Kira Austin
Kira is the Sustainable Sourcing Manager for Aramark & Avendra International. In her role, she supports the sourcing goals of Aramark’s global enterprise as well as Avendra’s GPO clients. This includes providing guidance and recommendations on more sustainable sourcing options, researching and vetting new supplier and product opportunities, and providing client reports on key commodities to measure spend trends from conventional to more preferred products. Kira leads the company’s supplier sustainability engagement programs, including the EcoVadis assessment, coordinating internal and external outreach and providing one-on-one support to suppliers as needed. She is the Responsible Sourcing Team’s lead on a number of high priority commodities, such as coffee, textiles, and food service disposables.
Kira has been with Aramark for three years, with previous tenures at Hyatt Hotels and World Resources Institute (a global research organization). She holds a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management from the University of Delaware and a Masters’ Degree in Sustainability Management from American University. Her role with Aramark combines her passions for hospitality and sustainability, and through her work she strives to influence and support more responsible purchasing decisions.
Thursday May 14
Sustainability & Products Stewardship Council Meeting | Credibility, Certifications & Claims
This session will explore emerging leadership in sustainable product standards and real-world innovation in safer chemistry.
From Market Challenges to Leadership: Green Seal’s Path for Sustainable Products
Part one of this session will highlight Green Seal’s initiative to align retailers, brands, and advocates around a shared definition of sustainability leadership for everyday products – bringing greater clarity, consistency, and credibility to a rapidly evolving marketplace. Participants will receive an overview of key product leadership elements identified to date, including safer chemicals, responsible sourcing, low-impact manufacturing, and sustainable packaging. Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal, will share the vision and direction of this work, joined by Steering Committee members offering cross-sector perspectives and insights into the considerations shaping criteria development.
Speakers:
Elizabeth Arredondo, Sustainability Manager, Henkel Consumer Brands and Co-chair, Green Seal Safer Chemicals Subcommittee
Kira Austin, Sustainable Sourcing Manager, Aramark & Avendra International and Co-chair, Green Seal Responsible Sourcing Subcommittee
Lisa Dreilinger, Global Head of Regulatory, Consumer Microbial Control, Arxada and Co-chair, Green Seal Verified Performance & Claims Subcommittee
Doug Gatlin, CEO, Green Seal
Gayatri Keskar, Global Packaging Material Science Leader, Kenvue and Co-chair, Green Seal Sustainable Packaging Subcommittee
Behind the Claims: Member Journeys
Part two of this session will bring these concepts to life through a case study from Midlab, one of the first companies to achieve Green Seal certification for floor care products formulated without intentionally added PFAS. Attendees will learn what motivates the company to pursue different certifications, outline the process and challenges for achieving them, and discuss the value they deliver – from product performance and market differentiation to advancing safer chemistry.
Attendees will leave with a better understanding of where product sustainability standards are heading and how organizations can respond with credible, high-impact strategies.
Speaker:
Jamey Gaston, VP of Quality, Science, & Regulatory, Midlab Inc.