The speaker line-up includes:
Clément Affholder | Innovation Manager | VAUDE Sport
Clément Affholder is an innovation manager at VAUDE Sport, where he works on materials and plastic engineering.
After a master in materials science from the University of Lille, where he gathered a background in polymer science and composites, he joined VAUDE to help develop innovative and environmentally friendly materials.
Outside the office, Clément likes to go and test VAUDE gear in the nearby Alps.
Carmen Arndt | Project Coordinator | Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (IfBB)
Ms Arndt joined the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites in 2016. She is coordinating two research projects dealing with marine degradability, material and method development (SeaArt and MabiKu) and compiling life cycle assessments.
She holds a diploma degree in environmental science and obtained her doctorate at the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel (GEOMAR). Furthermore, she was working as an environmental consultant in the textile sector. Her motivation is the sustainable utilization of resources as well as finding solutions for environmental challenges.
Saskia Beuck | Senior Project Manager | Covestro
After receiving her PhD at the University of Münster in organic chemistry in the group of Prof. Dr. A. Studer 2009, she managed the evaluation of Graduate Schools and Research Training Groups at the German Science Foundation (DFG). In 2010 she started at Lanxess in project development for polyamide and polyester compounds.
Since 2015 she works as a Senior Project Manager for new building blocks and alternative crosslinking technologies in the coatings and adhesives area at Covestro. She is sharing her position with Irene Latorre.
Maik Birnbach | Head of Packaging Sustainability | einhorn
Maik Birnbach, Environmentalist and Head of Packaging Sustainability at einhorn, has been thrown into the packaging industry after doing a Life Cycle Assessment of condoms.
He studied Environmental Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment at TU Berlin and took up the challenge to dig for alternative packaging from a brand owner perspective.
einhorn is a German brand doing vegan condoms and sustainable period products. However, the main focus of the company is on shifting towards an economy of the future, questioning how we work together and understand business sustainability.
Werner Bosmans | DG Environment | European Commission
Werner Bosmans, a Belgian national, graduated as a Bio-engineer at the University of Ghent, Belgium, and obtained a Ph.D. in international economics in Montpellier, France. He also holds a degree in Public Management and is a part-time professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
In 2005, he joined the Directorate-General Environment of the European Commission. He was responsible for Natural Resource policies and Circular Economy, coordinating amongst others the International Resource Panel and the European Resource Efficiency Platform. The last years, he is working on making plastics circular and developing the Directive on single use plastics.
Michael Carus | Managing Director | nova-Institute
Michael Carus studied physics at the University of Cologne. He worked as a scientific staff member for nuclear energy and environment at the University of Tuebingen, as a scientific journalist for different professional magazines, at the KATALYSE-Umweltinstitut in Cologne (environment and resources), for the US company Tektronix GmbH in Cologne (IT) as well as for the company Flachglas Solartechnik GmbH in Cologne (solar power) until founding the nova-Institute for Political and Ecological Innovation together with other scientists in 1994.
nova-Institute is a private and independent research institute, offering research and consultancy with a focus on Renewable Carbon – bio-based and CO2-based economy and recycling – in the fields feedstock, techno-economic evaluation, markets, sustainability, dissemination, B2B communication and policy. The institute has 35 employees and an annual turnover of more than 3 million €.
Since its foundation Michael Carus is acting as the managing director. Mr. Carus is a member in many societies, associations and international organisations. Carus is consultant on company strategies and policy in different countries around the world.
François de Bie | Senior Marketing Director | Total Corbion PLA
François de Bie is Senior Marketing and Supply Chain Director at Total Corbion PLA. In his job he supports partners and brand owners that want to capitalize on the benefits of bioplastics. François holds a Master of Science degree in polymer technology from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.
Before joining Total Corbion PLA, François worked at Corbion, EconCore, Sabic and GE Plastics where he held various positions, including business leadership, marketing and sales. Building partnerships and new business development are his key areas of expertise.
In 2013, François was elected Chairman of the Board of European Bioplastics, a position he still holds. With over 70 members from across the value chain, it is the largest European association representing the bioplastics industry. Furthermore, François is a founding member of Holland Bioplastics association and Chairman of the European CN/TC411 committee that created the EU standard for measuring biobased content.
Katedao Chavalitdamrong | Marketing Manager | PTTMCC Biochem Company Limited
Katedao Chavalitdamrong has a science degree in Polymer and Industrial Chemical from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.
She has been working for the plastic industry for 10 years, in different business areas: specialty raw materials, Masterbatch, and is now working in the area of bioplastic neat polymer. Katadao has had different positions, starting from Product Manager, Key Account Manager and Regional Sales Manager – SEA.
