2021 Virginia Environmental Health & Safety Conference
19th Annual Virginia Environmental Health & Safety Conference (VEHS)
September 21-23
Member Price: $100
Non-members Price: $150
Mark your calendar! The Virginia Environmental Health & Safety (VEHS) Conference is the VMA’s premiere event of the year where Virginia industry environmental leaders, regulators, legislators and allies join together for sharing information, best practices and technology. Participants also explore the affordability and sustainability of regulations on the Virginia economy. The 2021 VEHS Conference will be held from Tuesday, September 21st, to Thursday, September 23rd. This event will be held virtually with an in-person networking event for members on the evening of Thursday (9/23)! Check back here later for more information about what’s ahead.
September 21
Winning in the New Age of Packaging and the Road Ahead
9am – 10am
Speakers: Steve Johnston, Sr Director of Technical Solutions & Quality, WestRock
WestRock has operations around the world and expertise in every shopping category. This speaker will share their perspective on the three primary roles of packaging (protecting, promoting, and performing), where they are seeing the biggest changes in the evolution of packaging and how WestRock has created game-changing innovations in papermaking, packaging design, and retail solutions for industry segments such as Craft Beer, Amazon, and Domino’s.
Malcam: Cutting-edge Technology in Moisture Control in the Manufacturing Processes
10:30am – 11:15am
Speakers: Hifnaz Jiffrey, Head of Business Development, De Lune Corp; Udi Moshe, VP, Malcam
Malcam’s game-changing Microwave Moisture Analyzers provide real-time accurate readings of moisture that lead to effective data-driven decision making in manufacturing. Malcam is a world leader in volumetric moisture & density measurement systems based on microwave tomography. Its technology is specifically designed to enable quicker ROI, improve line productivity, enhance product quality, and reduce waste in the manufacturing of rubber, tobacco, fibers, cheese, dry foods pulp and paper, minerals, and bulk chemicals.
Virginia Natural Resources Scorecard at a Glance
12pm – 12:45pm
Speaker: David Hudgins, Executive Director, Virginia Energy Consumer Trust
The Virginia Natural Resources Scorecard was produced by the Council on Virginia’s Future until 2017. It measured VA Air Quality, Energy, Water Quality, and Solid Waste & Recycling performance. Now, the Scorecard will be updated and published by the Virginia Energy Consumer Trust and Virginia Industry Foundation. Participants will be provided with a “Virginia Natural Resources Scorecard at a Glance” to better understand trends in dozens of environmental metrics and pollutants over the last five years. The purpose of this session is to educate the public with easily understandable pollution, energy, and waste data to advocate for affordable and reasonable public policies based upon empirical evidence.
The Importance of the Circular Economy in the Food Industry
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Speakers: Jayne Deal, Mondelez; Christian Hutter, Mondelez; Roseann Woodham, Bimbo Bakeries USA; Lee Gilbert, BSMI
Virginia’s success in food and beverage manufacturing is evidenced by the major global food companies that have located here and continue to expand in the Commonwealth. This panel will discuss how two global companies are striving for zero environmental impact in their operations by cutting waste, reducing supply chains, preserving water, and innovations with plant science and packaging to lower environmental footprints.
September 22
What a Carbon-Zero Future Means for Manufacturing
9am – 10am
Speaker: Liz Williamson, Williams Mullen; Mike Voll, Stantec
Federal and Virginia carbon reduction goals have been set. This panel will explore the current goals and regulations that address carbon reductions and how manufacturers may be impacted directly by regulations or indirectly by costs. We will discuss options for carbon reduction at manufacturing plants, including the benefits and risks to pursuing renewable options, such as solar, battery, or conversion from fossil fuel.
Mobile CO2 Emissions: Electrifying the Transportation System
10:30am – 11:30am
Speakers: Marcus Thompson, Volvo & Jessie Lund, Senior Associate, RMI
In this session, you will hear from pioneers in our industry who are leading the transportation electrification movement by designing, manufacturing, and deploying first-of-its-kind electric trucks.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Regulatory Briefing
12pm – 2pm
Featuring a panel of representatives from DEQ, moderated by Brooks Smith, Troutman Pepper; Jay Holloway, Williams Mullen
This annual briefing by the DEQ is a favorite for conference attendees as a “one-stop shop” for updates on pending and proposed regulations of air, water, waste, climate change, land use, environmental justice, plastic waste, and permit practices.
Environmental Justice: Community Engagement Best Practices
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Speakers: Dan Roczniak, Senior Director, Responsible Care, ACC; Katie MacCormick, Dominion Energy
Participants will explore best practices for improving community involvement and support for industry such as the ACC Responsible Care Program™ “Community Advisory Panel” and insight from Kathryn MacCormick of the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, who is an Environmental Justice Consultant at Dominion Energy and serves on the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice.
September 23
Virginia Occupational Safety & Health (VOSH) Regulatory Workshop: Best Management Practices, Case Studies & Technology
9:00am – 10:30am
Featuring a panel of representatives from VOSH, moderated by Casey Nelson, VMA Safety Committee Chair, Director of Safety, Health & Environmental, Altria
This workshop with the leadership of the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry (VDOLI) focuses on occupational safety & health matters and how employers can advance their programs. Agency leadership will lead a discussion on issues such as the COVID-19 regulation, heat illness regulations, contractor safety, and take questions from conference attendees. This is a great opportunity to engage VDOLI directly.
Recycling and Litter Regulations in Virginia
11:00am – 12:30pm
Speakers: Joshua Baca, VP, American Chemistry Council; Brett Vassey, President & CEO, VMA; Brian Sernulka, Government Affairs Director, O-I; David Scott, Keep America Beautiful
Panelists will discuss pending regulatory and legislative proposals before various Executive, Legislative, and non-profit organizations focused on eliminating solid waste, banning plastics, improving recycling, extending landfill use, and curbing public littering. Panelists will discuss bad ideas such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation for Plastics in Maine; Beneficiation facilities; Recycling Center technologies and taxation; Landfill Siting Restrictions; the impact of PPE on landfills; and Litter Reduction Research.
Industry Innovations in Recycling: The Ultimate in Sustainability
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Speakers: Tato Bigio, CEO, UBQ; Mike Bell, Mohawk
Hear from industry leaders who reinvented their manufacturing process to use recycled materials. Mohawk manufacturers fully recyclable carpets using just on material – polyester. In 2019 alone, Mohawk recycled more than 6.6 billion plastic bottles, enough to wrap around the earth more than 33 times and is the largest recycler of plastic bottles in North America. UBQ just completed a scaled pilot project at CVWMA to produce 2,000 new recycling bins made with UBQ™ material, a novel bio-based composite made wholly from residual municipal solid waste. The feedstock used to create UBQ™ material is made up entirely of household waste that would otherwise end up in landfills; banana peels, chicken bones, contaminated plastics, and even dirty diapers.
Virginia Legalizes Marijuana: Ready or Not?
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Speaker: Andrew Henson, Troutman Pepper
On July 1, 2021, marijuana will be decriminalized for adults to use and possess in-state. This session will address the legal issues and safety concerns of manufacturers as they deal with employees suspected of being impaired at work, ways to reasonably accommodate medical marijuana cardholders, and changes to drug testing in the workplace.
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Break Sponsors
|
|