Session I

Session I:

The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Agricultural Plastics 

Moderator: Mark Hudson, Executive Director, Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC)

Panelists:

Scott Cassel, CEO, Product Stewardship Institute

Jan Bauer, Managing Director, RIGK GmbH

Wesley Porter, Business Development Director | Sustainability & Innovation, Berry Global, Inc.

As agricultural plastic use continues to grow, so does the urgency to develop sustainable end-of-life solutions. This session explores how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks can play a transformative role in managing agricultural plastics, from containers and mulch film to silage wraps and irrigation tubing. Moderator Mark Hudson of the Ag Container Recycling Council will lead a panel of international experts who bring diverse perspectives from policy, implementation, and industry innovation. Scott Cassel, CEO of the Product Stewardship Institute, will provide a policy and regulatory overview of EPR in the U.S.; Jan Bauer of RIGK GmbH will share insights from European EPR systems in agriculture; and Wesley Porter of Berry Global will discuss how manufacturers are responding through product design, recycling partnerships, and innovation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in aligning stakeholders under EPR to create scalable, circular solutions for agricultural plastics.

Mark Hudson, Executive Director, Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC)

Mark Hudson has been the Executive Director for the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) since March of 2018.  Prior to his current role, Mark had been in various leadership positions in the Ag industry for 11 years.  He spent 8 years with two multi-national crop protection companies working as VP of Operations for Adama North America and as VP of Supply Chain for Cheminova which was later acquired by FMC.  Following this, Mark was the General Manager for ag manufacturing service provider, Tri-Rinse.  During his tenure with Adama and Cheminova, Mark also served for 5 years on the executive board of the Ag Container Recycling Council where he works full time today.  Prior to the Ag industry, Mark spent 16 years in operations leadership roles in the industrial polyester fibers and fabrics industry.  He has an education in chemical engineering (Clemson Univ) and business management (Duke Univ).  Mark has been married to his wife, Amy, for 29 years and they have three children.

Scott Cassel, CEO, Product Stewardship Institute

A renowned leader in the U.S. product stewardship movement, Scott Cassel has over 35 years of experience tackling waste management issues in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He is the founder and CEO of the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), which brings diverse stakeholders together to research, develop, and implement extended producer responsibility laws.

Jan Bauer, Managing Director, RIGK GmbH

Mr. Jan Bauer is the Managing Director of RIGK GmbH.  The company was founded by the plastics industry in 1992. RIGK GmbH is located in Wiesbaden, Germany. For more than 25 years RIGK is developing and operating EPR-systems for plastics packing and plastic products. Jan Bauer is part of the management of the German company.     Furthermore he is the head of the agricultural plastics working group in EPRO and a member of the EPRO Board.  Moreover he is board member of the circular economy startup plastship.  During his career he has developed several EPR-systems for plastic products and packaging.   Jan has a degree in International Business Studies from the University of Paderborn.

Wesley Porter, Business Development Director | Sustainability & Innovation, Berry Global, Inc.

Wesley Porter is the Business Development Director for Sustainability and Innovation at Berry Global.  He meets Berry’s customers where they are at on their sustainability journey to identify sustainability opportunities and implement solutions, whether that be through education to broaden their understanding, inspiration to show them how they can take action and make a positive impact, or to align our capabilities with their sustainability goals.  He has worked across the breadth of film and flexible product lines and markets to bring forward solutions ranging from improved recyclability, source reduction, renewable energy, bio-sourced materials, recycled content and advanced recycling.