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Green Lithuania: Best Practices for Plastic Waste Management

10-11 December, 2024 Vilnius, Lithuania
Register

Green Lithuania: Best Practices for Plastic Waste Management

10-11 December, 2024 Vilnius, Lithuania
Register

The “Green Lithuania: Best Practices for Plastic Waste Management” conference is a unique opportunity to connect with policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management practices.

Agenda

  • 9:00 - 9:10 EET

Welcoming remarks

Simonas Gentvilas, Minister of Environment of Lithuania

  • 9:10 – 9:25 EET

Global Policies and Approaches in the Waste Management Sector and the Role of the OECD

Jo Tyndall, Director for the Environment Directorate, OECD

  • 9:30-9:45 EET

EU Commitments and incentives for waste regulation and reducing plastic pollution

Wolfgang Trunk (PhD), DG ENVIRONMENT, European Commission

  • 9:50-10:05 EET

Waste management policies and Deposit refund system – success story of Lithuania

Vilma Slavinskienė, Head of Waste Policy Group, Ministry of Environment of Lithuania

  • 10:10-10:40 EET

Discussion

  • 10:40-11:00 EET

Coffee break

  • 11:00-11:15 EET

Moldova approach towards plastic reduction

Justina Grigaravičienė, EU HL Advisor to the Ministry of Environment of Moldova

  • 11:20-11:45 EET

International cooperation on waste management practices and possibilities

Dainius Kazlauskas, Deputy Director of Environmental Project Management Agency; Aušra Semaškienė, Ambassador-at-Large for Climate and Security Policy for Lithuania

  • 11:45-12:00 EET

Reflections of the first day

  • 12:00 – 13:30 EET

Lunch

  • 13:30 EET

Field visit to premises of the Administrator of Deposit Refund System PI "Užstato Sistemos Administratorius" (USAD) and GreenTech Baltic

  • End of day 1
  • 9:00 - 9:10 EET

Opening remarks for the second day

Gvidas Dargužas, Director of Environmental Project Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of Lithuania

  • 9:10 – 10:00 EET

Lithuania’s deposit refund system – from establishment of the Administrator to the changing of the behaviour of the citizens

Saulius Galadauskas, President of Lithuanian Brewers Association; Gintaras Varnas, Director of PI Administrator of Deposit Refund System

  • 10:00-10:15 EET

Accelerating PET Circularity: Innovative solutions and collaboration in plastics value chain

Justina Volček, PET Procurement and Sales, NEO GROUP

  • 10:15-10:30 EET

Packaging Waste Management in Lithuania: Lessons Learned and Goals Still Need to be Achieved

Almontas Kybartas, Director General of The Green Dot (PI Žaliasis taškas)

  • 10:30-10:45 EET

Coffee break

  • 10:45-11:00 EET

Together Towards Zero

Dainius Smailys, Director for Corporate Affairs for Baltics, CarlsbergGroup

  • 11:00-11:15 EET

Turning waste into resources

Constantin Damov, Chairman of the GreenGroup

  • 11:15-11:30 EET

The great Waste transformation: PPWR's impact of packaging as a raw material source

Jaunius Ramoška, Accredited RecyClass Auditor Worldwide, ECOGRANT

  • 11:30-11:50 EET

Discussion, Q&A

  • 11:50-12:00 EET

Reflections and closing of the Conference

  • 12:00 – 13:30 EET

Lunch

  • 13:30 EET

Field visit to Vilnius Combined Heat and Power Plant (Vilnius CHP)

  • End of day 2

Moderator

Rugilė Matusevičiūtė

About

Rugilė Matusevičiūtė is a sustainability educator and journalist with a career of over ten years in climate and sustainability communications. She is a European Climate Pact Ambassador as well as a member of Oxford Universities Climate Journalist programme. Author of multiple TV, radio, podcast shows and documentaries about sustainability, Rugilė is also the organizer of the biggest sustainability conference in Lithuania “Momentum”. Rugilė has been awarded for her research in environmental journalism by Vytautas Magnus University, where she also worked as a guest lecturer at only 27 years old.

