Hillenbrand, Coca Cola and Net Impact Announce Second Annual Circular Plastic Case Competition

Hillenbrand, the Coca Cola Company and Net Impact are hosting the second Circular Plastics Case Competition, which encourages emerging business professionals to rethink the plastics value chain by designing innovative solutions that help keep plastics in the economy.

The competition invites participants to collaborate and generate ideas to increase the supply of postconsumer recycled material (PCR). This year, the case competition will prompt participants to explore how to increase the supply of rPET.

Submissions are due March 29^th. In May, finalists will present virtually at a showcase that will be broadcast during NPE 2024. The first place winner will be awarded $10,000, followed by $2,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place.

“Plastics are essential to our economy and will continue to play an important role in our future, making it crucial to concentrate on enhancing sustainability within the plastics value chain,” says Kim Ryan, Hillenbrand president and CEO. “rPET is an appealing material because it can significantly reduce the carbon footprint in comparison to creating new plastic, and it can be recycled and transformed into other products throughout its life span.”

Ryan says the company initiated this competition to engage the next generation to think creatively and develop solutions that promote a circular plastics economy. “Our partnership with Net Impact has been invaluable in driving progress,” Ryan adds. “I was inspired by the innovative ideas presented during the first challenge and am looking forward to seeing how this year's participants build on the momentum to make an impact.”

Hillenbrand and Net Impact developed the Circular Plastics Case Competition concept in 2022 and held the first competition in Spring 2023.

Hillenbrand and Coca-Cola will guide the topic and goals of the competition, while Net Impact will facilitate the competition by bringing together its global network of social impact and sustainability leaders to address the challenge.

“The conversation around making a circular economy for plastics is dynamic and incredibly exciting, and this program brings emerging professionals into that conversation by allowing them to grapple first-hand with the complex questions that sustainability practitioners are facing today,” says Karen Johns, Net Impact CEO. “Program participants will learn about material circularity, life cycle analysis, and responsible supply chain management, and learn to think like a sustainability manager at a large corporation today.”