In the age of modern food retail, which appeared in the early 20th century and has chiefly remained unchanged since— we’ve seen waves of innovation that have contributed to solving discrete, disconnected problems that are remarkable in their own right but simultaneously have gotten us where we are today— a situation in which broadly-unsustainable-packaging does an inconsistent job of preserving our food and conserving our environment.
Can we design a material that does it all? A material that can disappear or be recycled or reused once used, that protects, preserves and enhances shelf life of the products it contains?
Or, do we need to look beyond just materials?
And, is plastic our only enemy?
In this talk, Brandi will share some findings she’s come across whilst working in the CPG and branding industries; innovations in material science and in the industry of food production that contribute to our food’s shelf life and longevity in our homes. We’ll touch on the history of our groceries and stores; how that connects to who we are as humans and how we have crafted our society. And, ultimately how we will increase foods’ lifespan as well as our own.
6101c8f71fab
  • 1617626717-87fee04e66a4840a
    Olga Kachook
    Senior Manager SPC, GreenBlue
    Olga Kachook is a Project Manager at GreenBlue, where she leads the Essentials of Sustainable Packaging courses and the Composting Collaborative. Her background includesexpertise in compostable materials and packaging, zero waste facility certification, life cycle analysis, and sustainable materials management.Prior to joining GreenBlue, she led corporate sustainability and waste initiatives at World Centric, Etsy, Cascade Designs, and Cascadia Consulting. Olga has a Master of Environmental Management from Yale Universitys School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington. She is certified as a LEED Green Associate and a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor.
  • 1617626879-ad5e1d1aefd73fdb
    Brandi Parker
    Head of Sustainability, Pearlfisher
    Brandi Parker is the Head of Sustainability at Pearlfisher New York. For over 18 years, she’s solved brand problems and brought creativity to life. With a thorough understanding of production across a range of print types and presses, combined with her knowledge of materials, substrates and finishes, Brandi advises and guides the way to producible and sustainable ideas.

    Brandi offers innovation grounded in practicality. She challenges designers to think about the end game and encourages vendors to not solve problems based on ease, but rather with a holistic approach and an aesthetic impact. A quick-witted, multi-faceted Southerner, Brandi is an invaluable part of every team she joins.