RIT hosts forum on supply chain sustainability

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An upcoming forum at Rochester Institute of Technology will feature advice and best practices from major companies such as Staples, IBM, and other organizations with leading sustainability programs.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I), in partnership with Nixon Peabody LLP, is sponsoring a supply chain sustainability forum titled “Sustainability as a Supplier: What Your Customers Want” from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, at Louise M. Slaughter Hall-CIMS Conference Center, 111 Lomb Memorial Drive.

The program features a keynote presentation by Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs at Staples Inc. Buckley will be joined by Louis Ferretti, project executive in business integration and transformation for IBM Corp.’s Integrated Supply Chain; Jeffrey H. LaBarge, a partner with Nixon Peabody; Daniel Bena, head of sustainable development for PepsiCo; and Lawrence Gelb, director of global sustainability for Bausch + Lomb who will take part in a panel discussion on how businesses can increase market share and revenue while reducing costs and environmental impacts.

Following the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to choose two breakout sessions where they can interact with the speakers and other sustainability and procurement professionals who will also discuss their programs and supply-chain opportunities in more detail. Lunch will be sponsored by Nixon Peabody LLP and an optional tour of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability is available.

The forum is part of NYSP2I’s Sustainable Supply Chain and Technology Program designed to assist state businesses in achieving global, sustainable manufacturing and “green” supply chain goals. Funding for this workshop is provided by the NYSP2I through a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

NYSP2I is a statewide research and technology transfer center headquartered at RIT and is a partnership between the university, Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo and the 10 New York State Regional Technology Development Centers. The goal of NYSP2I is to make New York state more sustainable by providing pollution prevention programs and services across the state.

While the forum and lunch are free and open to the public, registration is required at the event’s website. For organizations interested in exhibiting their sustainable products or process details at this event, contact nysp2i@rit.edu.