edie opens applications for ‘Plastics Thinkathon’ at Sustainability Leaders Forum

Sustainability, energy and resource efficiency professionals are being called upon to help businesses collectively solve the problem of plastics pollution by taking part in a unique 'Plastics Thinkathon' on the sidelines of edie's Sustainability Leaders Forum in London next month.


edie opens applications for ‘Plastics Thinkathon’ at Sustainability Leaders Forum

Over the two Thinkathon sessions

Taking place across both days of edie’s flagship Sustainability Leaders Forum (5 & 6 February) at the Business Design Centre, the live Plastics Thinkathon will spark new ideas and actions to solve one of the most talked about topics of 2018.

A ‘Thinkathon’ is similar to a hackathon but does not require computer programmers or software developers to solve a challenge. edie’s Plastics Thinkathon will facilitate a gathering of people from a variety of perspectives and expertise to think, collaborate, share ideas and innovate; to find radical new approaches to the tough problem of single-use plastics. 

APPLY TO JOIN THE PLASTICS THINKATHON HERE

The challenge

Businesses from virtually all sectors have come under immense scrutiny and pressure to find alternatives to single-use plastics, leading to many big-name brands publicly announcing commitments to phase-out single-use plastics and switch to alternative materials for their products and packaging.

But there is a long way to go before those commitments can become reality. First, there is a huge behavioural change challenge which must be addressed, then there is the issue of plastics recycling systems in the UK. And when it comes to the materials themselves, biodegradable alternatives carry their own environmental complexities and are not always a sustainable option. In many cases, PET remains the best material available for products.

How the Thinkathon works…

The solution to all of these challenges is innovation and new ideas. Led by a professional thinkathon facilitator, edie’s Plastics Thinkathon will bring together a select group of sustainable business leaders and external thought-leaders and experts to co-create ideas that will solve plastic pollution.

Over the two sessions, the group will explore how businesses can play a leading role in eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics from our society through behavioural change, product redesign, alternative materials and new technological innovations.

Day One: 5 February 2019, 11:00 – 13:30

Session title: “Packaging innovations: Unlocking new sustainability opportunities”

Day Two: 6 February 2019, 11:10 – 13:40

Session title: “Consumer engagement: Bringing people on the journey towards a circular economy for plastic

The results will be presented on stage at the end of the second day of the Sustainability Leaders Forum as part of a live panel discussion involving the participants. This physical output will be digitised, and made available on edie as part of the new Mission Possible Plastics Hub.

Apply to join the Plastics Thinkathon here.

For more information about the Sustainability Leaders Forum, click here.

edie staff

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe