2021 GC3 European Innovators Forum

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Strategizing to Advance Safer, More Sustainable Materials

Facilitated discussion with industry on how their work to incorporate safer, more sustainable chemistry will be influenced by the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). ECHA will join the conversation to share their efforts to more effectively address priority chemicals and drive safer chemistry as well as their vision for the future. This perspective will set the stage to advance strategic and pragmatic approaches to safer, more sustainable chemistry throughout the 2-week event.

Moderator: Joel Tickner, Executive Director, Green Chemistry & Commerce Council, Inc.

Speakers:

• Lynette Chung, Chief Sustainability Officer, Covestro
• Paul Ellis, Head of Sustainable Chemicals Management, Kingfisher plc
• Bjorn Hansen, Executive Director, ECHA
• Martin Kayser, Senior Vice President, BASF SE
• Klaas Kruithof, Chief Technology Officer, AkzoNobel

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Innovating Under the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability

The European Green Deal sets forth a bold vision for the European Union to address multiple environmental challenges from climate change to circularity and chemicals. Innovation in safer, more sustainable chemicals and materials will be influenced significantly by the policies now being developed, particularly the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Through a series of brief presentations and panel discussions, government and industry perspectives will explore how the CSS can help drive innovation towards safer, more sustainable chemistries.

Moderator: Joel Tickner, Executive Director, Green Chemistry & Commerce Council, Inc.

Speakers:

• Cristina de Avila, Head of the Sustainable Chemicals Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General Environment
• Peter Dröll, Director Prosperity, European Commission, Directorate General Research and Innovation
• Marco Mensink, Director General, Cefic
• Christian Verschueren, EuroCommerce, Director-General

Thursday, 20 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Exploring Functional Substitution as an Opportunity for Essential Use Management

As an alternative to chemical substitution, one could deliver the intended function through a new mechanism without requiring hazardous materials. Through a combination of brief presentations and panel discussions, examples will be utilized to demonstrate the business impact of functional substitution and the opportunities it creates. Specific attention will focus on its application to address the concept of “essential uses” proposed in the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability.

Moderator: Molly Jacobs, Senior Research Associate, UMass Lowell

Speakers:

• Amit Paul, Managing Director, Paxymer AB
• Kirk Richardson, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility, KEEN Footwear
• Elke Van Asbroeck, Managing Director, Apeiron-Team nv

• Menno van der Zalm, Global Director Innovation, AkzoNobel

Agenda - Week 2

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Going Beyond REACH to Meet Consumer Expectations

Retailers play a key role in the supply chain as the interface between product manufacturers and customers. Data transparency and materials of concern to human health and the environment pose challenges for retailers to meet consumer needs. Through a series of interactive panel discussions, hear how retailers are influencing sustainable chemistry integration through the supply chain and learn about opportunities to overcome challenges.

Moderator: Jennifer Duran, Global Director, Product Sustainability, Reckitt

Speakers:

• Laurent Deronne, Chemical Substance Risk Project Leader, ADEO Services
• Paul Ellis, Head of Sustainable Chemicals Management, Kingfisher plc
• Randi Kronthal-Sacco, Senior Scholar of Marketing and Corporate Outreach, NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
• Mark McCauley, Commercial Director, Graham & Brown
• Ylva Weissbach, Sustainability Business Expert, H&M

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Driving for Carbon-Neutral Circular Materials

Demands from policy, market and investors are driving interest in more circular materials and products with reduced climate impact. Safer, more sustainable chemicals are a prerequisite to meet this objective. This interactive session will explore how companies are rethinking and redesigning materials to reduce climate impact while enabling circular economy. Learn from companies on the journey towards adopting sustainable chemistry and a circular economy.

Moderator: Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Partner, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)

Speakers:

• Neil Parry, Head of Biotechnology, Unilever
• Rachel Simon, Supplier Engagement Lead, Green Chemistry & Commerce Council, Inc.
• Nelleke van der Puil, Vice President of Materials, The LEGO Group

Thursday, 27 May 2021

16:00 – 17:30 CET

Commercializing Sustainable Chemistry in the EU

It is one thing for the market to demand safer, more sustainable alternatives, and quite another for suppliers, product manufacturers and brands to be able to deliver those solutions quickly and cost-effectively – while meeting the performance of incumbent chemicals. This session will bring a value chain perspective with examples from companies addressing supply chain barriers and how companies are working collaboratively to commercialize safer, more sustainable chemistry.

Moderator: Bob Kumpf, Specialist Executive, Deloitte

Speakers:

• Mark Maxwell, Director, Commercialization Strategies, Green Chemistry and Commerce Council, Inc.
• Jane Murray, Global Head of Green Chemistry, Merck KGaA
• Bettina Roth, Head of Quality and Chemical Management, VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co.KG
• Luca Spadoni, R&D Director, Reckitt