Jonathan Scheck, Interzero
Speech Title: Wrapped in Assumptions? The Complex Truth About Recyclable Paper Packaging
About the speaker:
Jonathan Scheck is a dedicated and qualified expert in the field of packaging recycling with a master's degree in packaging technology. Since 2022, he has been working as a Packaging Engineer at Interzero in the renowned “Made for Recycling” department. There he devotes himself with great care and technical sensitivity to the evaluation and optimization of recyclability and the sustainable recycling of packaging materials.
With a keen interest in the circular economy and a deep understanding of regulatory and technical requirements, Jonathan Scheck supports brand manufacturers and packaging producers in realigning their packaging portfolios not only ecologically, but also in a legally compliant and market-oriented manner. His work thus makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of sustainable packaging concepts and the transformation towards a functioning circular economy.
Fabian Barthel, Vytal
Speech Title: Everyone Loves Reuse—Until It’s Time to Reuse
About the speaker:
Dr. Fabian Barthel is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Vytal, the world’s largest digital, deposit-free reuse system for takeaway food and beverages. At Vytal, he oversees operations, product development, and the franchise partner network.
Before founding Vytal, Fabian spent eight years at the global management consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he specialized in operational efficiency, organizational development, and social impact.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a Ph.D. in Economic Geography from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Fabian is also a co-author of several peer-reviewed articles on reuse.
Miran Baraga, DS Smith Slovenia
Speech Title: Rethinking Packaging: Cardboard Innovations Driving Circularity
About the speaker:
Miran Baraga has more than 20 years of experience in the corrugated packaging industry, working in Valkarton, Duropack and now DS Smith as part of IP corporation. For years, he was actively involved in production and conversion processes, and later on, as a technologist and packaging specialist, became focused on technical support for production, sales and customers.
For the last few years, he has been part of the Design&Innovation team, responsible for manufacturing and implementing the design of the corrugated section in DS Smith Slovenia.
Daniel Schwendemann, IWK
Speech Title: Bioplastics – Overview, Classification, and Trends
About the speaker:
Prof. Daniel Schwendemann,
Head of Compounding and Extrusion (dep. Head of Institute)
OST University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
IWK Institute for Material Technology and Plastics Processing
Daniel Schwendemann works as a professor at the University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland at the Rapperswil-Jona campus (formerly known as Hochschule für Technik) since 2010 in the field of mechanical engineering with a focus on materials science and plastic processing. He heads the Compounding and Extrusion department, which currently employs 12 staff members. For many years, he has been involved in recycling solutions and the use of bioplastics, as well as process development for plastic composite materials.
Rebeka Nenadović, SIBO Group/Tuba Lajovic
Speech Title: Flip smart, waste less
About the speaker:
Rebeka Nenadović is a research engineer with a background in chemistry and polymer engineering. After earning the Bachelor’s degree from FTPO in 2019, she began her career at SIBO G. d.o.o. Simultaneously, she pursued and completed her Master’s degree from FTPO in 2023. Now, she is successfully contributing to the R&D department as a research engineer focusing on sustainability projects.
Predrag Ozmo, Ball Corporation
Speech Title: Sustainability and Strategy in Aluminium Packaging
About the speaker:
Predrag Ozmo leads global sustainability efforts for Ball’s Growth Ventures, focusing on Personal & Home Care packaging products, including aerosol cans and aluminium bottles.
He drives engagement with global key accounts, contributes to Ball’s overarching sustainability strategy, and leads initiatives for refillable and reusable packaging solutions.
Predrag advises global commercial and procurement teams on sustainability-driven business strategies and oversees joint sustainability action plans with major customers. His work encompasses projects related to packaging optimization, carbon footprint reduction, sustainable material sourcing, and enhancing recycling and circularity.
Valeria Frigerio, Nestlé
Speech Title: Inside Packaging Sustainability @Nestlé Research
About the speaker:
Valeria Frigerio holds a PhD in Food Systems from the University of Milano, with academic research centered on sustainability assessments of food packaging solutions. Her work addressed the integration of shelf-life effects into environmental evaluations, aiming to reduce food waste and highlight related environmental benefits. She served as a visiting researcher at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) in Montpellier, France, where she contributed to the development of a predictive tool for evaluating food packaging sustainability based on performance criteria.
In December 2022, Valeria joined the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences, providing strategic support through her expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with a particular focus on paper-based packaging initiatives. Her role expanded to include participation in the deployment and global launch of packaging ecodesign tool for internal decision-making and continuous effort to foster Life Cyle Thinking in the company. Her research at Nestlé has involved responsible sourcing of paper, biodegradability, chemical recycling, and various elements of packaging innovation related to sustainability.
