The Organic Center presented the 2023 Organic Confluences: Reducing Plastics Along the Entire Organic Supply Chain during the Organic Trade Association's Organic Week in D.C. on May 9-11, 2023. We brought together scientists, farmers and industry experts for insightful panel discussions to help your business reduce plastics and create a more sustainable future for organic. Learn more about the conference sessions from the eOrganic report here and gain access to the presentations by clicking on each presenter in the agenda below. 

This session showcased the role of plastic in our food system, and how it can escape the supply chain and move through the environment and our bodies. Detrimental impacts of plastic pollution and exposure to plastic chemicals were highlighted, including the disproportionate impact of plastic manufacturing and waste on marginalized communities and the tension organic farmers face using plastic tools that secure their yields but contaminate their environments, underscoring why we should care about reducing plastic along the organic supply chain and beyond.   

Speaker Presentations:

This session examined the use of plastics in organic throughout the supply chain, highlighting challenges that organic stakeholders face that are currently addressed with plastic-based tools. Farmers, retailers, and distributors discussed their plastic use and difficulties in finding bio-based alternatives. The panel also touched on consumer demand for reduced plastic and how farmers are trying to meet production goals given these pressures. A discussion session followed the panel so conference participants can share their experiences with plastic use.

Speaker Presentations:

Jason Cleaver | Business Development Executive of Columbia Basin Onion

Dr. Amber Sciligo |  Director of Science Programs at The Organic Center    

This panel explained the history of plastic in rulemaking for NOP, including updates from NOP regulators on the current status of plastic regulation in general and specifically for organic. Policy as points of leverage for change were discussed as well as the complexities of regulating plastic use in organic. We also heard about international policies that regulate plastic, focusing on the E.U. as they have been leading the charge to reduce plastic along the supply chain. This discussion panel did not include presentations, the below links go to speaker bios. 

Speakers

Breakout groups discussed their biggest challenges in reducing plastic and the highest priority action items to address those challenges. Groups presented examples of solutions that are currently working or making significant progress.

This session explored the need for a future framework in developing discussions around non-input use of synthetic, recycling, and plastic alternatives in organic. Panelists discussed the complexities of expanding the perspective of organic to include non-input synthetics and discussed who needs to be included in collaborative efforts to make large shifts in plastic use, including artist and general public engagement.

Speakers

Jazmine Mejia-Meunoz | Water Quality Program Coordinator  at California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Rhodes Yepsen | Executive Director of the BPI

Cynthia Minet | Professor at Moorpark College 

Mitch Ratcliffe | CEO and Publisher of Earth 911

Dr. Amber Sciligo | Director of Science Program at The Organic Center (discussion leader)

Organic stakeholders have been getting creative to reduce plastic in the field, packaging for distribution and retail, and transporting food to home. These rapid, 5-minute presentations highlighted case studies where stakeholders across the supply chain have used novel alternatives to plastic and offer hopeful solutions for future plastic reduction. 

Speakers