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Green Harvest Technologies / Tedx Presentation/ Nov 6th, 2010
- 1. Addressing the Problem At It’s Source Stopping the flow of toxic plastic into our ecosystem TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch | November 6, 2010 Patrick Kenney | Green Harvest Technologies, LLC
- 2. Over the last 60+ years plastic products have climbed a growth curve of increasing functionality, use and durability. What was missed?
- 3. Bioplastics will climb the same curve MUCH FASTER Accelerated Change Will this time be better?
- 4. Take Responsibility Zero In On Hurdles 1. Sustainability 2. End of Life 3. Prioritize Products for Health & Environment 1. Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
- 5. HURDLE #1 Sustainability Raw materials for biopolymers are non-toxic and eco-friendly if derived from sustainable farming practices
- 6. Non-GMO Crop Management No Carcinogens Energy Use GHG Emissions Higher Payment for Farmers www.workinglandscapes.org Unique Program: Working Landscapes Certificate Sustainable Farming for Biopolymers
- 7. HURDLE #2 End of Life New Material Recycling Infrastructure at Infancy
- 8. Technology EXISTS Solution: Build Critical Mass of Material And Recycle Start with Captive Environments HealthCare..Schools..Stadiums..Hotels..Resorts..Communities.. Recycling Industrial Composting
- 9. HURDLE #3: Prioritized Products for Health & Environment Take on the Hard Stuff Real Impact Products
- 10. Product Research & Development Heat Stability Flexibility Durability Shelf Life Vapor Barrier
- 11. Material Story: Bio-based, recyclable, (mostly) compostable Cotton Compostable / Recyclable Wood Compostable Metal Recyclable BioPolyethelene Compostable / Recyclable PLA Compostable / Recyclable loop outer cap loop fixture bottle inner cap INPUT OUTPUT
- 12. Health Care & Home Care for Early Life Service Area Products Maternity Durable water bottles Medicine & Vitamin Bottles Baby Bottles Breast Milk Supplies & Storage Medicine Dispensing Items Irrigation Bottles Sippy Cups Care Giver Supplies Nonwoven pads, diapers Blankets, clothing Food Service Items Birthing Neonatal Nursery Pediatric Scalable Products in
- 13. HURDLE #4: Plastic product owners do not want to invest in R&D or retooling their manufacturing facility.
- 14. Manufacturing Operations Fully Automated, Certified, Eco Friendly
- 16. Dedicated Bioplastic Product Trade Route Product R&D Comprehensive Supply Chain Manufacturing
- 17. Build Critical Mass Start with captive environments HealthCare Schools Stadiums Hotels Resorts Communities
- 19. Get in front and lead industry Manufacture products Get them in consumer’s hands Fuel demand Recycle Establish a ‘cradle to cradle’ superhighway
- 20. Thank you. Patrick Kenney, CEO Green Harvest Technologies, LLC sustainable farming bioplastics manufacturing consumer products
Editor's Notes
- Good afternoon I’m Patrick Kenney of Green Harvest Technologies, where we have big ideas on shaping a solution to this plastic pollution. Bioplastics! They offer a huge opportunity! Plastics from living plants combined with green chemistry. At a strategic level, its about the flow of raw materials to product and then handling of waste. Here we go - Addressing the plastic pollution problem at it’s source; Stopping the flow of toxic plastic into our ecosystem. I’m compelled to speed it up! I believe it is a tragedy to wait to do this!
- Let me tell you a short story: Over the last 60+ years, plastic products have climbed a tremendous growth curve of increasing functionality, use and durability. The material science is amazing. These developments have plastic producers totally driven on performance – what I mean is - getting the recipe of materials into the plastic so that the finished product can handle everything it needs to go through – manufacturing, labeling, packaging, shipping, warehousing, consumer use…. Despite the great achievements, their paradigm was limited… What was missed? Sustainability – the qualities of materials and impact on people, environment, etc., through the life cycle of the product Environment – had to be able to handle the environment, not assessed for impact on the environment Eco-Friendly Operations – the level of toxicity, energy consumption & green house gases Healthy – chemicals used in plastics would never be used in food or medicine – yet were allowed in product & package materials – who would have thought those chemicals could transfer to humans & beyond. End of Life – We all know the impact of waste, the minimal impact of recycling The story continues…..
