Abstract:  Achieving a Circular and Sustainable Economy is increasingly urgent to minimize and mitigate devastating effects on the planet associated with continuing business as usual. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which popularized the concept, a Circular Economy is one that designs out waste and pollution, that keeps products and materials in use, and that regenerates natural systems. These principles apply in the context of manufactured products, as well as to the processes and operations behind those products. This presentation will consider various programs, tools and initiatives helping minimize environmental impact and delivering circular and sustainable products and manufacturing within Sun Chemical, the global leader for pigments, inks, coatings, and advanced materials. A particular focus will be on circular packaging applications that are enabled by Sun Chemical’s technologies.

Bio: Dr. Nikola Juhasz is the Global Technical Director for Sustainability at Sun Chemical, where she engages with internal and external stakeholders to formulate sustainability-driven technical strategies and oversees the corresponding innovation and product development programs across all of Sun Chemical’s pigments, inks, coatings, and adhesives product lines and technology platforms. She represents Sun Chemical at key global cross-industry organizations focused on sustainability and the future of packaging, including the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), among others. Dr. Juhasz joined Sun Chemical in 2018 as Global Director, Liquid Ink Technology. In this role she evolved the packaging ink applications and new product development portfolio to encompass numerous sustainability initiatives. Prior to joining Sun Chemical, Dr. Juhasz spent over 20 years in various positions of R&D leadership in the diversified chemicals, polymers, and materials industry. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University.

This seminar is sponsored by the Department of Environmental and Ecological Engineering.