Jörg Fischer, JKU Linz
Speech Title: Recycling of plastic packaging waste - from product specifications to high-performance recyclates
About the speaker:
Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Jörg Fischer, Full professor and Head of the Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing, JKU Linz, Austria
Jörg Fischer studied “Plastics Engineering and Science” at the University of Leoben and obtained his doctorate in this subject. After completing his doctorate, he joined the Johannes Kepler University Linz, where he and his colleagues built up the study and research programs in the field of plastics engineering and science. In 2020, he became an associated professor in the field of plastics engineering. Since February 2025, he is a full professor and head of the Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing. He currently focuses on the circular economy of plastics and is active in this area as consortium leader and scientific director in various research projects together with industry and science.
Janez Šubelj, LabelProfi
Speech Title: Trend to mono-material solutions
About the speaker:
Janez Šubelj is an expert in the field of flexible packaging for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. He has been working in this industry since 1999 and has regularly participated in all major packaging development projects that have taken place over the years. He is employed by Labelprofi d.o.o. as a product engineer for flexible packaging. The company is part of the international PrimeLabel group based in Warsaw.
He is responsible for innovations in this field, testing, introducing and releasing new solutions from monomaterials that are suitable for recycling.
Rudi Eswein, Plastrans
Speech Title: Bioplastics in packaging: a future full of uncertainty
About the speaker:
Dr. Rudi Eswein is a trained chemist with a background in polymers and catalysis, and has been responsible for sales and business development of thermoplastic starch and compounds on a global and European level. In recent years, he has also been responsible for sustainability matters at Plastrans Technologies, which explicitly includes the portfolio transformation. He obtained a broad view on different aspects of the polymer and biopolymer market from the raw material's side. In working together with European Bioplastics, he also gained good insights into related political processes at the European level.
Lars Sandberg, Blue Ocean Closures
Speech Title: Next-generation high-density cellulose fiber as replacement for some polymer applications
About the Speaker:
Lars Sandberg is the CEO and founder of Blue Ocean Closures, a Swedish company pioneering fiber-based alternatives to plastic closures. With a background in sustainable packaging and innovation, Lars brings decades of industry experience and a strong focus on scaling bio-based solutions globally.
Aljaž But, Steinbeis PolyVert GmbH
Speech Title: Designed to De-value
About the Speaker:
Aljaž But is Head of Product Development and Quality Assurance at Steinbeis PolyVert GmbH, where he drives innovation in sustainable products from post-consumer waste. He holds a master’s degree in polymer technology and has more than a decade of experience in research and development in various industries. He specializes in the mechanical recycling of PET, PP, and HDPE, and focuses on product innovation and process optimization.
He is a passionate advocate of a true circular economy in plastics and has dedicated his career to transforming waste into high-quality recycled materials. His work combines technology, quality, and sustainability, ensuring that recycled polymers meet the highest standards for both industrial and consumer applications.
Zhanar Baishakova, Sustainnovation
Speech Title: Beyond PPWR: The Future of Packaging
About the Speaker:
Zhanar Baishakova is a sustainable packaging strategist and startup mentor bringing decades of FMCG leadership across packaging innovation, operations strategy in procurement, and supply chain.
An MIT-certified sustainability professional, she advises brands on sustainable product design, material and technology choices, and translates sustainability business objectives into product and packaging roadmaps. Zhanar has led packaging teams and built packaging innovation pipelines at Philip Morris International. She also mentors greentech start-ups at MassChallenge and has been named a Mentor of the Year 2023. She speaks at conferences, moderates panels, and leads executive workshops.
Katerina Tsangari, Coca-Cola HBC
Speech Title: Creating Value Through Circular Packaging
About the speaker:
Katerina Tsangari is the Head of Packaging Circularity and ESG Initiatives at Coca-Cola HBC. Since joining the company in 2010, she has held roles across health, safety, environmental coordination, and public affairs, steadily advancing to her current global position. Since 2015, Katerina has worked extensively with packaging regulation and collection systems, providing expert guidance at both European and local levels. She has collaborated with key industry organizations and partners such as EXPRA, UNESDA and EUROPEN in several key packaging files such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations.
Katerina holds Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London (MEng) and in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge (MPhil).