- Bioplastics are maturing – offering fundamentally different chemistry because these polymers are derived from living plants. Their use will climb the same curve MUCH FASTER – this is Accelerated Change, applying the knowledge from the history of plastics. So, I have to ask Will this time be better? Same industry Different raw materials formed into same type of plastic pellets Same machines Same paradigm – get a product that performs for consumer as expected – at a competitive price Is this time any better? Sustainability – yes, it could be, I have a strategy, but the old paradigm won’t work Environment – yes, make products with the environment in mind, we can work a solution with consumers, but the old paradigm won’t work. Eco-Friendly Operations – we have the chance to make this state of the art, but the old paradigm won’t work. Healthy – we make product non-toxic, ingredients transparent, but the old paradigm won’t work. End of Life – technology exists, build critical mass, then infrastructure; but the old paradigm won’t work
- More than ever, from my standpoint, this is about personal, professional and industrial responsibility. It’s time to zero in on the hurdles to bring about the REAL SOLUTION. Strategic hurdles worth investing our time on include Sustainability End of Life Prioritize Products for Health & Environment Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
- First, Sustainability – see the resin pellets – other than the smell, you can’t tell the difference - petro-polymer or bio-polymer… Priority Hurdle to achieve - Raw materials for biopolymers are non-toxic and eco-friendly if derived from sustainable farming practices This is about the carry through of elements in production of raw materials to finished product materials
- To deal with the concern about carry through of GMO seeds, carcinogens, high energy use, poor soil management, etc., Green Harvest with the Institute for Agriculture Trade Policy has implemented a very unique program called Working Landscapes Certificate. The program enables product owners who are using bioplastics to purchase certificates from farmers who commit to a detailed & engaging certification process to prove they are following sustainable farming practices in production of produce used in making biopolymers. You can see a subset of requirements for this program
- The other end of this plastics story is the strategic hurdle about the end of life of plastic products New Material Recycling Infrastructure is at its infancy I want to see this grow.
- The technology exists to support recycling and industrial composting – we need to use it!!! Industrial composting is a viable option and business opportunity. I am aware of a couple groups that put industrial composting machines at institutions to process bioplastic waste. These machines are on the market. Other services are just starting – supplying bioplastic food service items to outdoor events, collect the waste and recycle. Because we can leverage the chemistry difference of bioplastics, my preferred option is recycling I find that in the case of some bio-plastics, a recycling process can be used to break down the plastic to an earlier stage material – then allowing the polymer & plastic to be made again 100% - second generation material – allowing the same product to be remade. Key to effectiveness is building a critical mass of material. Start broad transformation with captive environments – healthcare, schools, stadiums, hotels, resorts, etc…. The community that brings these captive environments together is already well along to community-wide implementation – setting the foundation for household participation. Imagine – products made from bioplastics - collected, sterilized, reconstituted and made into product again.
- My strategy is that we take on the hard stuff Stop waiting Make real products, the ones that show it will work and get the point across to the consumer and the existing product brand owners Make an impact where there is greatest sensitivity Prioritize Products for Health & Environment. Success will draw consumers, product & brand owners into the strategy.
- I start with Product Research & Development Products must provide appropriate “user expected” performance in Design Heat stability Material flexibility Durability Shelf life Vapor barrier Imagine a soda with no fizz, tomato juice starting to spoil, medicine bottles that crumbles when putting on child proof caps, baby bottle that loses its shape in the dishwasher or in car on 100 degree day. The materials in the products must perform. This is where the recipe is developed – where the polymer becomes a plastic Recipe transparency is critical!!!
