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Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: A Review of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Select Experiences in the Midwest and Beyond

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Webinar Description

August 13, 2020, from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

One way to help to build markets for recovered materials and products with an improved environmental performance is through environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP). EPP policies can help purchasers quickly identify products with positive environmental attributes without having to be an expert on EPP for every category of products they purchase. This webinar will highlight the results of a project funded by U.S. EPA Region 5 for Michigan Tech University to identify EPP policies and other opportunities to increase the reuse of recovered plastics. This project surveyed the use of EPP policies in the Midwest and beyond, and identified strengths and needs, both in the region and nationally. Attendees will hear about EPP from speakers from Michigan Tech University about the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: Potential for Increasing Recycle of Plastics and Lithium Batteries in EPA Region 5 report and its findings, as well as leaders in procurement from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the California Department of General Services.

Video: A Review of Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Select Experiences in the Midwest and Beyond Exit

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Speakers

This is a picture of David Shonnard.David Shonnard is professor and Richard and Bonnie Robbins Endowed Chair in Sustainable Use of Materials in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University and director of the Sustainable Futures Institute. He has over 30 years of academic experience in sustainability issues in the chemical industry and green engineering. His research interests are in environmental fate and transport of pollutants, efficient reutilization of waste polymer materials, wood-based advanced biofuel processes, environmental life cycle assessments and techno-economic analyses of advanced biofuels and bioproducts
This is a picture of Melissa Peck.Melissa Peck is the Sustainable Procurement Program Coordinator for the State of Minnesota. In this role, she partners with the State's Department of Administration's Office of State Procurement in incorporating sustainability requirements into state master contracts and working to increase sustainability in the State's purchasing overall. Mrs. Peck has experience in environmental policy and regulations, chemical regulatory compliance, sustainability and sustainable purchasing. She has Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Biology and Environmental Planning and Policy, respectively.
This is a picture of Mark Wriston.Mark Wriston is a Senior Procurement Engineer for the State of California working at the Department of General Services (DGS) as the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Supervisor. Mark has been at the Department of General Services for 13 years working in the Engineering Department of the Procurement Division. Prior to joining DGS, Mark worked for private companies for 12 years as a Supplier Quality Engineer.

Slides

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