Rhode Island Bioplastics Symposium
Thursday, July 9th, 2026
8:30am – 4:00 pm
University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus
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The Rhode Island Bioplastics Symposium will bring together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, composting and recycling professionals, students, and community stakeholders to present and discuss the major outcomes of the Rhode Island bioplastics project. The symposium will highlight opportunities and challenges associated with integrating bioplastics into Rhode Island’s waste management infrastructure and circular economy strategies.
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This symposium is funded through the URI Bioplastics Taskforce Subaward, which was awarded to the University of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management under the EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant 00A01082.
Agenda
Learn more about the day of events in the agenda preview below. For more information email kayla.poole@uri.edu.
Agenda Preview
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration, Coffee & Networking
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:15 – 9:45 AM
Project Overview Presentation Bioplastics in Rhode Island: Key Findings and Recommendations (Logan Beattie, Alyson Brunelli, Vinka Oyanedel Craver)
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Invited Keynote Presentation #1: Robert Guillemin, Pollution Prevention Coordinator, EPA
10:15 – 10:30 AM
Networking Breaking: Coffee and Refreshments
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Invited Keynote Presentation #2: Christopher Ward, Director of Biodegradability Lab, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
11:00 – 11:30 PM
Invited Keynote Presentation #3: Joshua Cloutier, Senior Director of New Product Development, Toray Plastics
11:30 – 12:00 PM
Invited Keynote Presentation #4: Andrew Brosseau, Partner & Compost Manager, Black Earth Compost
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Networking, Lunch & Student Poster Session
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Breakout Session.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Rhode Island Bioplastics Task Force Panel: “Where Does Rhode Island Go from Here?”
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Networking & Poster Demonstrations