Electronics manufacturers are seeing a rapid expansion in the number and scope of regulations around product recycling, packaging and batteries, such as Europe’s Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) initiative. Large retailers such as Tesco and Wal-Mart are weighing in, too, asking manufacturers to report detailed information about their products and packaging. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to severe consequences, including costly fees, competitive disadvantage, or brand damage. Moreover, the cost, time, and complexity of meeting these many requirements can be a burden for many companies. 

The good news is that companies are overcoming these challenges through compliance strategies that help gain competitive advantage while reducing costs and risks. 

Join John Davies, GreenBiz Group Vice-President and Senior Analyst, in a conversation with Thomas Knopp, Project Manager, Environmental Affairs from Panasonic Europe, David Perchard, Founder and CEO of Perchards, Raphael Veit, VP Research of Perchards, and Karin Fent, Solution Director, Recycling & Reuse, SAP, to learn about the changing global regulations around product recycling and reuse and how companies are mitigating risks and driving business benefits by deploying an integrated recycling administration solution. 

In this free, hour-long webcast, you will learn: 

  • the current global regulatory landscape for recycling and reuse, including packaging, electronic equipment and batteries, the risks manufacturers face when they fail to take a strategic approach to product compliance, and the benefits awaiting those that do.
  • how Panasonic is working with SAP to ensure compliance with worldwide legislation on packaging, batteries and WEEE and comply with retailer mandates while reducing recycling fees and operational costs.
  • how the SAP Recycling Administration solution is being used by more than 100 major corporations to manage these complex issues.
Register today and you’ll receive a complimentary 27 page white paper that details the key global trends and regulations around end-of-life.
 
Speakers:

David Perchard, Founder and CEO, Perchards

David Perchard is Managing Director of Perchards Ltd, a consultancy with offices in the UK and Thailand. He began his career with the Food Manufacturers Federation in the UK and then worked for eight years with Cadbury Schweppes before co-founding Perchards in 1987. He has been involved with waste management policy ever since the European Commission started taking an interest in the environmental impact of packaging in 1974. Perchards monitors and assesses legislative developments across the world relating to extended producer responsibility and eco-design for packaging, electrical and electronic equipment and batteries. The consultancy has been engaged by more than 360 companies or organisations based in 35 countries on every continent, and has carried out studies for the European Commission, the World Bank group and for government bodies in Australia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia and the UK.
 
Raphael Veit, VP Research, Perchards

Raphael Veit has worked with Perchards in 1998 and currently manages Perchards’ WEEE and batteries consulting and information service, producing analytical reports on legislative developments and compliance markets in Europe and Asia. Prior to Perchards, Raphael worked on packaging policy issues at the Thai Ministry of Industry and the Asian Packaging Federation, after starting his career dealing with the 1991 German packaging ordinance at skin care company Beiersdorf AG.

Thomas Knopp, Project Manager, Environmental Affairs, Panasonic Europe

Thomas Knopp is currently responsible for Environmental Affairs at Panasonic Europe. Previously, he was Panasonic’s Pan-European SAP REA Project Manager (the European Implementation of WEEE, green dot, packaging and copyright) and was involved in many operational areas including Customer Relationship Management, Quality Management, Content Management, and Project Management Standardization, Prior to Panasonic Thomas had extensive experience in other industries with Deutsche Bank, ESSO, IBM and E.ON.

Karin Fent, Solution Director, Recycling & Reuse, SAP

Karin is a Solution Director Recycling & Reuse, based out of SAP's Headquarters in Walldorf/Germany. Her focus are environmental regulations for products, as recycling and product end-of-life. Karin has been with SAP for 10 years in different sales roles in Consumer Industries, Retail and High Tech. Prior in her career she drove strategic projects in a consumer health company. She holds an MBA from FernUniversitaet Hagen.
 
Moderator: 

John Davies, VP, Senior Analyst, GreenBiz Group 

John heads up research efforts for GreenBiz Group and leads the GreenBiz Executive Network, a member-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability professionals. The network is made up of senior executives from $1B+ corporations working together to share best practices and lessons learned for implementing sustainable development programs. John is an experienced entrepreneur and innovator who has applied his business and management skills to launching start-ups as well as improving the operations of existing businesses. John is a frequent keynote speaker at international events, is well-known for his supply chain and sustainability expertise and is the author of numerous articles in business, industry, and educational publications. John received his BA from SUNY at Fredonia and his MA from the University of Delaware.
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