In an effort to reduce energy and waste manufacturing expenses, several organizations have teamed up to host a summit dedicated to forming zero-waste partnerships among businesses across Michigan.
The Reuse Opportunity Collaboratory, to be held Sept. 30 at General Motors Co.’s world headquarters at the Renaissance Center, will allow participating suppliers to discuss procurement or partnership prospects for byproduct materials reuse with other companies including Aevitas Specialty Services Corp., Alpha Resins, DOW Materials, GM, Marathon Petroleum, and Walker-Miller Energy.
“ROC Detroit is a groundbreaking effort to support sustainable manufacturing while growing Michigan’s economy and creating jobs,” says Michael A. Finny, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., one of the organizations behind the new initiative. “The ROC Detroit summit will help Michigan’s small and growing companies connect with General Motors and other partner companies’ waste management officials to find ways to reuse waste byproduct materials to their fullest potential.”
Participating suppliers may include any manufacturing-based company or a waste management company interested in zero-waste production, including energy companies, manufacturers, and waste reduction and recycling businesses.
“General Motors is enthusiastic about this partnership because we believe that waste is simply a resource out of place,” says John Bradburn, GM’s global manager of waste reduction. “This event will create by-product synergies by repurposing one company’s trash into another’s primary resource.”
The priority application deadline is Sept. 16. All applicants will be notified by Sept. 23 regarding participation eligibility. Applications received after the deadline will be considered if there are needs that have not been filled by the initial applicants.
To read about the byproduct materials needs and application information, click here.