- At a high level, we need to look at product story-boarding in a new way. Products need a more comprehensive strategy on input and output. The durable bioplastic water bottle idea shown here consists of five parts. Each part has an input - a unique renewable resource that enabled performance characteristics and product design appeal. The finished product must perform Finally, realistic output for managing the ‘end of life’ of each part must take place up front in product design & development
- Remember, I prioritize products for health & environment I want a cooperative captive environment with critical mass volume I am targeting Healthcare & Homecare for Early Life You can see the products for maternity, birthing, neonatal, nursery & pediatrics. What if every healthcare operation moved all products to non-toxic, renewable sourced products? Each would have an output scenario implementable after use? Would that create a fundamental new way & infrastructure for processing plastics? Could this stop some of the plastic pollution? I think so. This is a manageable environment, health care is pervasive, its everywhere. Interest is HIGH!!! There are very engaged professionals who can help this succeed. A key principle here is that these products are very scalable – meaning that demand for them reaches out to all life stages of health care, To the home, and beyond, Then into numerous other markets - areas like veterinary, sports, entertainment, retail, etc. The technology and form of these products can easily be applied to many other products.
- Lets track a minute - we’ve looked at raw material sustainability, end of life, and a product focus. What’s the problem. Why not rush out and do it. Back to the high performing, entrenched industry, the old paradigm. Plastic product owners do not want to invest in R&D or retooling their manufacturing facility. Don’t get me wrong, some are taking the initiative and kudos to them. Most don’t know what can be done, want someone else to prove it first or won’t do it until they have to.
- I want to build out the solution. We must establish the trade route that brings the benefits of these great new materials into actual consumer goods. It must be dedicated. Today, these operations are a barrier because bioplastics do not simply drop in the machines. It is costly to move from petro-plastics to bioplastics – a major reason for resistance. This is about creating the new paradigm, establishing a new industry. It also means that we dedicate Manufacturing operations - ensure they are fully automated, certified, and eco-friendly Let me tell you, this is not for the faint of heart. At the same time, our high tech industry has tremendous disciplines that can move plastic product manufacturing ahead very quickly. I know how to pull this together.
- I believe that the world wants to participate in this solution. This is for the benefit of all humanity. The comprehensive supply chain – Source supplies of the most promising biopolymers in the world Achieve the benefits of shipping resins, not finished products (air) Promote regional product development, manufacturing and recycling – regional on the level of within economic zones like continents or like that. Distribute product manufacturing and sales into the local region – much more economical. Recycled and reprocess materials within the region. This is for benefit of all.
- To start summarizing: This is my strategy It ties together Sustainable Raw Materials Product R&D Comprehensive Supply Chain Manufacturing End of Life Into a Dedicated Trade Route for Products made with bioplastics
- We build critical mass with captive environments Captive environments want this solution. Some have started related initiatives and projects on their own or with other suppliers – they welcome the help. Multiple captive environments in a geography lead to broad community transformation, including households. The competencies and infrastructure grow – changing a lot of the sources of plastic pollution.
- I believe that we cannot wait for the product owners & conventional plastic industry TO GET THROUGH THE HURDLES. We are on the forefront of major change, a huge opportunity to change the course of the plastic materials story for the future. We can make products healthier We can stop the flow of plastics to landfills and the ocean. We must take the initiative. We must move now. My wish is to make this vision a reality!
- I firmly know we can Get in front and lead industry Manufacture products Get them in consumer’s hands Fuel demand Influence established brands Recycle Establish a ‘cradle to cradle’ super highway!!! Getting this underway won’t clean up the plastic pollution mess… But, it will stop the source of the plastic pollution I and my colleagues have several years putting this together. I know the products can be made. I know we can build out the industry and the infrastructure.
- We are Green Harvest Technologies Thank You!