Products Dr. Yu Shi, Director-Global Design & Packaging Colgate-Palmolive Darden Hood, President Beta Analytic, Inc. +Session speakers

Overview:
At first glance, drop-ins (bio-versions of petro monomers and plastics) seem very straight forward, but on further thought, it’s not so simple. This unique session will address key questions such as:  How will the petrochemical industry respond? Will there be a “bio-premium” vs. petro? Will there be separate supply chains for bio-versions? Are drop-ins truly identical such that end users can switch without risk? Opinions differ as to which strategy (co-mingling at the monomer stage versus separate supply streams) offers a better balance of environmental and commercial benefits.

Moderated by:
Ted Goldman, Ph.D., Senior Consultant The Martec Group & President CDMA, a special interest group of PDMA

Panel Discussion
Dr. Yu Shi, Director-Global Design & Packaging Colgate-Palmolive Carrie Eppelheimer, Director-Renewable Chemistries The Dow Chemical Company Dr. Shell Huang, Director-Packaging ResearchThe Coca-Cola Company +Session speakers

Overview:
At a press conference held on December 15, The Coca-Cola Company announced that it plans to partner with three companies, Virent, Gevo and Avantium, that are developing competing technologies to make plastic from plants for beverage bottle applications. This latest initiative is aimed at accelerating the development process for the cost-effective production of bio-based PET. The Coca-Cola Company will join with two of the partners, Virent and Gevo, to each give presentations in this session. These presentations will serve to update forum attendees on the progress being made by each since the December announcement.

Moderated by:
Dr. Ronald S. Schotland

Panel Discussion
Session speakers

Overview:
With the “food versus fuel/chemicals” debate tipping heavily in favor of the former, there is increasing interest in nonfood biomass alternatives. Some have the potential to be more cost effective than currently used food crop biomass. Next generation biomass include municipal solid waste, switchgrass, crop waste, genetically engineered crops, forest waste, and even effluent industrial gases. The pros and cons of each and progress in process refinement will be assessed. Another issue to be explored is the costs associated with developing a biomass to biorefinery infrastructure.

Moderated by:
Prof. Bruce E. Dale, Chair-Department of Chemical Engineering Michigan State University

Panel Discussion
Session speakers

Overview:
For the first time at any bioplastics conference, an entire session will be devoted to comparative economics. There is considerable interest in developing commodity polymers using biobased building block chemicals. These polymers are referred to a “drop-in” bioplastics. Competitiveness of the drop-in bioplastics remains a major question. The choice of biomass platforms, biomass to biorefinery infrastructure and related costs, conversion pathway processes from biomass to building block chemicals, shale gas and crude oil pricing, just to name a few factors, influence the competitiveness of drop-in bioplastics. To be presented are economic comparisons of various 2nd generation nonfood, biomass feedstocks for bioplastics and how these influence the cost of producing produce bioplastics via biomass versus petroleum-based plastics. Primary focus will be on bioPET and bioPP economics.

Moderated by:
Mike Schultheis, Team Leader-Sustainable Package DesignThe Coca-Cola Company

Panel Discussion
Session speakers

Overview:
It’s easy to say that bio-sourced materials are a good thing. But there are many issues to take into consideration. Environmental is one, but it’s not automatic that a bio-sourced material will actually be better for the environment than a petro material when all factors are taken into consideration. This session will include full life cycle analysis comparisons between bio- and petro-derived plastics. Biopolymer options also will be compared in terms of greenhouse gases and recycling efforts. In another presentation, the environmental attributes (and potential tradeoffs) of bio-based materials and petro-based materials will be examined in the application of life cycle analyses. Ideas on how life cycle information can be used to understand and promote bio-based materials will be outlined. Presentations will demonstrate the environmental merits of organic additives which enhance the biodegradation of plastic products in a biologically active landfill, differential depolymerization of PLA/PET mixtures and compostable bags.

Moderated by:
Alan Silverman, Principal Eagle Consulting

Panel Discussion
Session speakers

Overview:
The results of just published market research studies will be presented in this session. Questions to be addressed include: What are the key factors that will tip bioplastics into the mainstream versus just a niche. What is the current view on how those factors are heading as best as we can see into the crystal ball? Where will the growth be: biosourced, biodegradable, new-to-the-world, drop-ins?

Moderated by:
Dr. Ronald S. Schotland

Panel Discussion
Session speakers