Plastic film circularity: ambition, reality, and opportunity

Originally planned for January 2026, this event has been rescheduled to November 16, 2026 with an updated agenda!

Register today

Brought to you by IPRIME and CSP, our intent is to convene technical leaders from across the value chain – from material suppliers and converters to CPG brands and academic researchers. IPRIME workshops bring together experts from both industry and academia on focused topics of mutual interest. This workshop aims to move beyond why we must act and focuses on what challenges persist and how we can collectively succeed. The goal is to identify and map the hurdles you face today within plastic films and collaboratively advance the R&D and innovation needed to overcome them.

Speaker details

Kate Davenport, Chief Impact Officer, The Recycling Partnership

Kate brings nearly two decades of experience working on sustainability and waste. As the Chief Impact Officer for The Recycling Partnership, Kate works on advocating and implementing effective recycling policy to advance the circular economy.

Kimberly Schultz, PhD, Consumer Business Group, 3M

Kimberly Schultz is a product developer in 3M’s Consumer Business Group laboratory where she focuses on advancing sustainable product solutions for Scotch® and other 3M Consumer brands. She received her undergraduate training in chemistry from Ohio Northern University and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, where she conducted research under the guidance of Dr. Richard Hsung. Dr. Schultz began her 3M career in 2006 in the company’s chemical division, contributing to the development and scale‑up of acrylic adhesives, including the plant‑based adhesive used in the Scotch Home and Office Tape portfolio and eventually leading the waterbased adhesive platform. She moved to the Consumer Business Group Laboratory in 2018 where she has maintained a focus on sustainable product development. She has researched the impact of paper coatings on recycling and enhanced 3M’s capabilities for screening paper‑based products for recycle-compatibility. Most recently, she led the cross-laboratory investigation of recycled plastics into tape backings. Scotch® Heavy Duty Recycled Packaging Tape launched in 2025 with a 100% recycled plastic film as a result of these efforts.

Rudolph Gbieor, Founder/CEO, Pace Mayo

Rudy Gbieor has a strong background across the supply chain and is working now to translate that experience as Founder and CEO of Pace Mayo. Our Omneboard™ High-Performance Modular Building Panels are manufactured from post-consumer recycled PET and deliver a sustainable, code-compliant alternative to traditional plywood.  

Derek Saxon, Amcor

Derek leads the Platform Innovation team within Core R&D at Amcor, driving the development of foundational technologies that enable solutions across diverse market segments. With a PhD from the University of Minnesota, Derek brings expertise in flexible films and coatings, spanning front-end innovation, product development, and commercialization—often at the intersection of sustainability and performance.

IPRIME workshops bring together experts from both industry and academia on focused topics of mutual interest. This workshop is free and open to IPRIME member companies, invited guests, and University of Minnesota faculty, students, and staff. 

If you are not an IPRIME member or M-SPIRE Partner, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] to inquire about attendance as an invited guest.