She is currently the Marketing Manager at PTTMCC Biochem Company Limited, supplier of the first bio-based polybutylene succinate to serve in sustainable product and society. Her role is covering marketing strategy, activities and new market development.
Philippe Diercxsens | Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Committee | FoodDrinkEurope
Philippe Diercxsens is a Belgian citizen and holds a PhD degree in eco-toxicology of the Polytechnic School of Lausanne, Switzerland.
He works since January 1999 as Packaging and Environment Manager at DANONE Beverages Division.
He is chair of the Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs work group of EUROPEN, the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment as well as chair of the Environmental Sustainability Committee of FoodDrinkEurope (FDE).
Stefano Facco | Business Development Director | Novamont SpA
Stefano Facco is New Business Development Director of Novamont SpA as well as the Managing Director of the German subsidiary of Novamont since 1997. Prior to his engagement for Novamont, he as been Product Development Manager for Montedison Deutschland for six years, where he was responsible for the market introduction of biofuels and biopolymers. For more than a decade, Stefano Facco is involved in European Bioplastics as member of the Board and one of the co-founders as well as former member of the DIN “biodegradable polymers” working group.
Daniel Ganz | Senior Global Product Development Leader | Sukano
Daniel Ganz is the Senior Global Product Development Leader for Bioplastics at Sukano, a leading international specialty masterbatches company based in Switzerland, and the one who first invisioned the strategic and key role opportunity for Sukano towards biopolymers based masterbatches. Mr Ganz holds a bachelor degree in chemical engineering in addition to its business management degree. He started his career at Eastman and joined Sukano in the early 90 ́s. Since then he leads globally the technical activities of the group in this application. Today he possesses almost 30 years of experience from commercial to technical applications, processing and development of thermoplastic polyesters.
Stephan Kabasci | Head of Department Bio-Based Plastics | Fraunhofer UMSICHT
Dr. Stephan Kabasci is head of the department “Bio-based Plastics” at Fraunhofer UMSICHT, in which 20 researchers and technicians are engaged in the development of innovative bioplastics solutions. He studied chemical engineering and received his PhD from the Technical University of Dortmund. He has been working with Fraunhofer UMSICHT since 1992, starting as project engineer in the environmental technology department. From 1998 to 2003 he led the Biotechnology Group, 2004 to 2012 he was responsible for the Business Unit “Renewable Resources”. Dr. Kabasci teaches “Biotechnology and Biorefinery” for graduate students in environmental and mechanical engineering at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Bas Krins | Technical Director | Senbis Polymer Innovations
Bas Krins is technical director of Senbis Polymer Innovations.
He has an extensive experience in the processing of polymers at Akzo and Diolen.
The last decade there is a strong focus on the development of new applications of biopolymers.
Within Senbis he is responsible for the development of the new applications that are developed by Senbis at its own costs and risk.
Ana Morao | Principle Scientist | Corbion
Ana Morão is Principle Scientist at Corbion sustainability department where she leads the competence developments in terms of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Product Social Metrics and other emerging sustainability topics.
She holds a PhD in chemical engineering by the university of Lisbon, Portugal. Before her current position she worked as researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology, in the Netherlands. In 2011, Ana joined Corbion R&D as process modelling scientist and since then, has specialized, in the LCA of biobased chemicals.
Irene C. Latorre Martinez | Senior Project Manager | Covestro
Dr. Irene C. Latorre Martinez studied Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza in Spain and at the RWTH Aachen University. After receiving her PhD at the RWTH Aachen University on supramolecular and organic chemistry in the group of Prof. Dr. M. Albrecht, she gathered additional experience at CAT Catalytic Center on catalysis of industrial processes.
In 2013 she started at Covestro in the manufacturing area as a Process Chemistry Expert. Since 2018 she works as a Senior Project Manager together with Saskia Beuck in a job sharing set up focusing on the search of sustainable new building blocks and modern alternative crosslinking technologies in the coatings and adhesives area.
María Monedero | Project Manager | ITENE
María Monedero holds degrees in Chemistry (Universidad de Valencia) and Science Technology (Universidad de Valencia) and PhD in Food Technology (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia). She has more than 9 years of experience in physicochemical analysis techniques and she is author of several publications in the Food Technology area. From 2010 she works for ITENE as Project Manager taking part into many research and consultancy projects regarding new materials development, active and Intelligent packaging and food safety of materials and packaging intended for food contact.
Tanja Narancic | Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Biochemistry | University College Dublin
Tanja Narancic is an Assistant Professor and a Principal Investigator in the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland, and a member of BEACON – Bioeconomy Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland. Tanja was involved in an EU funded project P4SB aiming to design a bacterium for the upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate and polyurethane into biodegradable plastic, and is now part of an EU-China funded project Mix-Up researching the conversion of mixed waste plastic to value added products. In addition to investigating the possibility of petrochemical plastic waste upcycling, Tanja is interested in understanding the post-consumer fate of biodegradable plastic.
