FINAL PROGRAM
September 22-24, 2025
Hotel Cleveland, Autograph Collection
Cleveland, OH
The only North American sustainability event for the adhesive and sealant industry! ASC’s 2025 Sustainability Summit is bringing together a diversity of perspectives across the value chain, leading to collaboration and alignment of strategies, metrics and messaging.
All sessions will be held in Ambassador Ballroom, 2nd Floor
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
*presentation titles and speaker time subject to change
Monday, September 22, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
MEET AND GREET RECEPTION
Speakers and Attendees (optional)
Severance Room, 4th Floor
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.
REGISTRATION
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Brasserie, 1st Floor
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
ASC Sustainability Task Force
Ambassador Ballroom, 2nd Floor
TRENDS AND CHALLENGES - VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
8:15 – 8:55 a.m.
8:55 – 9:40 a.m.
KEYNOTE: Building and Leveraging Safe and Sustainable Chemistry: Ensuring Business Resilience
Rui Resendes, Director of Partnerships and Business Development, Change Chemistry
To address the sustainability challenges that confront us, we must transition manufacturing to sustainable chemistry—chemistry that is safer and more sustainable. This is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. Sustainable chemistry can future-proof your business. It enables innovation in product design, circular economy practices, carbon reduction and product safety. This presentation will highlight how embracing a shift towards sustainable chemistry can mitigate risk, enhance brand value, and tap into growing markets for safer, more sustainable products.
Industry Panel
Panelists representing suppliers, manufacturers, and end users from diverse backgrounds will discuss their sustainability program, including trends, harmonization, impact and challenges that ASC can potentially undertake to drive solutions. The panel will follow up with Q&A from the audience.
Jenny Allison, Adhesives and Sealants Marketing, Covestro LLC
Lukas Jongkind, Sustainability Director, Synthomer
Serhan Oztemiz, R&D Director, Consumer and Construction Business, Bostik
Charles Paul, Principal, GlueIQ
Mark Schwerdtfeger, Director Sustainability North America, Avery Dennison
9:40 – 9:55 a.m. BREAK
MATERIAL SELECTION AND ACCOUNTING ACROSS APPLICATIONS
9:55 – 10:25 a.m. Secret Sauce in the Age of Transparency: The What, Why, When of Product Ingredient Disclosures
Mike Johnson, Senior Director, Materials, International Living Future Institute
Demands for material ingredient transparency and public disclosure have been rapidly increasing for the past several years. What’s behind the drive for this information, and what are the routes available to answer these calls? Are there considerations from protection of intellectual property and where is market demand likely to go from here? Join the conversation as we explore some of the leading calls for ingredient transparency and to have a better understanding of the Whys, Whats, and How’s involved with complying and staying competitive in a more transparent product and formulation marketplace.
10:25 – 10:55 a.m. Mass Balanced
Polymers for Sustainable Sealants and Adhesives
Johanne Wilson, Business Development Manager ChemCycling®, BASF Corporation
Adhesives and sealants are available in various forms, with a common feature being their derivation from fossil feedstocks like natural gas and naphtha. BASF, in collaboration with customers and other stakeholders, is developing solutions to establish circular models where fossil feedstock can be substituted with feedstock derived from renewable raw materials or from plastic waste to make a positive environmental impact without compromising product quality or performance. This presentation will detail the advanced recycling technologies currently available, the mass balance approach, and global considerations for implementation.
10:55 – 11:10 a.m. BREAK
11:10 – 11:40 a.m.
Establishing Clear Standards for Reporting Product Carbon Footprint
Lukas Jongkind, Sustainability Director - Adhesive Solutions, Synthomer
Sharing product related carbon footprint emissions are becoming a standard metric to share with customers interested in sustainable products. Rules around what to include in and how to calculate a product carbon footprint (PCF) calculation are however not always clear, which can lead to numbers shared by different companies to not be comparable. Having a basic understanding of which standards are commonly used, which categories are most important in our industry and what questions to ask you suppliers and customers to get and provide better data are crucial in being able to make lower carbon footprint one of your value propositions as a company. Here, we will discuss common considerations around PCF and the role industry initiatives like Together for Sustainability can play in creating a level playing field for companies of all maturity levels in sustainability.
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Building Transparency: Advancing an Industry-Wide EPD for Sealants
Monica Morano, Product Sustainability Specialist, Sika Corporation
This presentation will explore the collaborative effort to develop an industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for sealants. Attendees will gain insight into the goals, scope, and benefits of creating a standardized EPD that reflects the environmental impacts of sealant products across the industry. The session will highlight the importance of industry alignment, data collection challenges, and how the resulting EPD can support green building certifications and sustainability initiatives. Participants will also learn how manufacturers can contribute to and benefit from this initiative.
