EY–Parthenon, PepsiCo Foods North America and Walt Disney World Resort® to Keynote Second Annual Sonoco FRESH Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit

Executives from EY–Parthenon, PepsiCo Foods North America and Walt Disney World® Resort will give keynote presentations at the second annual Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit. Sonoco FRESH will host the Summit at Clemson University on September 19 – 21, 2022.

Does a Reimagined Food System Reimagine Your Growth?
There are a number of disruptions transforming the food system, some structural and some systemic. Having a clear vision of what the industry will look like, the drivers changing it and how technology will enable the transformation will be critical in reimagining your own growth. Producers, manufacturers and retailers need to think and act differently to not only respond to industry disruptions but to also drive the disruption and be part of shaping the future food system. Will you disrupt or be disrupted?

Rob Dongoski
EY Food and Agriculture Leader
Partner, EY-Parthenon

Implementing pep +: Positive Change for People and the Planet
PepsiCo recently introduced pep + (PepsiCo Positive), a strategic end-to-end transformation to drive sustainable long-term value and competitive advantage. David Allen will provide a brief overview of pep + and will share updates and examples of successes with PepsiCo’s internal stakeholders and across its value chain.

David Allen
Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer
PepsiCo Foods North America

Conserving the Magic – Operationalizing Disney’s Environmental Goals
This presentation will offer an inside look at how Disney is operationalizing its 2030 Environmental Goals, including a focus on establishing champions across the organization, engaging Cast Members with training and tools, piloting new processes and technologies and inspiring Guests during their vacation.

Chef Gary Jones
Environmental Culinary Specialist
Walt Disney World^® Resort

Steve Vanarsdall
Environmental Integration Manager
Walt Disney World^® Resort 

The 2022 FRESH Summit will focus on technology as an enabler of circular solutions across the food value chain, beginning with food production and packaging, and includes strategies to achieve sustainability targets in both corporate and consumer environments. FRESH is pleased to provide a content-rich program that features nationally prominent speakers who engage stakeholders from each sector of the food value chain in addressing the challenges and opportunities that will drive circular solutions.

“The 2021 inaugural FRESH Summit addressed the pressing need for collaborations and innovative approaches to protect the safety, security and sustainability of the food value chain,” said Anne Barr, Executive Director of Sonoco FRESH. “We’ll continue the conversation in 2022 with a deep dive into how technology and consumer perceptions continue to evolve. The Summit will also include tours of Clemson’s packaging science labs and insights into some of Clemson’s sustainability practices.”

The Summit will begin on September 19 with campus tours of Clemson University’s recycling facilities and packaging sciences labs, followed by a Welcome Reception hosted by the FRESH Advisory Board at the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design & Graphics. Day 2 will kick off with welcome remarks from Clemson Vice President of Advancement Brian O’Rourke and Sonoco President & CEO Howard Coker. Presentations will focus on the food system, technology, food waste and sustainable packaging, as well as breakout sessions on sustainability explored by sector. Attendees will then be treated to a reception featuring poster presentations from Clemson students, followed by a Farm to Fork Dinner hosted by Aramark and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) with an update on sustainability in South Carolina from SCDA Commissioner Hugh Weathers. Presentations on Day 3 will focus on consumer sentiments, including conveying authentic sustainability claims.

Registration for the FRESH Summit is $599 for individuals or $479 per person for groups of 5 or more registering together. Proceeds from the Summit will support future activities of the FRESH initiative at Clemson University. More information on the Summit, including agenda and speaker updates, can be found at www.SonocoFRESHSummit.com. Sponsorships are available.