Organised by Food Regulatory Special Interest Group SIG
The webinar will cover the regulatory challenges in UK - current and upcoming legislation on food packaging and the challenges of innovation on food packaging.
Topics will be:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
- UK packaging EPR reform
- Food contact materials
- Recycling polymers
- Challenges of food packaging innovation from an industry perspective
- Opportunities
What participants will learn about: Regulatory requirements of food packaging, the developments on EPR, and the challenges of food packaging innovation
Who should attend: IFST members, non-members, regulatory, technical, packaging technologists
Chair: Mel Bulger, Head of Regulatory Affairs UK & Ireland, Danone 
Melanie Bulger (MSc and MIFST) is Head of Regulatory Affairs for Danone UK & Ireland. Prior to this, Melanie worked in the food supplement, food for special purposes and general food industry, (The Bountiful Company, Clasado Biosciences, Mead Johnson Nutrition and a2 Milk) both in nutrition and regulatory affairs. Melanie is representing the IFST as Chair of the Food Regulatory Special Interest Group.
Speaker: Nadiya Catel-Arutyunova, Sustainability Policy Adviser, BRC 
Nadiya Catel-Arutyunova has joined the British Retail Consortium (BRC) as a Sustainability Policy Adviser, leading on the circular economy issues such as sustainable management of resources, waste, and packaging and the wider products sustainability agenda. Nadiya has previously worked as a Public Affairs and Policy Officer at Veolia in London and Brussels, and as a Policy Assistant at HM Government of Gibraltar Representation to the EU. Nadiya started her career with internships at POLITICO EU and the European Parliament.
Speaker: Mike Swain, Director/Consultant, Pack IDS 
Independent packaging consultant specialising in sustainable packaging innovation and development. Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and Leadership Team member of the IOM3 Packaging Group. An accredited packaging professional who is passionate about packaging, the circular economy and driving forward both the professional and academic activities for packaging.
Currently the Managing Director of Pack IDS Ltd, an independent packaging consultancy with a global client base, founded in 2017. 30 years experience in packaging Innovation, R&D, Marketing and Manufacturing for international and global branded packaged consumer goods companies, such as P&G, Unilever, Diageo, Tata and Britvic and a track record of consistent delivery of commercially successful, award winning products. A member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining since 1987, elected a Fellow in 2016 and Exec Board member of the IOM3 Packaging Group since 2020. Industry award winner and a published author of blogs and periodicals, with several patents pending and numerous original creative designs. Involved with biotechnology start-ups, academic research and a visiting lecturer in packaging.
Live Q&A: Mel Bulger, Nadiya Catel-Arutyunova and Mike Swain