12:10 – 1:10 p.m.
1:10 – 1:40 p.m.
LUNCH
Brasserie, 1st Floor
Navigating Uncertainty: A Strategic Framework for Business Decisions in a Rapidly Changing Landscape
Christopher White, Senior Managing Scientist, Ramboll
The business landscape is evolving rapidly, rendering long-standing assumptions about customer sentiment, expectations, regulations, and even supply chains increasingly unreliable. The future presents a mix of conflicting signals, both perilous and promising. In such an environment, making wise investments is crucial but often difficult to navigate. Our cultural narratives are filled with stories of well-timed business successes as well as devastating failures that have led to bankruptcy. So, how should businesses proceed? This presentation introduces a strategic framework designed to help guide business decision-making in uncertain times. The framework is built around three key principles: gather information, inventory your business, and adapt.
1:40 – 3:00 p.m.
Facilitated Breakout Groups
Facilitated breakouts to follow the Material Selection and Accounting session where small groups interrogate and share challenges and perspective on topics pulled from session presentations and attendee requests. The report-out to a full audience is intended to provide understanding and direction to assist companies in building a strong business case for sustainability relevant to products and markets.
Product Carbon Footprint
Facilitator: Lukas Jongkind, Sustainability Director - Adhesive Solutions, Synthomer
Lessons Learned
Facilitator: Stephen Sepulveda, Head of Sales AME Industry, medmix Framework for Developing Sustainability Strategies as a Business Case
Facilitator: Christopher White, Senior Managing Scientist, Ramboll
Produce Ingredient Disclosers and Tansparency
Facilitator: Mike Johnson, Senior Director, Materials, International Living Future Institute
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
3:45 – 4:10 p.m.
BREAK
Regulations Driving the Automotive Industry 2025: Powertrains and Chemistry
Dan Bowerson, Vice President, Energy & Environment, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Shifting regulatory priorities in 2025 are driving the design of vehicles being built today by the automotive industry. These include emissions and fuel economy regulations, along with federal incentives, as well as chemicals regulations moving the industry away from potentially harmful substances. This session will cover some of the latest regulations driving the design of modern vehicles.
The Critical Roles of Performance Minerals in Driving Sustainability in Adhesives & Sealants
Jerry Lai, S&T Director, Sustainable Construction, Imerys
As the adhesives and sealants industry advances toward a low-carbon, circular economy, performance minerals are proving essential for both sustainability and technical innovation. This presentation highlights how engineered minerals-including calcium carbonate, talc, and kaolin-help reduce dependence on petrochemical-based ingredients, lower CO₂ emissions, and enhance the durability and functionality of adhesives and sealants. Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) clearly demonstrate the environmental benefits of mineral-based solutions: calcium carbonatefilled adhesives can achieve up to 30% lower embodied carbon compared to traditional formulations, alongside measurable reductions in water consumption and energy use. These data-driven sustainability gains underscore the significant environmental advantages of integrating minerals into adhesive and sealant systems. Attendees will discover the latest advances in mineral engineering, real-world case studies of sustainability improvements, and practical strategies for leveraging mineral solutions to meet ambitious environmental targets. Join us as we redefine the role of minerals-from inert fillers to active drivers of sustainability and value creation in the adhesives and sealants sector.
4:10 – 4:35 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
GROUP DINE AROUND
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
All sessions will be held in Ambassador Ballroom, 2nd Floor
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Brasserie, 1st Floor
DESIGNING FOR SUCCESS, MARKET TRENDS AND SUSTAINABILITY
8:00 – 8:40 a.m. Building in Shelf Appealing Packages that Checks All the Boxes
Salvatore Pellingra, Vice President, Global Package Design, Applications & Business Development, ProAmpac CIC
An overview of sustainability drivers in packaging, where collaboration with suppliers helps deliver the best designs impacting sustainability metrics across the product life cycle. The selection of materials, processing, and recycling options considered during the design phase of packaging are often surprising contradictions of their impact on authentic sustainability advancements.
8:40 – 9:20 a.m. Addressing Sustainability and Design in Processing Systems
Giancarlo Caimmi, Commercial Director, Nordmeccanica Spa
The converting of films to functional packaging for consumer products requires an understanding of substrates, coatings, laminating and cutting processes that best optimize design and function while advancing holistic sustainability from cradle to cradle. Innovation in materials and processing enables environmentally friendly solutions.
