Rishi Banerjee
Rishi Banerjee is senior director of SmartLabel at Consumer Brands Association. The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry whose products Americans depend on every day, representing nearly 2,000 iconic brands. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a vital role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting more than 20 million American jobs. In his role, he serves as head of the SmartLabel program. SmartLabel is the leading digital disclosure and consumer transparency platform which connects consumers to product data that goes beyond the packaging label. SmartLabel has gained significant industry adoption including 100,000 products from over 1,000 brands participating.
Rishi’s career spans across multiple sectors including government, non-profit, consulting and retail. He began his career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) where he conducted research on foodborne pathogens. After USDA, Rishi served as Director of Regulatory and Technical Affairs for the American Frozen Food Institute. Rishi went on to lead the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) in U.S. and Canada. Following GFSI, Rishi led Regulatory and Industry Affairs at Amazon where he represented Amazon’s interests for human food, pet food, baby food and dietary supplements.
Tuesday December 9
Joint Government Relations Sustainability & Product Stewardship Council Special Session
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Session
Packaging EPR in Practice: Learnings from the Food Industry
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is rapidly shaping the future of sustainable packaging, and the food industry has emerged as a leader in identifying and responding to this trend. This session will examine how the food sector is navigating EPR and explore the practical lessons that can be adapted for the household and commercial products industry.
The panel of experts will feature perspectives from the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, ExxonMobil, the Consumer Brands Association’s SmartLabel, and Ramboll on advances in recycling technologies, consumer communication, and strategies to drive brand growth. Attendees will gain insights into real-world approaches, challenges, and successes in managing packaging responsibility, as well as actionable takeaways for applying similar initiatives in their own organizations.
This session is designed for professionals seeking to learn from the food industry’s leadership and explore ways to accelerate sustainable packaging and EPR initiatives across other sectors.
Moderator:
Michael Washburn, Principal, Washburn Consulting: Sustainability & Public Affairs
Speakers:
Rishi Banerjee, Senior Director of SmartLabel, Consumer Brands Association
Melanie Bower, Regulatory Development Manager at Plastics Circularity, ExxonMobil
Stefani Millie Grant, Associate Director of External Affairs, Unilever
Colin Preston, Managing Consultant, Ramboll