MSU School of Packaging announces commitment to NextCycle Michigan as a partner
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EmailMSU School of Packaging to join partners committed to recovery challenge in Michigan.
EAST LANSING, MICH. — The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging announced its commitment as a NextCycle Michigan Partner to maximize opportunities for developing recycling, recovery, and sustainable businesses in Michigan.
“We are very pleased to partner with NextCycle Michigan,” said Matt Daum, School of Packaging director. “Our commitment to solving recycling challenges using data-driven analysis and purposeful cooperation across value chain constituents, are approaches that align well between the School of Packaging and NextCycle Michigan. We believe strongly in applying our expertise to make a difference right here in our own geographical region, and I’m hopeful the approach and solutions developed will become a model that scales nationally.”
New in 2021, NextCycle Michigan, a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) initiative, is an idea incubator that provides technical support, expert mentoring, and resources. This program offers an innovative pathway to identify and incubate ideas that will grow Michigan’s recycled materials supply chain and end markets.
As a NextCycle Michigan Partner, the MSU School of Packaging is committed to sustaining the program and increasing opportunities through new projects, partnerships, collaborative efforts, or direct support for NextCycle Michigan Innovation Challenges.
The MSU School of Packaging was the first school of packaging in the United States and is the largest packaging program in the country. It is the only school that offers a Ph.D. packaging degree. Key to the future success of the MSU School of Packaging is an overriding commitment to innovation, sustainability, and stewardship.
Each year, Michigan landfills 6.8 million tons of material that could be recycled. Recovering 2.7 million tons of that material could generate $9 billion in potential annual labor income and $33 billion in potential economic output, elevating Michigan’s diversion rate to 45%.
Currently, Michigan has gaps at every link in the recycling supply chain – access to recycling, comprehensive collection and sorting, robust end markets and material processing, and innovative recycled-content manufacturing.
NextCycle Michigan is funded through state funds and private and non-profit partnership investments identified through the Renew Partnership Portal. Funding partners sustain the program and increase opportunities for statewide recovery projects.
More information on NextCycle Michigan can be found on the website www.NextCycleMichigan.com.
