Addressing Impacts of Plastic in Industrial Food Production - Part One
(April 9th, 2025)
Join Northeast Recycling Council, 5 Gyres, EarthDay.org and the Center for Biological Diversity for a discussion about the impacts of plastic throughout the industrial food system from production to packaging. Expert speakers will discuss how agricultural plastics affect health, biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and animal welfare. We will explore the issue in the context of animal agriculture, seafood, and crop production, and leave attendees with a range of proposed solutions from policy to education to procurement.
Kelley Dennings, Senior Campaigner, Center for Biological Diversity
Kelley Dennings is a Senior Campaigner with the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity where she develops and executes advocacy and outreach initiatives that address the connections between gender equity, endless growth and the climate and extinction crises. Prior to the Center, she worked as a local government recycling coordinator, then worked for NC’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources before moving to the nonprofit sector where she worked with Keep America Beautiful and the American Forest Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from N.C. State and a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida. Her research and case studies have been published in EcoWatch, Nonprofit Quarterly, Resource Recycling, Sustainability Times etc. and she is on the board of Shareable.
Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, Manager of End Plastics Initiative, EarthDay.org
Aminah has a proven track record of crafting compelling narratives, fostering stakeholder engagement, and driving sustainable initiatives. Before the fellowship, Aminah conducted both qualitative and quantitative field research and has worked with a number of organizations, including local governments, non-profits, schools, and private businesses, to advance their missions for a more positive impact. She has supported lab research on crop management, contributed to major reports, developed and implemented communications strategies, and coordinated events. When she is not working, Aminah enjoys gardening and watching movies and TV shows.
Lisa Erdle PhD, Director of Science & Innovation, 5 Gyres
Lisa Erdle is a microplastics researcher and Director of Science & Innovation at The 5 Gyres Institute, a Southern California-based NGO aiming to end plastic pollution. With a focus on science-driven solutions, Lisa research bridges science and policy to address plastic pollution in diverse sectors, including textiles and agriculture. Her PhD research at the University of Toronto focused on microfiber pollution, exploring their sources, environmental fate, impacts, and mitigation strategies.
Currently, Lisa’s work focuses on innovation and vetting solutions. In the agricultural sector, Lisa’s work investigates the fate of biodegradable plastics in realistic environmental conditions, informing policy in the US and around the world. An advocate for global solutions, Lisa is a member of the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, advising global treaty negotiations on plastic pollution.
Julie Teel Simmonds, Senior Counsel, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity
Julie Teel Simmonds is a Senior Attorney/Senior Counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Oceans Program. She works to protect people, marine biodiversity, and ecosystems from a wide range of threats, including plastic and petrochemical pollution, vessel traffic and noise, fishing gear entanglements, oil and gas development, and climate change. Julie received her law degree from New York University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in conservation and resource studies (with a focus on marine ecology and pollution) from the University of California at Berkeley. Julie has also worked at the University of Colorado Law School, the Office of the San Diego City Attorney, Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office, and the Environmental Law Institute. She is a member of the California, Colorado and D.C. bars and currently lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, two middle schoolers, and three pets.