9:20 – 9:35 a.m. BREAK
9:35 – 10:05 a.m. Evolving Innovation Into Real Products - RFID
Designed for PET Recycling
Labels
Matt Wilkinson, Senior Sustainability Manager, Avery Dennison
This session explores how innovative RFID label technology is being transformed into real-world solutions compatible with PET recycling. It highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in designing smart labels that support product tracking without compromising recyclability. Attendees will learn about the collaborative efforts driving sustainable packaging innovation and the impact of these solutions on the circular economy. Ideal for professionals focused on packaging, sustainability, and product innovation.and staying competitive in a more transparent product and formulation marketplace.
10:05 – 10:35 a.m. Do Adhesives Help or Hinder Compliance with EPR Laws? Perspectives On the Role of Adhesives In RecycleReady Packaging For Consumer Goods
Ashley Kresen, Global Marketing Manager, Barrier Coatings, H.B. Fuller
New EPR laws are coming into force in 2025 and the multiple, ever-progressing design for recycling guidelines make the development of sustainable, food-safe packaging an exceedingly complex task. H.B. Fuller will explore the role of adhesives in the packaging, their behavior in the recycling process of various packaging materials and how they may be part of the solution. This may entail facilitating recycling, reducing packaging materials, redesigning packaging formats, or enabling compostable packaging. Much of the environmental impact
of a package is determined during the design stage and adhesive suppliers, brought in at the early stages of packaging R&D can make the difference.
10:35 – 10:50 a.m. BREAK
10:50 - 11:35 a.m. Design Workshop
Moderators: Salvatore Pellingra, Vice President, Global Package Design, Applications & Business Development, ProAmpac CIC & Giancarlo Caimmi, Commercial Director, Nordmeccanica Spa
Small breakout groups will critique various consumer packaging examples using the lens of how materials, processing and design contribute to best performance while delivering the best sustainable option for the industry. Common misconceptions in current trends will be used to elucidate the dynamics between materials, processing and design on advancing end of life options in packaging.
11:35 a.m. – Noon Engineering Copolymer Blends Targeting Degradable Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Alex Nyarko, Research Associate, Avery Dennison
The design of renewably sourced, readily degradable pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that exhibit tunable adhesion properties is beneficial to address sustainability concerns associated with traditional, fossil based counterparts. In this presentation, pressure sensitive adhesives with polyester copolymer blends having bio-sourced and renewable components, were designed. These novel adhesives showcase good adhesion properties but most importantly, exhibit hydrolytic degradation within 30 days, offering a sustainable end-of-life scenario showcasing its potential for composting.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH
IMPACTING THE FUTURE OR PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
1:00 – 1:40 p.m. KEYNOTE: The Future Packaging Landscape - What Should We Strive Towards and How Can Our Industry Help to Achieve It?
Charles Paul, Principal, GlueIQ
The disturbing reality of the “plastic patch” in the Pacific ocean and microplastics in our food are combining with the regular personal experience of plastic litter in our communities to make plastic a bad word. The waste is not managed well, and the recycling of plastic is inadequate. Brands which want to still package in plastic are turning to “green stamps” they can put on containers to alleviate the guilt consumers feel when buying their products wrapped in plastic. Publicly they make commitments to fully recyclable packages in the near future, a promise few consumers buy as the reality is far off. Paper can and is recycled to a high degree, and degrades in the environment. It should be papers day! But paper has limitations. Various technologies to overcome these limitations are advancing, but all increase cost, and are often partial solutions. Should the packaging industry focus on making paper better or making plastic more acceptable? How do greenhouse gas emissions, the concept of circularity, and the ongoing reality of landfilling come into play in this decision? What would an ideal future look like and is it sensible to strive towards it? If so, how can our industry help?
1:40 – 2:25 p.m.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
JENNY ALLISON
Adhesives and Sealants Marketing, Covestro LLC
A graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Jenny has dedicated the past 18 years to building a diverse and impactful career at Covestro, a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials. Throughout her tenure at Covestro, Jenny has held various key roles, including sales, product management, business analysis and marketing. Her experience spans developing and maintaining strategic customer relationships, overseeing logistics, supply chain functions and inventory management, and providing critical insights for data-driven business decision. Her unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen helps to drive growth and innovation within Covestro.
DAN BOWERSON
Vice President, Energy & Environment, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Dan has been with Auto Innovators since its inception and was previously with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which he joined in 2018. Based in the Auto Innovators Michigan office, Dan covers fuels and vehicle electrification topics, including fuel quality, low carbon fuels, EV battery lifecycle, and electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Prior to joining the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures, he worked at all levels of the automotive industry from a supplier (Roush Industries) to an OEM (FCA) to a trade association (NGVAmerica). He holds a M.S. in engineering management from University of Michigan-Dearborn and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Western Michigan University.
