Purpose
Driven by purpose, we envision a world in which waste is treated as a valuable resource that can be converted to feedstock for virgin materials. We envision a world in which landfilling and incineration have been replaced with waste conversion processes that support circular economy sustainability. We envision a world where molecules derived from nature’s precious resources can be used and reused in an endless loop of circularity.
We believe that advanced waste conversion technologies, such as Plasma Assisted Gasification and Vitrification (PAG/V) [MK1] offer opportunities to solve hitherto intractable recycling challenges posed by modern multi-layered, multi-material products/packaging. The Consortium for Waste to Syngas [MK2] Circularity (CWSC) supports the pursuit of robust and flexible waste conversion solutions through education, research and outreach.
Founding Members
This disruptive transformation of infrastructure requires the collaboration from Brands, Producers, Plastics industry, Packaging Printers, Supply Chain partners to take responsibility and ban together to solve this daunting problem. Together we can make a difference.
Industry leaders who have come together to drive this change include:
Our members are committed to share their expertise, fund and demonstrate projects and programs that will recover and create value from all waste.
Leadership
Michael Ferrari
Executive Director
Michael Ferrari is founder and President of Ferrari Innovation Solutions, LLC. Michael has built a worldwide reputation through shopper behavior research, speaking engagements and trade journal articles on the subject of business growth through packaging. Michael completed a successful career at the Procter & Gamble Company. His diverse work experience includes international assignments and his leadership has delivered initiatives to the marketplace for some of the world’s leading billion dollar brands. He served on the Board of Directors for the Flexographic Technical Association, and has been a keynote speaker for numerous international and University events with multiple trade journal publications.
President
Mike Ferrari
Janice Loppe
Industry Representative
Janice Loppe is the Sr. Director of Sustainability for Intertape Polymer Group (IPG), a global leader in packaging and protective solutions. Prior to her current role, she served as the Sr. Director of Business Development at Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) where she managed the company’s market research team, led the business planning function and supported the commercial aspects of the company’s M&A projects. Janice has 30 years of professional business experience with manufacturing companies.
Janice also serves on the Board of Directors for United Packaging Associates (UPA) and the Sarasota-Manatee Manufacturers Association (SAMA) and a frequent industry speaker on sustainable packaging.
Secretary
Janice Loppe
Jason Vande Loo
Treasurer
Jason Vande Loo is a Managing Director of New Business Development for Strategic Markets and Products with Belmark Inc., a flexible packaging, folding carton and label converter located in Green Bay, WI, USA, with two decades of successful experience leading research, application engineering and product development teams. Having directly spear headed the research and implementation of new to the world converting processes and resultant products, Jason connects technology solutions with market demands and consumer needs. A strong believer in using technology to challenge long accepted paradigms, Jason is passionate about defining an impactful and circular end-of-life scenario for packaging. Able to tune a lawn mower engine or a guitar, Jason is one part executive, one part entrepreneur, two parts geek and three parts outdoor enthusiast.
Treasurer
Jason Vande Loo
ACADEMIC COMMITTEE
Guide waste to syngas R&D, share knowledge, articles &
white papers, conduct outreach
Dr. Bruce Welt
University of Florida
Dr. Bruce Welt is a Professor of Packaging Engineering at the University of Florida. As a chemical engineer with advanced degrees in Food Science and Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Dr. Welt has has expertise in polymer science, food process engineering and packaging. Before arriving at the University of Florida, Professor Welt worked for GE Plastics, Nestle and was co-founded Kariba Farms, Inc., a specialty food company. Dr. Welt is a sought after guest speaker at industry events for his broad knowledge of Plasma Assisted Gasification and Vitrification (PAG/V) as a potential solution to solve the comprehensive issue of waste circularity.
Dr. Bruce Welt
University of Florida
Calvin Lakhan, PhD York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies
Dr. Lakhan is a specialist in the field of environmental resource management and economics. Dr. Lakhan is a co-investigator of the “Waste Wiki” project at York University. His research is devoted to advancing understanding of waste management research and policy in Canada. Dr. Lakhan’s current research is in four areas: 1) Evaluating the efficacy of municipal policy instruments used to promote waste diversion, 2) Optimizing the recycling system to achieve increased diversion while minimizing material management costs, 3) Examining the role of race and ethnicity as antecedents to recycling behavior and 4) Encouraging pro environmental behavior among minority and marginalized groups. Dr. Lakhan is widely published in his field with articles and white papers. He holds a Ph.D from the University of Waterloo/Wilfrid Laurier University joint Geography program, and degrees in economics (BA) and environmental economics (MEs) from York University. Waste Wiki: https://wastewiki.info.yorku.ca
Dr. Calvin Lakhan
York university
PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Support CWSC through advice on communications, network
connections & awareness of public policy
TED S. YOHO, DVM
Dr. Ted Yoho, DVM has a strong background in the sciences having practiced veterinary medicine for 28 years (University of Florida, Class of 83’). Ted served as a Congressional representative for 8 years representing Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. During his congressional tenure, he served on the agriculture and foreign affairs committees and introduced and passed the BUILD Act which authorized the creation of the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Ted is regarded as a leading opinion on the criticality of waste recovery of rare earth metals from discarded electronic devices as a matter of national security. In addition, Ted was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the country of Japan, the Order of the Polar Star from the Country of Mongolia and the highest award given out by the American Farm Bureau Federation - the Golden Plow. Ted has been married to his wife Carolyn for 46 years and they have three grown children.
Ted S. Yoho, DVM
Former Member of Congress