Ramani Narayan | Professor Chemical Engineering & Materials Science | Michigan State University
Ramani Narayan is University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University — the highest honor that can be bestowed on a faculty member. He is a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors; Fellow, ASTM & ASTM award of merit — the highest award given by the society to an individual member. He has been awarded the Governor’s (State of Michigan) University Award for commercialization excellence; Michigan Green Chemistry Governor’s Award; Fulbright Distinguished Lectureship Chair in Science & Technology Management & Commercialization (University of Lisbon; Portugal); DuPont’s Packaging Award for excellence in Innovation & Sustainability, as part of the Coca Cola Plant bottle team, and many others.
Professor Narayan is Scientific Chair of the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) USA; and convener/technical expert on ISO committees; He has 200+ refereed publications, 30 issued patents, and graduated 20 Ph. D and 25 Master’s students.
Jee Kwan Ng | Co-Founder | IDIR SOLUTIONS
Jee Kwan is the Co-Founder of IDIR Solutions, a start-up focused on delivering solutions based on Spectroscopy. IDIR Solutions are currently developing a portable detector for distinguishing biodegradable from non- biodegradable plastics to support the implementation of the Malaysian government’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single Use Plastics 2018-2030. Jee Kwan has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London and spent 11 years in Schlumberger, spanning 3 continents and various roles from field operations to line management and human resources. In 2018, Jee Kwan left the Oil & Gas industry to pursue his passion for developing technologies that benefits society and our future generations.
Long Nguyen | Head of R&D | An Phat Holdings
Long Nguyen is Head of R&D Department at An Phat Holdings, a Vietnamese group of companies who are producing PBAT, compostable compounds and compostable products. After receiving his PhD at the Condensed Matter Physics laboratory at Ecole Polytechnique in Lozere, France on Science Materials, he has worked several years for a Finnish innovative company in Paris as R&D scientist.
In 2017, he come back to Vietnam and join An Phat Holdings’ family. Since then, he became the director of R&D center and have leaded the R&D team to develop compostable compounds and compostable products for all members of An Phat Holdings. In 2019, he recruits successfully the R&D team of Ankor Bioplastic from Korea to his department, bringing the new R&D capability of biodegradable resins such as PBAT, PBS,… and other compostable applications.
Enrico Nieddu | Director of the Science Center | Mérieux NutriSciences
Enrico Nieddu is the Director of the Science Center in Mérieux NutriSciences Laboratories, Italy. He studied Chemistry at Venice University, where he conducted researches on the pollutants of the Adriatic Sea. Since 1999 he has been working in the Packaging Division of Chelab Laboratories, holding different scientific and management positions. He has been involved in various scientific activities concerning Food Packaging Safety and, due to his experience on Compostable plastics, he is a member of the EU Bioplastic Advisory Committee. In 2012 Chelab became part of Mérieux NutriSciences international group and he took the lead of several food safety projects, based on non-targeted analyses. From 2018 he is in the management of AIBO (Italian Food Contact Expert association).
Tomi Nyman | Principal | Pöyry
Tomi Nyman is Principal at Pöyry and has over 15 years of experience in business development, strategy and business head functions in the chemicals and bioplastics business. He has set himself a career target of cutting global emissions by 1 Gt and aims at turning the global plastics production bio-based.
He has expertise in bio and circular economy, value chain creation, disruption, materials technology, synthesis, polymerization, sustainability and responsibility, IPR, sales, marketing and strategy especially in the bioplastics, biochemicals and biofuels area. He holds an MSc (Tech) in chemistry and polymer technology from Helsinki University of Technology (Aalto University).
Damir Perkic | Founder | BE O
Damir Perkic worked in different industries and the last company he worked for before he founded BE O was RPC. RPC is one of the largest plastic converters in the world. At RPC he got in the role as Business Development Manager. In this role he learned a lot about the plastic industry and the great challenges within this industry. But he also learned how great the material is. He tried to change the plastic industry from within but he experienced very fast that consumers demand is the most important thing in making a change. Only when consumers demand something the industry will change. Otherwise it will keep on going as it always did. He quit his job at RPC and founded BE O to make that change by reaching consumers directly.
Marcin Śpiewok | Founder | SILBO
Marcin Śpiewok, founder of Agrotex International transformed the company into a European player that is known as SILBO today. His knowledge in engineering, his specific business skills and his persistance in following the right ideas led the company to the success they have today that is also based on 20 years of experience and support of the whole team. SILBO develops innovative packaging with a keen sense of current trends and requirements.
Śpiewok has 14 years experience as general manager for NNZ Poland and is a specialist in packaging for fruit and vegetable on an international level.
