Rethinking Materials is an international innovation and investment summit that showcases and connects companies reimaging how materials in consumer products are produced, consumed, and repurposed. 

Following extensive research, the programme explores shared challenges for company leaders in the FMCG, durable goods, textiles and packaging value chains – all working to meet ambitious sustainability commitments, adhere to shifting legislation, and respond to consumer pressure. 

Now in its third year, this year’s themes look at the role of materials in mitigating carbon emissions and enabling a circular economy – especially viable alternatives that are reducing our reliance on ‘incumbents’ such as petrochemical, virgin forest and animal-based materials. 

The summit acknowledges that we are in a transition phase for sustainable materials disruption. That industry stakeholders are embracing an agile approach as to the arsenal of tools needed for materials to play a more impactful role towards decarbonisation and circularity. Bringing together 300+ senior business leaders from across CPG, textiles, durable goods, and packaging value chains – international brands, retailers, and producers will join converters, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and investors to share innovation and experience from around the globe. 

Key Themes for 2023: 

• Net Zero Strategies: How can materials innovation aid the race to decarbonisation? 
• Supply Chain Transformation: Rethinking the building blocks for sustainable materials 
• Regulation & Legislation: How to comply with fast-changing legislation 
• Achieving Circularity: Recycling, reuse, replacement –what will make the greatest impact? 
• Enhanced Performance: Developments in barrier properties, durability, and functionality 
• Industry Symbiosis: Capitalising on cross sector collaboration and waste stream valorisation 
• Accelerated R&D: Leveraging big-data and AI for new materials discovery 
• Designing for Sustainability: End-to-end produc tinnovation to achieve ESG objectives 
• Feedstock Sustainability & Security: The impact of global events on material innovation 
• Financing Growth: Investment and partnership strategies to accelerate scale-up 
• Routes to Faster Commercialisation: Bridging the gap from lab to market 
• Agile Innovation: Discovering new applications and markets for today’s solutions 

Previous Notable Speakers include: 

Tyson Smith, GM – Alternative Fibers BU, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, USA
Janina Zippel, Senior Scientist Startup Scouting, Beiersdorf, Germany 
Carolina García, Global Sustainability and Innovation Director, Anheuser-Busch InBev, USA 
Sian Sutherland, Co-Founder, APlastic Planet, UK 
Michael Smith, General Partner, Regeneration.VC, USA 
Marco Lucietti, Directorof Strategic Projects, Sanko Holding ISKO Division, Italy 
Anna Moore, Partner, McKinsey & Company, UK 
Elaine Siu, Chief Innovation Officer, Material Innovation Initiative, UK 
Nick Thompson, Materials Development Director, Group R&D, DS Smith, UK 
John Williams, CTO, Aquapak Polymers, UK 
Markus Solibieda, Managing Director, BASF Venture Capital, Germany 
Teo Pazanin, Innovation Programme Lead for Mycelium and Novel Materials, ECCO, Netherlands 

https://rethinkingmaterials.com/

Source: Rethink Events Ltd