GIANCARLO CAIMMI
Commercial Director, Nordmeccanica Spa
Eric has been with Arkema for 13 years and in the coatings and adhesives industry for over 30 years. He has held a variety of global technical and commercial leadership roles during his career. He is currently a Global Marketing Director in Arkema’s Coating Solutions reporting segment, based in Cary, North Carolina. He technology transfer, and has a passion for sustainable development. He has a BS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
MIKE JOHNSON
Senior Director, Materials, International Living Future Institute
Mike Johnson is a net positive visionary and sustainability professional, whose decades-long career path has led him from environmental restoration fieldwork and social entrepreneurship to corporate executive leadership. As Senior Director of Materials at the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), he focuses on creating global-scale market transformation towards the manufacturing of goods that will help build an equitable, healthy and regenerative future. Mike’s understanding of commerce as a powerful force in the balance of planet, people and economy has enabled his sustainability initiatives to grow from start-up level to industryrecognized and leading edge in various organizations. He brings an ability to offer real world context and practical solutions to individuals and organizations seeking to create net positive benefits. He is a founding member of the Living Product 50, a frequent presenter in the AD&C and educational communities, a volunteer in sustainability groups, a full-time dog dad, and an advocate for wilderness.
LUKAS JONGKIND
Sustainability Director - Adhesive Solutions, Synthomer
Lukas Jongkind was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the Universiteit van Amsterdam. After working in the Paints and Coatings industry for six year in roles ranging from R&D to sustainability management (scope 3 carbon footprint reduction strategy), he joined Synthomer in 2025 in the role of Sustainability Director for Adhesive Solutions division.
ASHLEY KRESEN
Global Marketing Manager, Barrier Coatings, H.B. Fuller
Ashley Kresen is a seasoned marketing leader with 15 years of experience in the chemicals industry. Currently serving as Global Marketing Manager at H.B. Fuller, she specializes in barrier coatings and polymers, driving innovation and strategic growth in this sector. Beyond her professional achievements, Ashley is recognized for her active participation in industry events and her dedication to fostering innovation and teamwork. Her leadership and collaborative approach continue to inspire her colleagues and peers.
JERRY LAI
S&T Director, Sustainable Construction, Imerys
Dr. Jerry Lai is a visionary technology strategist dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions for the adhesives and sealants industry. As Director of Science & Technology at Imerys, he leads the innovation of performance minerals solutions for construction and industrial markets, prioritizing circular chemistry and reduced environmental impact. With 25+ years of experience, Jerry holds a Ph.D degree from Lehigh University, BA and MS degrees from Tsinghua University in Chemical Engineering. He has pioneered breakthroughs such as bio-based phenolic resins, low-emission additives, and high-performance adhesive systems, with 30+ patents and collaborations with industrial and academic leaders.
MONICA MORANO
Product Sustainability Specialist, Sika Corporation
Monica Morano is the Product Sustainability Specialist at Sika Corporation, a global specialty chemicals company. Since 2022, she has been instrumental in steering her organization towards sustainable product development and demonstrating the environmental impact of those solutions by using the principles of Life Cycle Assessment. In addition to this, Monica also supports Sika’s decarbonization efforts with a focus on Scope 3 emissions. Monica received a BS in Public Health from Rutgers University - New Brunswick.
ALEX NYARKO
Research Associate, Avery Dennison
Dr. Alex Nyarko is a Research Associate at Avery Dennison. He is passionate about sustainability and works in the Advanced Materials Solutions team in Avery Dennison. His work focuses on the design of sustainable adhesives which enable effective recycling of HDPE and PET packaging, compostable films and adhesives as well as designing RFID labels for sustainable packaging.
SERHAN OZTEMIZ
R&D Director, Consumer and Construction Business, Bostik
Serhan Oztemiz is R&D Director at Bostik. He is responsible for Product development with focus on polymers, adhesives, sealants and coatings. Specializing in design, formulation, synthesis and characterization of adhesive systems, structure property relationships of formulations.
CHARLES PAUL
Principal, GlueIQ
Charles (Chuck) Paul has been scouting and assessing CleanTech innovations for decades. As Vice President – Technology he evaluated external innovations around the globe for Henkel Adhesives Technologies while on their Corporate Venture team. Packaging innovations were a priority interest. Upon retiring from Henkel, he has upped his engagement with start-ups through participation in Angel investor groups, mentoring at local accelerators, advising, and serving on boards. Chuck’s educational background is polymer science, with a PhD from the University of California Berkeley. He has numerous publications, more than 60 patents, and 5 book chapters.
