Sustainability & Manufacturing Virtual Discussion

A growing number of manufacturers are treating “sustainability” as an important objective in their strategy and operations to increase growth and global competitiveness. But sustainable manufacturing is often too narrowly defined as simply manufacturing products in ways that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. By focusing on how international manufacturing companies in Georgia are implementing sustainability goals, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, this event will broaden the traditional definition of sustainability to include enhancing the wellbeing of employees and the communities in which companies operate.

Panelists:

• Sara Irvani, CEO, Okabashi Brands, Inc.
• Jim Reed, President, YKK Corporation of America
• Nicolas Cudré-Mauroux, Group General Manager Research & Innovation (CTO), Solvay specialty Polymers
• Andy Brehm, Site Director, Gainesville Bio Operations, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Moderated by Valerie Thomas, Anderson-Interface Professor of Natural Systems in the H. Milton School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech

Partnering organizations:
French, German, Belgian, Netherlands and Swedish American Chambers of Commerce, the British-American Business Council, the Japan-America Society of Georgia, the Women’s Series, Global Change Program and the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, Georgia Institute of Technology, Next Generation Manufacturing, Society of Plastic Engineers, Global Atlanta.