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PBPC Newsletter April 12, 2024

Welcome to the Plant Based Products Council Newsletter! If you have friends or colleagues interested in our industry, please let them know to sign up for our newsletter. Then, read on for the latest in PBPC news and activities, as well as some of the amazing innovations, trends, and developments happening right now in the sustainability and bioeconomy world! If you missed our last edition, read the March 29th newsletter here. 

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PBPC 2024: CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS

We had a great time at the PBPC 2024: Circular Solutions Conference this week! Thank you to our incredible event partners, speakers, and participants who solidified this annual event as an industry staple.
 
From keynote speeches and panel discussions to networking opportunities and more, we are honored to have convened leaders, policymakers, and bioeconomy experts from across the country to tackle the most pressing and promising topics in the industry.
 
Our lineup of insightful panels included conversations about consumer demand, innovation, sustainability, feedstock diversity, durability, economic impact, and more.
 
Panel speakers included:

  • Florencia Goren, Chief Revenue Officer, Beta Analytic
  • Austin Vaillancourt, Senior Business Manager of Biofuels and Bioproducts, Verity Carbon Solutions, Gevo
  • Quentin Connealy, Farmer, Q Connealy Farms
  • Sam Murray, Chief Operating Officer, Loliware 
  • Mark Remmert, CEO, Green Dot Bioplastics
  • Keith Edwards, VP Business Development, Danimer Scientific 
  • Gustavo Lombardi, Director of Business Development, Braskem
  • Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Administrator of Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA
  • Greg Wilson, Founder, HempWood
  • Jason Robinson, CEO, Evoco Ltd.
  • Brendan Ihde, Director, Business Development – Renewable Chemicals and Feedstocks, Virent, Inc.
  • Nicole Bateman, President, Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County, Illinois
  • K.C. Belitz, Director, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
  • Diana Thomas, Sustainability Manager, BioLogiQ
  • Brent Crampton, Director of Partnerships, Hillside Solutions & Soil Dynamics
  • Leah Ford, Global Marketing & Communications Director, NatureWorks
  • Alex Truelove, Legislation and Advocacy Manager, Biodegradable Products Institute
  • Aimee Bissell, At-Large Director, Iowa Soybean Association 
  • Steve Kuiper, Farmer and Director, Iowa Corn Growers Association
  • John Krohn, Grower Board Member, Nebraska Corn Board
  • Alex Buck, Director of Industrial Innovation, Iowa Corn Promotion Board 
  • Gregory Jaffe, Senior Advisor for Regulatory Affairs, Office of the Secretary, USDA
  • Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed, Director, Bioenergy Technologies Office, Department of Energy 
  • Eric Smith, Tech Hubs Director, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

For a recap of the 2024 PBPC Conference, visit our website.

PBPC 2024: SPONSORS

PBPC 2024: Circular Solutions would not be possible without the support and partnership of our valued sponsors. Thank you to all who helped this conference come to life!

TELL LAWMAKERS: SUPPORT JOB GROWTH IN THE FARM BILL & SUPPORT AG-BASED BIOMANUFACTURING

Help PBPC send a message to lawmakers that the United States has the farmers and innovators and now we need the policies. Support for the ag-based bioproducts industry is crucial to the U.S. economy, environmental sustainability, and American innovation.

Two bipartisan bills that can help grow the U.S. ag bioeconomy have already been introduced in Congress:

Send a letter to your lawmakers today and urge them to include the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act and the Ag BIO Act in the Farm Bill!

Send a Letter Now

PBPC’S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

Interested in becoming a PBPC member? All PBPC members receive a variety of benefits that provide their organization a voice in Washington while helping them stay up to date on the latest policy developments, communicate with their audiences, access valuable insights, and more. Read about PBPC’s impact on the industry in the 2023 Annual Report. Tiered membership levels are available to fit the needs of any member of the plant-based products supply chain. Visit our website or reach out to PBPC’s Keniece Barbee to learn more.

EARTH DAY 2024

Mark your calendars for Monday, April 22 – Earth Day is around the corner! With more than 33 million tons of plastic added to landfills across the United States each year, plant-based products are making substantial strides toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. Did you know more than 50% of all traditional plastic resins used in packaging could be replaced by plant-based alternatives?

As PBPC continues its pledge to foster circular solutions and advocate for a sustainable bioeconomy, we encourage you to celebrate Earth Day by seeking out plant-based alternatives to reduce your environmental impact. Check out the ways you can make plant-based swaps in your daily life at PBPC.com.

NEW COSPONSOR: BIOMANUFACTURING AND JOBS ACT

Thank you to the latest co-sponsor of the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act, Representative Larry Bucshon, R-IN! Support of this bill is critical to help strengthen U.S. agricultural markets, create new jobs in the ag industry, and bolster our country’s position as a global leader in biomanufacturing.

PBPC 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Last week, we released the 2023 Annual Report highlighting PBPC’s efforts throughout last year to promote the plant-based products industry and expand sustainable solutions. From Farm Bill advocacy to increasing consumer awareness of key plant-based innovations, we’re proud to showcase the accomplishments and successes of 2023 thanks to the dedication of our staff, partners, and members.

Read the full report on PBPC.com.

NEW PLANT-BASED LEADER BLOG FEATURING BioLogiQ

PBPC recently published a new edition of the Plant-Based Leaders blog series featuring BioLogiQ, a startup company that leverages natural systems to reduce the accumulation of plastic pollution.

Launched commercially in 2017, BioLogiQ utilizes a number of feedstocks, including corn, cassava, potatoes, and others, to create a range of biobased products that offer different levels of rigidity, elasticity, or tensile strength. Given the interest in sustainability and other claims, BioLogiQ also focuses on educating downstream customers on ways to better inform consumers on the benefits of plant-based products.

To learn more about BioLogiQ and their mission, read the latest edition of the Plant-Based Leaders blog on PBPC’s website.

PLANT-BASED INNOVATIONS

Almost every day we see new developments in the plant-based products space. Here are a few of our favorites that provide insights on the industry today and what’s ahead for circular innovations.

SUSTAINABILITY TRENDS & NEWS

As more consumers seek environmentally friendly products, corporations are adapting to meet these demands by offering more sustainable solutions. Here are some of the top stories covering these trends and providing insights on the latest industry news.

GOVERNMENT UPDATES

With environmental reform being a top priority for the Biden Administration, there are constantly new developments in the regulatory space. Here are a few of the top happenings in the Administration, on Capitol Hill, and in the U.S. legal landscape.

PBPC MEMBER NEWS

The dedicated work of our members toward a more sustainable future never ceases to amaze us. From setting sweeping environmental commitments, to partnering with others to make sustainable solutions more accessible, to launching new plant-based materials. Below, find some of the impressive work of our members over the last weeks.

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