Different Plastic Recycling Technologies Tackling Global Plastic Recycling Goals

Enzymatic, Advanced, and Mechanical

Only six resins are specifically identified in the Packaging Resin Identification Code (#7 is “other”). Packaging plastics have been collected at the curbside since the late 1980’s. They are mechanically processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs) and sent to end markets to be shredded or pelletized and then manufactured into new products. Most other plastic products are landfilled or incinerated. Chemical recycling (also known as advanced or molecular recycling) technologies such as pyrolysis, methanolysis, and gasification are new approaches that convert “hard-to-recycle” plastic products into oil or pellets to make new products. Now, a biotechnological process uses AI-designed enzymes to produce pellets. 

We will explore the operations of three companies using these different processes to better understand how these technologies can work together to optimize the reuse of valuable plastic materials. Panel themes include challenges and opportunities associated with: 

• operational maturity 

• what feedstocks are used and where do they find them 

• how they fit into EPR for packaging  

• the increased demand for responsible markets disclosure 

• community engagement, and 

• development of educational resources to restore consumer faith in recycling 

Meet Our Speakers

Bob Powell

Chief Executive Officer, Brightmark

As Founder and CEO of Brightmark, Bob Powell leads the company's vision to solve circularity challenges at scale by developing circular solutions across various sectors. With an interdisciplinary team, Brightmark focuses on plastics renewal and renewable natural gas projects, transforming waste into valuable resources. Committed to environmental impact, Powell partners with community organizations and environmental agencies to address plastics pollution. Powell holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Francesco Scarpetta

Director of Business Development and Strategy, Protein Evolution

Francesco serves as the Director of Business Development at Protein Evolution, a biological recycling company located in New Haven, CT. In this capacity, he oversees commercialization, brand partnerships, and technology scale-up. Prior to joining Protein Evolution, Francesco worked in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on drug manufacturing and financing. He holds a B.S. in Cognitive Science from Yale University.

Nicole Voss

Director, Sustainability, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

As the Director of Sustainability at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS), Nicole leads the company’s efforts to increase environmental stewardship, advance water management solutions, improve operational excellence and ensure corporate purpose. Prior to joining ADS, Nicole was Director of Environmental and Sustainability at Ashland. Nicole holds a B.S in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University, is a registered professional engineer, an ENVISION Sustainability Professional and has been working in the operations, environmental and sustainability fields for over 26 years.

Laura Thompson

Technical Advisor, GreenBlue

Laura Thompson serves as a technical advisor to GreenBlue – the parent organization of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle.  She primarily serves as a consultant as part of GreenBlue’s Navigate team and also supports the Recycled Material Standard’s chain of custody certification program. She spent the bulk of her career in the pulp and paper industry in various roles including R&D, product development and over 10 years as Director of Sustainability for a global paper company.

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