He has been responsible for several development teams that successfully launched numerous innovative packaging materials. The last achievement is the introduction of compostable packaging into the market.
Diego Torresan | Research Advisor and Business Development Manager | Bio-on
Diego Torresan, Bio-on Research Advisor and Business Development Manager, coordinates and manages the company business development related both to the grant of technology licensees to third parties and to the product development projects for new applications. He performs market analysis, prices forecasting for input and output materials, he manages relations with clients and public institutions, he collaborates in the implementation of feasibility studies and investments execution. Diego Torresan is also the RTD and fund-raising advisor, responsible for the Bio-on participation in regional, national and EU funding programs/tender/opportunities.
Zsuzsanna Üveges | Assistant Researcher | Hungarian National Agricultural and Innovation Research Centre
Zsuzsanna Üveges is an assistant researcher at the Hungarian National Agricultural and Innovation Research Centre, where she works on waste management topics, especially on biological treatment technologies (composting and anaerobic digestion technologies).
She holds a diploma degree in environmental sciences (ELTE, Budapest) and now she is also doing her Ph.D. studies at Szent Istvan University. In her doctoral experiments she investigates the aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of plastic materials.
Milla-Mari Vastavuo | Sustainability Specialist | UPM Biofuels
Milla-Mari Vastavuo is Sustainability Specialist at UPM Biofuels business, supporting the operational tasks from sourcing to sales in sustainability topics. Additionally, her responsibilities include taking care of annual certification schemes for biofuels business.
Before her current position Milla-Mari carried out her master’s thesis also for UPM Biofuels with the topic in Environmental performance of renewable naphtha from crude tall oil in polymer production. Milla-Mari holds M.Sc. (Chem. Eng) degree in Environmental management from Forest products department at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. Before joining UPM in 2018 she has had various internship positions including Wärtsilä, Aalto University, Nippon Paper, which the latter located in Japan.
Erwin Vink | Senior Sustainability Manager | NatureWorks LLC
Erwin Vink is the Senior Sustainability Manager of NatureWorks LLC, a US based company producing Ingeo Polylactide biopolymers from annually renewable resources.
In November 2000 he joined NatureWorks working in the area of LCA, End of Life, Standardization and Sustainable feedstock certification through ISCC PLUS.
Erwin Vink earned a bachelor’s from the Higher Laboratory School in Breda, The Netherlands, and a master’s in chemistry from the Utrecht University in The Netherlands.
He is active in European Bioplastics, Ellen Macarthur Foundation, EuropaBIO, NEN, CEN and ISO. He is one of the founders and currently chair of Holland Bioplastics.
Peter von den Kerkhoff | Account Executive | DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products
Peter von den Kerkhoff is working as an account executive, representing DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products in EMEA since 2014. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is a joint venture between DuPont, a global science company, and Tate & Lyle, a world-leading renewable food and industrial ingredients company. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products provides natural and renewably sourced ingredients that enhance product performance.
Peter started his career 1975 as a paint technician within the Herberts coatings company in Wuppertal / Germany. After some years working in R&D for paint resins, he took over the lead of the microscopic department and worked 7 years to analyze and evaluate paint defects. Within this time, he published two books about paint defects. In early 90’s he became the global product manager of a car refinish brand. After DuPont took over Herberts GmbH in 1999 he worked in several sales and corporate functions in the DuPont HQ in Geneva, e.g. as a sales competency leader within the DuPont sales academy. Now Peter leverages his sales expertise with educating the EMEA region about DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products’ sustainable, renewably sourced bio-based performance products.
Hasso von Pogrell | Managing Director | European Bioplastics
Hasso von Pogrell is Managing Director of European Bioplastics since March 2009.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1964, Mr. von Pogrell spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Portugal and the United States. Upon completion of his education in Germany, and a two your term of military services, he studied Economics at the University of Cologne where he graduated in 1994. He began his political carries as a lobbyist in 1995, when he joined the Germany Industry Association for Optical, Medical and Mechatronical Technologies, where he showed responsible for public relations and economics.
After a two-year stint as General Manager at the Federal Association of the German Medium and Large Retail Enterprises, he returned to the industry sector again. As Head of Department for Foreign Affairs at the Association of the German Construction Industry and Assistant Director of the European International Contractors (EIC), he served the construction industry for seven years from 2000 to 2007, before steering the affairs of the Association of the German Sawmill Association as its Managing Director between 2007 and 2009.
Stephen Wetmore | Business Development Director | RSB
An economist by training, Stephen works with government bodies, civil society, industry and companies to drive RSB’s impact around the globe. With more than 20 years’ experience in sustainability and a career spanning four continents and environmental sectors, he brings unique perspectives and skills garnered from various roles and leadership positions. Stephen has a track record in merging sustainability and business development to drive success.