Manica Ulčnik Krump, Interzero Plastics Innovation
Speech Title: Innovating for Impact: Turning Post-Consumer Plastic Packaging Waste Challenges into Circular Opportunities
About the speaker:
Dr. Manica Ulčnik-Krump holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences. She is the Managing Director of Interzero Plastic Innovations and Head of Research and Development at Interzero Holding GmbH & Co. KG, one of Europe’s leading recycling companies. In this role, she is responsible for the technical development of recycled plastic materials produced through mechanical recycling. Her work spans the entire value chain—from product development and production to market implementation of recycled plastic solutions.
Recognizing the strategic importance of research and innovation in sustainable materials, Dr. Ulčnik-Krump initiated the founding of the Competence Center for Recycled Plastics in 2016. Based in Slovenia, the center is the first and only internationally accredited R&D institution in Europe dedicated exclusively to the development of advanced materials from recycled plastics. She is widely acknowledged as a leading international expert in the field, renowned for her unique combination of scientific expertise and applied innovation. Her work focuses on developing high-performance recycled materials tailored to the specific technical and regulatory needs of industry, which increasingly relies on recyclates as part of sustainable manufacturing practices.
Over the years, Dr. Ulčnik-Krump has pioneered multiple innovative solutions for mechanical plastic recycling, including the direct chemical modification of materials—enabling the production of high-quality recyclates that meet demanding technical specifications without compromising performance. She holds two European patents in the field of plastic waste recycling and has authored more than 200 international publications, including peer-reviewed scientific articles, conference papers, and invited lectures. In recognition of her contributions to science and innovation, she is also a member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Diego Fort, Cargill
Speech Title: Paving the way towards “paperization” with CargillTM Barrier Coatings
About the Speaker:
Dr. Diego Fort is a Senior Scientist in the Industrial segment at Cargill. Born in Uruguay, he studied chemistry and pharmacy at the “Universidad de la Republica” in Montevideo. In 2006, he began his Ph.D. at the “Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)” in Seville, Spain, with research stays at FU Berlin (Germany) and The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego (USA).
After earning his doctorate, Dr. Fort pursued postdoctoral research in photochemistry at the Technical University in Munich (Germany) and later worked for Roche in Basel, Switzerland. In 2014, he returned to Germany to work as a Principal Chemist in product development for Ecolab. Since 2018, Dr. Fort has been part of Cargill's Center of Expertise Renewability, focusing on bio-based products for the Paper and Packaging industry, aiming to replace petrol-based ingredients.
Dr. Fort’s work bridges academic research and industrial innovation, with a strong focus on the development of sustainable materials. His expertise includes packaging, biopolymers, and the chemical modification of biomass. He holds several patents and inventions, and has presented his work at numerous international conferences, particularly in the areas of packaging, specialty papers, and sustainability. His contributions support the transition toward a more circular and low-carbon economy.
Martin Ocepek, Helios Resins
Speech Title: Synthetic resins for sustainable metal packaging coatings
About the Speaker:
Dr. Martin Ocepek earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Ljubljana in 2015 and currently serves as the Director of R&D at Helios Resins. Leading a team of 30 engineers and technicians, his work focuses on development of acrylate- and polyester- based polymers for coatings and composites, advancing process technologies, driving technical marketing initiatives and coordination of company’s European funded research projects.
He is an active member of the governing board for Slovenia's strategic national partnership on the circular economy. Dr. Ocepek's contributions to the field have been recently recognized by the Slovenian Chemical Society, which honored him with the award for Best Young Chemist and Chemical Engineer from Industry.
Deniz Turan Kunter, Wageningen University & Research
Speech Title: Towards Circular Food Packaging: Aligning Innovation, Sustainability and Regulatory Requirements
About the Speaker:
Dr.ir. Deniz Turan holds a PhD in Food Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey. She has been honored with several awards, including the Nestle Young Scientist. Her research led to national and international patents for innovative packaging material. Since 2023, Dr. Turan has been an assistant professor at the Food Quality & Design Group, Wageningen University. She focuses on digital twining of the food supply chain and data-driven sustainable packaging design. She leads a research group comprising five PhDs, one postdoc, and numerous master’s students for projects on bio-based high-barrier coatings, active edible coatings, smart packaging and food grade recycling. She is also member of IFT Food Packaging Division.
Tine Žlebnik, ECHO Instruments
Speech Title: Biodegradation measurements of different materials using Automatic Respirometers: Case Studies and Insights.
About the Speaker:
Experienced sales executive with a strong background in entrepreneurship and marketing, with over two decades of leadership positions in various industries. Tine has finished two faculty programs with majors in entrepreneurship and marketing. Since 2011, Tine has led the global sales strategy at ECHO Instruments, specializing in advanced respirometry systems for different applications. He is known for building international partnerships, developing custom solutions, and driving consistent growth in high-tech B2B markets.
