Conference Program

2023 Zero Waste Conference Program: Climate Action Through Circularity Program

Presented by Metro Vancouver and the National Zero Waste Council​

Conference Moderator: Kathryn Gretsinger​, Associate Professor/Journalist, University of British Columbia School of Journalism, Writing and Media​

*Only Day 1 of the conference is available virtually.​

• Day 1 – Wednesday, November 1
• Day 2 – Thursday, November 2, 2023

• ​ 8:00 am PDT	Breakfast and Networking
  ​ 9:00 am PDT	Welcome and Opening Remarks ​​Indigenous welcome Opening remarks The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada ​​George V. Harvie, Chair, Metro Vancouver The Honourable David Eby, Premier, Province of British Columbia​
  9:15 am PDT	Opening Keynote Jonathan Foley has dedicated his life’s work to finding solutions that sustain our climate, ecosystems, and natural resources. His organization Project Drawdown is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions, highlighting pathways to reduce emissions and regenerate nature. Join him as he draws a solutions map with the call - it’s not game over for our planet, it’s game on! Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director, Project Drawdown​
  10:00 am PDT	Connecting Conference Attendees​​
  10:15 am ​PDT	Networking Break​
  10:45 am PDT	Building Circular Cities of Tomorrow​ Cities are complex ecosystems, sustained by intricate systems like buildings, waste management and water infrastructure. As we step into the future, these urban systems must not only coexist but contribute positively to cities that are circular, waste-free, and low in greenhouse emissions. This session calls policymakers, engineers, and designers to a new frontier – to think, collaborate, and innovate on a scale previously unimagined, sculpting urban centers that are not only functional but flourish in harmony with nature. Session Moderator: Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, Circular Economy Leadership Canada Video Spotlight: Lillian Zaremba, Program Manager for Collaborative Innovation, Liquid Waste Services, Metro Vancouver: The embedded resources we didn’t know existed. Featured Presentation: Dr. Ehab Sayed, Founder and Chief Evolution Officer, Biohm Panel: Dr. Zosia Brown, Vice President, Sustainability, Nexii Building Solutions Geneviève Noël and T. Maginnis Cocivera, co-Founders, Mindful Architecture Denis Crevier, Strategic Advisor, Global Infrastructure Hub Featured Innovator: Adam Corneil, CEO and Founder, Unbuilders and Heritage Lumber
  12:15 pm PDT	Morning Recap ​​​Craig Hodge, Chair, National Zero Waste Council and Director, Metro Vancouver
  12:20 pm PDT	Lunch and Networking
  1:20 pm PDT	Remarks The Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Province of British Columbia
  1:30 pm PDT	Accelerating Action on Plastic Pollution At the intersection of industry innovation, government regulation, and climate action lies the enigma of plastic waste. Are we at a pivotal moment, one where businesses, communities, and corporations are ready to align and create a circular economy for plastics. Join representatives from all three sectors shed light on the ambitious efforts underway to turn off the tap on plastic waste and reduce the related greenhouse gas emissions. Session Moderator: Christina Seidel, Executive Director, Recycling Council of Alberta and Board Member, National Zero Waste Council Video Spotlight: Unwrapping – A documentary that sheds light on the complex system of packaging, the importance of conscious consumption and the role for better design. Spotlight: Plastic Waste at a Glance Karen Storry, Senior Engineer, Solid Waste Services Planning, Zero Waste Implementation, Metro Vancouver Panel: Sonya Sundberg, Executive Director, Environmental Standards Branch, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Province of British Columbia Neil Menezes, Packaging Sustainability Policy Manager, General Mills Crystal Dreisbach, CEO, Upstream​ Featured Innovator: Dhruv Sood, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Fresh Prep
  2:30 pm PDT	Revolutionizing the Future of Fashion Today, a staggering 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to our clothing. In a world where less than 1% of our garments are recycled, there’s an urgent need for change. Dive deep into a transformative approach to textiles that doesn’t just reduce harm or waste but actively integrates regenerative principles to restore the environments it impacts. From an enlightening spark talk to discussions with Canadian apparel pioneers, this session unveils the much-needed metamorphosis of the sector.​ Session Moderator: ​Kelly Drennan, Founding Executive Director, Fashion Takes Action Featured Presentation: Céline Semaan, Social and Environmental Justice Advocate and Founder, Slow Factory Responding Panel:​ ​Elisabeth de Gramont, Head of Impact, Frank And Oak and Chief Brand Officer, Unified Commerce Group ​Paul Long, President, ANIÁN Andreanne Dandeneau, Founder and CEO, Anne Mulaire Design and Jodi Benson, CVO/Head of Sustainability, Anne Mulaire Design Video Spotlight: Metro Vancouver’s Think Thrice Campaign
  3:45 pm PDT	Closing Keynote Circularity and the Climate Crisis – a Powerful Opportunity Martijn Lopes Cardozo, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Circle Economy from the Netherlands, believes planetary survival depends on our next societal transition being a circular one. In the day one closing keynote, Cardozo will unpack the circular economy, unveiling an immense opportunity to unlock innovation and investment. Why is circularity critical to addressing the climate crisis? Let’s find out. Cardozo is in conversation with Elizabeth Shirt, Managing Director of the Globe Series. Martijn Lopes Cardozo, Chief Executive Officer, Circle Economy Moderator: Elizabeth Shirt, President, GLOBE Series, and Managing Director, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) Hosted in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Netherlands
  4:30 pm PDT	Networking Reception ​
  6:00 pm PDT	Day 1 Program Ends