SALVATORE PELLINGRA
Vice President, Global Package Design, Applications & Business Development, ProAmpac CIC
Sal’s passion for packaging and innovation has led to increasing positions of responsibility in manufacturing, product development, marketing and innovation leading to Sal’s current position as Vice President Global Package Design, Applications and Business Development at ProAmpac directing the activities of the corporate Collaboration & Innovation Center. Sal holds a BS and MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a technical resource for packaging technology and design for ProAmpac and its customers and is a frequent industry speaker and journal contributor. Sal also holds 28 US patents and among other honors has received a Global Technology Award from ExxonMobil Chemical Company and is an Adjunct Professor in Packaging at the University of Cincinnati.
RUI RESENDES
Director of Partnerships and Business Development, Change Chemistry
Dr. Rui Resendes is a technology commercialization professional with expertise in business development, technology marketing and licensing, IP management and start-up company creation and financing. Through his various roles within multinational corporations, start-up companies and technology incubators, Dr. Resendes has advanced technology commercialization, through multi-stakeholder partnerships, across several technology sectors.
MARK SCHWERDTFEGER
Director Sustainability North America, Avery Dennison
Mark Schwerdtfeger Director Sustainability North America Avery Dennison Headquartered in Mentor Ohio. Worked here for 1.5 years. Prior to that I led Sustainability for Smucker and Shearer’s Snacks.
STEPHEN SEPULVEDA
Head of Sales AME Industry, medmix
Stephen Sepulveda is a passionate advocate for adhesive usage as it transforms industries and drives innovation all around us. With 15 years of experience in the industry, he has focused primarily on performance adhesives in the industrial and electronics applications. In his current role as the Head of Sales at medmix, Stephen leads the Industrial business unit responsible for packaging and dispensing of two component adhesives supplying the packaging products.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE
Senior Managing Scientist, Ramboll
Christopher C. White, Ph.D., is a seasoned technical and entrepreneurial leader with over 30 years of experience driving research and innovation to protect the environment and enhance industrial product performance. Known for his strategic vision and problem-solving skills, Dr. White has led multidisciplinary teams, built strong industry-government collaborations, and developed technologies now in commercial use. He has contributed to engineering, scientific, and business advancements across industries, maintained a long-standing sealant consortium, and earned multiple honors, including the ASTM Award for Merit, ASTM Fellowship (2017), the ASTM Lou Toporer Hall of Fame Award, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal. He is an appointed member of the United Nations Environmental Programme. He holds a Ph.D. in Polymer/ Analytical Sciences from the University of Wisconsin, an MBA from the University of Maryland, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Wabash College.
MATT WILKINSON
Senior Sustainability Manager, Avery Dennison
With 15 years of packaging engineering experience, Matt Wilkinson is the Senior Sustainability Manager at Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and manufacturing. Matt has developed and implemented sustainability strategies for plastic packaging products, resulting in a significant reduction in waste and carbon footprint. He has led cross-functional teams to achieve sustainable product design, including sustainable sourcing and end-of-life solutions. He has also collaborated with industry partners to promote best practices and educate customers and brand owners on sustainable packaging options. He has also demonstrated leadership and engagement in multiple trade organizations and NGOs, where he has shared his industry-leading expertise and insights through speaking opportunities. Matt is committed to advancing circularity and sustainability in the plastic packaging industry and reducing the environmental impact of his work.
JOHANNE WILSON
Business Development Manager ChemCycling®, BASF Corporation
Johanne is the business development manager responsible for implementing ChemCycling® in North America. In this role she collaborates with the advanced recycling industry to bring circular solutions to customers. She has been with BASF for 18 years working in marketing, business development and purchasing roles. Prior to BASF she worked with Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation. Johanne has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management.
Lower Lobby Level 1st Floor
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Cleveland, Ohio
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY SESSIONS
Lobby Level 2nd Floor
MEET & GREET
Summit Programming Committee
Conference Level 4th Floor
Special recognition for their guidance and suggestions on the planning of this Summit is given to the members of the ASC Sustainability Committee:
• Frank Billotto, DuPont
• Laura James, Kraton
• Lukas Jongkind, Synthomer
• Kayla Kenney, Dow
• Casey Mahalick, Cristina DeJesus, Henkel
• Donald McBride, Excel Colors
• Peter Migchels, Kraton
• Stephen Sepulveda, medmix
• Ben Ward, Franklin International
• ASC Staff Liaisons: Bill Allmond & Connie Howe