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PBPC Newsletter September 13th, 2024
Welcome to the Plant Based Products Council Newsletter!
In this edition, explore the latest in PBPC news, activities, and groundbreaking innovations in the sustainability and bioeconomy sectors. Stay informed on current trends, updates, and exciting developments shaping our future.
Missed our latest issue? Read the August 30th newsletter here.
Know someone interested in our industry? Encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN GROPPER, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF REPURPOSE
For the latest edition of Plant-Based Leaders, we interviewed Lauren Gropper, co-founder and CEO of Repurpose, a consumer-facing disposable products brand making the plant-based switch easier for everyday Americans.
Repurpose was the first brand to make the compostable household goods category mainstream and available in retailers nationwide. Gropper shares what led her to start the company and how they plan to grow.
Repurpose’s membership in PBPC has offered her an authentic and real-time opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals who represent the full spectrum of the bioeconomy. Gropper says that connecting with farmers, bio-developers, customer buyers, bankers, third-party certifiers, and government policymakers, all in one room, toward a common goal is how the plant-based products industry will make progress toward a greener and brighter future.
2024 BPI SUMMIT
BPI Summit, the premier event for the compostable products industry, took place September 10-12 in Berkeley, California. The conference connects leaders in the circular bioeconomy working to take transformative actions through compostable products, food waste solutions, and policy frameworks. The event convenes those involved with product and material development, zero waste programs, collection and hauling, compost operations, or policy development. PBPC Manager of Sustainability Max Camateros-Mann spoke in a session discussing work at the federal level to support PBPC policy priorities, including new compost programs, harmonized labeling for packaging, support for innovation infrastructure, reduced pollution, and healthier soils.
BIO INNOVATIONS MIDWEST
Have you signed up for Bio Innovations Midwest? PBPC is a proud partner of this event.
The conference, scheduled for Sept. 24-25 in Omaha, is “dedicated to driving the exciting growth of industrial biomanufacturing in the U.S.” PBPC Executive Director James Glueck is hosting a session on addressing adoption challenges and scaling biobased materials to meet the performance and environmental expectations of consumers and industry alike.
Several PBPC members, including ADM, Cargill, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, and Gevo, will also present! View the agenda for the event here.
TELL LAWMAKERS: SUPPORT JOB GROWTH IN THE FARM BILL & SUPPORT AG-BASED BIOMANUFACTURING
Help PBPC send a message to lawmakers that the U.S. 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:
- The Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act
- The Agricultural Biorefinery Improvement and Opportunity Act (Ag BIO Act)
Send a letter to your lawmakers today and urge them to include the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act, nationally uniform bioeconomy terminology, and the Ag BIO Act in the Farm Bill!
Follow along for more Farm Bill updates on PBPC’s channels: Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and Facebook.
PBPC 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.
PLANT-BASED INNOVATIONS
Almost every day we see new developments in the plant-based product space. Here are a few of our favorites that provide insights on the industry today and what’s ahead for circular innovations.
- The New York Times: Turbine Blades Have Piled Up in Landfills. A Solution May Be Coming.
- Sustainable Brands: BMW, Volkswagen Eyeing Plant-Based Future for Car Interiors
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.
- Bain & Company: Ten Takeaways from Our 2024 Sustainability Survey of Consumers
- The Wall Street Journal: Sustainability Is Falling on the CEO To-Do List. Customers Still See It as a Priority.
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.
- American Farm Bureau Federation: USDA Net Farm Income Report Underscores Need for New Farm Bill
- Agri-Pulse: USDA maintains forecast of bumper crops, lowers estimated corn price
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.
- Yahoo!Finance: Braskem Announces the Official Opening of its Renewable Innovation Center in Lexington, Massachusetts
- Food & Drink: Cargill’s Insight on Water Use in Global Agriculture
- Marine Insight: ‘Helios’, vessel transporting ADM cargo sets, new Guinness World Record for most solar panels
Interested in learning more about how plant-based products contribute to a more sustainable economy? Sign up for our newsletter.