Workshop Leader - Dr. Ramani Narayan

Dr. Narayan serves on the Board of Directors of Northern Technologies International – a $100 million publicly traded micro cap company, and on the Technical Advisory board of Tate & Lyle.  He is currently developing and commercializing technology for manufacturing new vegetable oil based polyesters and polyols that find application in polyurethanes and unsaturated polyester resins (UPR’s) products.

A successful entrepreneur, Dr. Narayan has been responsible for commercializing several technologies & won several awards. He has 115 referenced publications in leading journals to his credit, 18 patents, edited three books and one expert dossier in the area of bio-based polymeric materials.

He is a University Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University. His research encompasses design and engineering of sustainable, biobased products, biodegradable plastics and polymers, reactive extrusion polymerization and processing, studies in polymer biodegradation and composting, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) protocols for assessing a product’s environmental footprint, and biofiber -reinforced composites.


MESSAGE FROM COURSE LEADER

There is increasing awareness on the part of companies in looking for biobased plastics and biodegradable plastics for their own use in the manufacture of their products (Eg., in electronic, industrial, consumer, automotive parts) or packaging of their products (wherein both biobased and biodegradability are important criteria). This allows a company to contribute to reducing their carbon footprint and ensuing that the disposal of their product after use is environmentally responsible.

Biobased plastics are materials in which the carbon is from renewable/bio feedstock instead of petroleum carbon feedstock. The use of bio/renewable carbon as opposed to petroleum carbon allows us to have a reduced (more positive) carbon footprint (carbon neutral); companies could potentially claim carbon credits as well.

Biodegradability in single use short lived packaging and consumer goods allows one to ensure that these become food for microorganisms present in the disposal environment, thereby entering the food chain of the microbial system and completing the cycle – as opposed to nondegradable or partially degradable plastics which creates a negative environmental footprint and many times toxic to the ecosystem.

Thus bioplastics and biodegradable plastics and products are finding increasing attention as materials of choice for industrial and consumer applications.

This workshop teaches the principles and concepts of this new and emerging technology, its rationale and drivers, and the value proposition it offers to businesses. Senior Executives who want a share of this emerging industry should attend. Researchers in Universities and Institutes, and Government officials implementing or creating environmental policy would greatly benefit from the workshop as it will help in learning and understanding the fundamental principles, and value proposition of biobased and biodegradable plastics and products for carbon management and environmental responsibility and compliance.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND
• CEO/Presidents • MD • GM • Business Development Directors
• Sales & Marketing Manager • Commercial Director • Technology Managers
• Product Managers • R&D Directors from plastics, bioplastics & biodegradable
plastics producers/suppliers, additives producers/suppliers, brandowners &
retailers, processors/converters, financial & academic institutions,
machinery suppliers & all who want to understand and tap into the
potential of an emerging bioplastics and products industry.


COURSE TIMING
Day 1, 11 October - Thursday
Registration :  12:00pm
Lunch :  12:30pm – 1:30pm
Seminar Proper : 1:30pm – 5:30pm
Tea Break : 15 mins
Day 2, 12  October – Friday
Seminar Proper : 9:00am – 5:00pm
Lunch : 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Tea Break : 15 mins morning & afternoon


CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon successful completion of each course. This serves as evidence of your personal and professional commitment to you career.