Scaling Future-Fit Innovation
April In-Person Member Meeting
April 15-16, 2026
Philadelphia, PA
Hosted by: Braskem
Meeting Overview
Join the April SB Member Meeting for a dynamic exploration of how consumer brands are scaling future-fit innovation in practice. From next-generation materials and circular design to using AI to accelerate learning, decision-making, and scale, this meeting surfaces what becomes possible when sustainable innovation is treated as a source of real competitive advantage.
Built for participation, the agenda blends case studies, data, peer exchange, and workshop-style activities designed to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and share lessons learned. Expect candid conversations, practical takeaways, and clear signals on what it takes to successfully scale innovation across teams, markets, and value chains.
Participants will:
See where future-fit innovation is gaining traction across consumer brands, including materials, AI-enabled tools, and resilience-driven approaches.
Review insights from a new SB Member Playbook created with the support of Target, The Estee Lauder Companies, Braskem, Eastman, IFF and Change Chemistry on Scaling Future Fit Materials.
Workshop with peers to explore how insights from this playbook can inform your innovation roadmap.
Explore how data, case studies, and shared frameworks are used to evaluate readiness, risk, and return when scaling innovation.
Understand how AI and digital tools accelerate progress, remove internal, operational, and time-to-market barriers, and strengthen the confidence and credibility of environmental claims.
Learn how sustainability-led innovation translates into competitive advantage, strengthening brand relevance, resilience, and long-term growth.
This SB Member-exclusive gathering is part of our Member Meeting series, intended to create a safe and productive space for discussion, raise shared obstacles and insights, and enable the co-creation of solutions that drive progress for all.
Agenda
Please visit this page for detailed session information Day 1 - Wednesday, April 15, 2026
8:30am - Optional Tour Meetup (In-person attendees only)
9:00 - 11:00am - Tour of Remark Glass (In-person attendees only)
11:00 - 11:15am - Tour attendees to return to Braskem (In-person attendees only)
11:00am - 12:00pm - Arrival, Registration and Networking (In-person attendees only)
12:00 - 12:15pm - Welcome & Framing the Conversation
Speaker/s: Sustainable Brands Leadership
12:15 - 1:15pm - Host Kickoff: Materials Innovation as a Foundation for Scale
Speaker/s: Jake Harrison, Biotechnology Innovation, Braskem
Gustavo Lombardi, Director of Business Development, Braskem
Amanda Zani, Innovation and Technology, Braskem
1:15 - 2:15pm - Lunch Break and Networking (In-person attendees only)
2:15 - 3:30pm - Scaling Future-Fit Materials: SB & Change Chemistry Working Group Insights and Playbook Review
Speaker/s: Rui Resendes, PhD, Change Chemistry and Working Group Members
Michael Hershkowitz, Director Global Sustainability & Sustainable Innovation, IFF
Laurel Baysal, Director of Sustainability, Eastman
3:30 - 3:45pm - Networking Break (In-person attendees only)
3:45 - 4:30pm - Panel: Designing Circular Consumer Products: EPR, Packaging Materials, and Reverse Logistics
Speakers: Candice Lawton, Executive Director, Circular Philadelphia
Rebecca Davies, Founder, Remark
Paige DeAngelo, Founder and CEO, AER Cosmetic
Steven Figgatt, Founder and CEO, Sycamore International,
Alan Horowitz, Vice President of Sustainability, Aramark
4:30 - 5:00pm - Day 1 Reflection & Group Discussion
Evening Activities (Optional - In-person attendees only)
Informal Member Cocktail Recep & Networking (details TBA)
Day 2 - Thursday, April 16, 2026
8:30 - 9:30am - Breakfast and Networking (In-person attendees only)
9:30 - 10:30am - From Courtrooms to Conservation: Turning Critics into Architects of America's First Solar Town
Speakers: Nicole Janok, Senior Partner, Finn Partners
Aila Hernandez, Vice President Corporate Purpose & Sustainability, Finn Partners
10:30 - 11:00am - Sustainable AI: Measuring Environmental Impact Deploying Generative AI and Agentic AI - Part I
Speaker/s: Franco Amalfi, Global Sustainability AI Partner Ecosystem Lead, Capgemini
Jordan Friedman , Manager - Consumer Products, Retail, Hospitality & Services, Capgemini
11:00am - 11:30am - Sustainable AI: Measuring Environmental Impact Deploying Generative AI and Agentic AI - Part II (Q&A Session)
11:30 - 12:30pm - Lunch and Networking Break (In-person attendees only)
12:30 - 1:00pm - AI for Sustainability: Leveraging AI to Advance Scale and Sustainability - Part I
Speaker/s: Franco Amalfi, Global Sustainability AI Partner Ecosystem Lead, Capgemini
Jordan Friedman , Manager - Consumer Products, Retail, Hospitality & Services, Capgemini
1:00 - 1:30pm - AI for Sustainability: Leveraging AI to Advance Scale and Sustainability - Part II (Q&A Session)
1:30 - 1:45pm - SB Member Cohorts: Update and Feedback Survey
1:45 - 2:00pm - Day 2 Reflection & Closing Conversations
Speaker/s: Sustainable Brands Leadership
Who should attend
Sustainable Brands curates Member-exclusive experiences for our network to help guide their journeys toward becoming truly sustainable brands. This meeting is available to the SB Member community networks only.
We encourage brand leaders across innovation, growth, brand voice and values, internal engagement and transformation, as well as consumer communications and marketing to join this interdisciplinary dialogue.
*All SB Member Meetings operate under the Chatham House Rule.
Bring A Guest
Accelerating good growth relies on deep cross-sector partnership, collaboration, and alignment. Do you have a colleague at another company who would make a great addition to the SB Member Network? If so, bring them as a guest to this Member Meeting! Together, we can co-create sustainable solutions to support a more regenerative ecosystem. Contact us at engage@sustainablebrands.com for details.
Member-Exclusive In-person Experiences:
Wednesday, 4/15th, SB Member Network Dinner
Details to follow. Travel details
The April Member Meeting will be held at the Braskem Headquarters in Philadelphia, PA.
Use the link below to reserve your room at a discounted rate. The Sonesta is a short walk from the Braskem office.
Please note: this rate will expire on March 16, 2026.
Sonesta Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square
1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Registration details:
Space is limited - be sure to register for your member-exclusive admission! By registering for the event, I grant permission for Sustainable Brands Media to use video or photographs of me for promotional purposes.
Registration will close on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Miss the deadline? Reach out to your account director for availability.
We hope to see you there!