Safe & Sustainable Foodware: Closing the Loop with Certified Compostables
Join MiSBF and University of Illinois Chicago for the second installment in the Safe & Sustainable Foodware webinar series. Not all “compostable” or “eco-friendly” products are created equal. This webinar will explain product certifications, how to identify safe alternatives, and what to look for when sourcing compostable foodware. Presenters will connect safer foodware to broader sustainability goals like food scrap diversion and landfill reduction by showcasing how compostable or reusable products close the loop.
Speakers:
- Savannah Seydel, VP Sustainability, Better Earth LLC
- Greg Mankowski, Master Composter, Organicycle
- Peter Woudwyk, Category Specialist – North American Packaging & Serviceware Disposables, Gordon Food Service
This multi-part webinar series will equip restaurants, institutional food service providers, business associations, and community partners with the knowledge, tools, and resources to transition away from food service products containing PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Each session explores a critical piece of the solution, from understanding health and environmental risks, to navigating product certifications, to engaging staff and patrons in sustainable practices. Participants will hear from early adopters, industry experts, and peer institutions, gaining practical strategies for overcoming challenges and advancing safer, certified-compostable, and reusable alternatives. One session will be offered in Spanish, and all webinars will focus on supporting business owners across Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
The series is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY23-24 Pollution Prevention Grants: Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products, through the University of Illinois Chicago Institute for Environmental Science and Policy (IESP). Grant recipient work products may not have been formally reviewed by the EPA and may not reflect the views and policies of the EPA. The EPA does not endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in these documents.