• ​ 8:00 am PDT	Breakfast and Networking
  8:45 am PDT	Welcoming Remarks and Opening Keynote The Elephant in the Room: Behavior Change Solutions for Climate and Circularity Driving change requires politics, policy, and social will. But it also requires individuals, from citizens to CEOs, to make shifts in behaviour. What spurs behaviour change? While shame and blame often backfire, change driven by community connection is powerful. The ways in which we design our cities, businesses, and even our homes can foster community connection and shift behaviour. Join our keynote speaker, Dr. Jiaying Zhao, who will share strategies we can carry into workshops where we get tactical on advancing climate action and the circular economy. Dr. Jiaying Zhao, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability and Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
  9:30 am PDT	Interactive Workshops​ These dynamic, interactive workshops will run simultaneously. Each addresses a different and compelling waste challenge: cities, food, textiles, and consumer habits. Addressing Life Cycle Emissions and Embodied Carbon in Buildings through Circular Economy Strategies Explore circular economy strategies that are well-positioned to tackle deeper life cycle GHG emissions, including standards and practices (such as modular construction), design for deconstruction, and building life extension. The workshop program includes the government policy considerations needed to advance these circular strategies. Co-hosted by: Moderator: Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, Circular Economy Leadership Canada Presenters: Ivica Karas, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Construction and Infrastructure, CSA Group Zahra Teshnizi, Senior Planner, Embodied Carbon, City of Vancouver Emanuel Resendes, Director, Business Development, Fero International Inc. Gil Yaron, Managing Director, Circular Innovation, Light House Anthony Pak, Principal, Building LCA Consultant, Priopta Building Circular Culture for Climate Action Cities, governments, business, funders, and communities are working to mainstream a circular culture and enable Canadians to live sustainably. Discover circular practices motivators, new innovation areas and discuss people-centred solutions that transform how we live, travel, work and consume. Co-hosted by: Moderator: Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director and Edna Catumbela, Project Manager, Information Design, OneEarth Living Presenters: Rosemary Cooper, Director, Share Reuse Repair Initiatives Heléne Loberg, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Canada Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director, OneEarth Living Cora Hallsworth, Manager, Municipal Programs, BCIT Centre for Ecocities Joanne Gauci, Senior Policy Advisor, Metro Vancouver and National Zero Waste Council Dagmar Timmer, Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives, OneEarth Living Isabelle Moïse, Director of Operations, Department of Strategic Development, RECYC-QUÉBEC Alison Henning, Chief of Strategy, MakeWay Foundation Erica Priggen Wright, Creative Director, OneEarth Living Edna Catumbela, Project Manager, Information Design, OneEarth Living Circular Food Systems workshop: FOOD SOLVE for loss and waste The path to a circular food system has its own unique twists and turns. Meet business and government representatives who are navigating the change and share similar challenges to going circular and waste-free. This is a SOLVE workshop to crowd source promising, scalable ideas from participants, who will leave with strategies that will help reduce waste and advance their work on circularity. Co-hosted by: Moderators: Erin Nichols, Senior Project Manager – Zero Waste, Engineering Services Department, City of Vancouver Denise Philippe, Senior Policy Advisor, Metro Vancouver and the National Zero Waste Council Presenters: Shannon Betts, Manager – Policy and Enforcement, Solid Waste Resources, Halifax Regional Municipality Jonathan Rodrigue, Co-Founder and CEO, Still Good Foods Jennifer Lambert, Sustainability Director, Compass Group Canada Anthony Sullivan, Owner, IGA Robson Hilary Angus, ReRoot Kitchen Are Textiles Next for EPR? Explore the significance of regulations in combating textile waste, and the potential of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles in British Columbia. We'll delve into the textile waste landscape, including the challenges, discuss the role for targeted legislation across government, and explore proactive policies upstream to simplify downstream management. Co-hosted by: Moderator: Lyndsay Poaps, Executive Director, Recycling Council of BC Presenters: Kelly Drennan, Founding Executive Director, Fashion Takes Action Amelia Eleiter, CEO and Co-founder, debrand Karen Storry, Senior Engineer, Solid Waste Services Planning, Zero Waste Implementation, Metro Vancouver
  11:30 am ​PDT	Conference Closes​