EVENT: PFAS: Impact on the Planet and Solutions for the Packaging Industry
Thursday, November 2, 2023
LOCATION: Sheraton Conference Center, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison Wisconsin
SPONSORS:
- Green Bay Innovation Group (www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com)
- University of Wisconsin Engineering (https://engineering.wisc.edu)
- Iowa State University Polymer and Food Protection Consortium (https://pfpc.cals.iastate.edu)
AGENDA:
- 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.: Introduction and Opening to Symposium Sessions on Critical Knowledge Gaps for PFAS in Packaging – Dr. Keith Vorst – Director, Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, Iowa State University
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.: State and Federal Regulation of PFAS in Food Packaging: Tom Lee, Partner, Byran, Cave, Leighton and Paisner LLC. San Francisco, CA
- 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.: PFAS in packaging, cosmetics, and consumer products – Dr. Graham Peaslee, Faculty Researcher and Professor, University of Notre Dame
- 10:30 – 10:45 a.m.: Coffee and Beverages Break
- 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.: PFAS in Food and Food Packaging – Dr. Allan Bailey, Director, FDA Division of Food Contact Notifications
- 11:30 – 12:00 p.m.: Mitigation and Rapid Detection Strategies for PFAS in Packaging – Dr. Greg Curtzwiler, Faculty Researcher, and Mark Early, Researcher, Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, Iowa State University
- 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Dr. George Huber, UW Madison Chemical Engineering, Director of the Center for Upcycling Waste Plastics
- 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Dr. Christopher Zahasky and other UW Madison faculty on PFAS flow through ground water
- 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.: Open Panel Q & A guest speakers
- 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Closing Remarks and Feedback Survey – Marty Ochs, Executive Director, The Green Bay Innovation Group
Overview: PFAS, short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were developed in the
1950s to prevent food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets
resistant to stains, create effective firefighting foam, and many other applications. The
widespread use and resistance to degradation of these “forever chemicals” have led to
increasing levels of air, water, and soil contamination. Consequently, there is a government-
wide approach to identify routes of PFAS exposure, the associated health risks, and means for
accelerating cleanup.
Green Bay Innovation Group (GBIG), in partnership with the Iowa State University Polymer and
Food Protection Consortium and the University of Wisconsin Grainger Institute for Engineering,
has organized an event to cover the cause and extent of the problem, current and impending
regulations, and emerging solutions, with emphasis on packaging materials.
Key Speakers and Topics: This event will feature a group of nationally recognized PFAS
subject matter experts, including the following:
- Dr. Keith Vorst, Director, Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, Iowa State University – Critical Knowledge Gaps for PFAS in Packaging
- Tom Lee, Partner, Bryan, Cave, Leighton and Paisner LLP – State and Federal – Regulation of PFAS in Food Packaging
- Dr. Graham Peaslee, Faculty Researcher and Professor, University of Notre Dame –
PFAS in Packaging, Cosmetics, and Consumer Products - Dr. Saron Koh-Fallet, Branch Director, FDA Division of Food Contact Notifications – PFAS in Food and Food Packaging
- Steven Corsi, Research Hydrologist, U.S.Geological Survey – PFAS in Surface Water in the Great Lakes Region
- Dr. George Huber, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Director of the Center for Upcycling Waste Plastics and Dr. Reid Van Lehn, Assoc. Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering – Lunch discussion: CUWP
- Dr. Greg Curtzwiler, Faculty Researcher, and Mark Early, Researcher, Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, Iowa State University – Mitigation and Rapid Detection Strategies for PFAS in Packaging
Logistical Information: The conference will take place at the Sheraton Conference Center in
Madison, Wisconsin on November 2 nd . Registration is now open and can be completed online by clicking the button below.