Speakers

Jo Tyndall

Director of the Environment Directorate at the OECD

About

Jo oversees the implementation of the Directorate’s program of work, addressing a wide range of environmental issues, including: green growth, climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem quality, eco-innovation, circular economy, and resource efficiency.

Simonas Gentvilas

Minister of Environment of Lithuania

About

Plastic waste transcends borders, ecosystems, and generations, posing a global challenge that demands urgent and united action. Its harmful impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health underscore the critical need for innovative solutions and strengthened international cooperation. Through collaborative efforts, we contribute to global objectives, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the European Union’s ambitious vision to make all packaging recyclable by 2030.

Vilma Slavinskienė

Head of Waste Policy Group, Ministry of Environment of Lithuania

About

Being a sustainable, responsible, and zero-waste society - endless gratitude from the Planet and future generations.

Justina Grigaravičienė

EU High-Level Adviser on Environment and Green Transition

About

Pollution, particularly plastic waste, is a pressing challenge requiring urgent solutions at national, regional, and global levels. The European Union, as a leader in the regional and global political environmental agenda, continues to provide consistent support to partner countries and urges the adoption of pollution prevention standards rooted in sustainable socio-economic development, enabling a green transition and circular economy that benefit both the environment and businesses while ensuring the right to clean and healthy living conditions for citizens. Moldova, as an EU candidate country, is integrating the principles of the European Green Deal into its strategic documents and introducing practical solutions to address pollution and promote the circular economy, such as implementation of a deposit-refund system for certain packaging waste. I am pleased that Moldova has drawn inspiration from Lithuania’s globally recognized success in establishing this system and plans for it to become operational from 2027

Raminta Radavičienė

Director General, The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK)

Raminta Radavičienė

Director General, The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK)

Constantin Damov

Chairman of the GREENGROUP

Constantin Damov

Chairman of the GREENGROUP
green-tech-global.com Circularity is not a fashion, is the base of living a sustainable life. Plastic circularity is a current practice in Lithuania. Greentech Baltic is a proven example. “No PET left behind” is the way we are tackling the plastic recycling challenge. For any recycled plastic material there is a multitude of applications that have a commercial sense and profitable result. USAD / Greentech Baltic can stand as probably the most efficient circular model based on DRS system in the whole world. Proximity creates almost “zero emission” model and probably highest rate of recovery a complete circular movement.

Gintaras Varnas

Director of the non-profit organisation Public Institution  "Užstato Sistemos Administratorius" (USAD)

About

USAD is established by Lithuanian beverage producers, importers and sellers, which manages the deposit-refund system activities in the country. Lithuania Deposit Refund System (DRS) was launched in year 2016. It delivers stable and high return rates of 90+% every year since introduction. DRS is undoubtedly most efficient solution for beverages packages collection and recycling.

Saulius Galadauskas

President of Lithuanian Brewers Association and Chairman of the Board of USAD

About

Upon initiative of Lithuanian brewers an Obligatory Deposit System for reffilable glass bottles were introduced in 2006, followed by DRS for one-way beverages packaging from 2016.

Justina Volček

PET Procurement and Sales

About

NEO GROUP is among the largest European producers of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), primarily used for food and beverage packaging. Approximately 90% of its production is sold across EU countries, with a strong presence in markets like Poland, Scandinavia, and the Baltic States. Employing a dedicated team of 200 professionals, NEO GROUP continues to set industry standards for quality and innovation: in 2022 company earned a patent for a groundbreaking technology developed by its talented team of engineers, technologists, and scientists. This innovation supports switch from fossil-based feedstock to post-consumer recycled PET in a unique and sustainable way.
#PET resin #Sustainability #Advanced recycling #chemical recycling #Waste Minimization #Circularity
neogroup.eu

Dainius Smailys

Director Corporate Affairs Carlsberg Baltic and Švyturys-Utenos alus

About

Carlsberg Group will continue delivering high on Sustainability program „Together Towards ZERO and Beyond“ commitments, including target of ZERO carbon emissions at breweries by 2030 and net ZERO carbon emissions across our entire value chain by 2040. Programme is actively implemented in Lithuania, where Utenos brewery production working with ZERO carbon emissions since 2019
dainius.smailys@svyturys.lt
www.svyturys.eu

Jaunius Ramoška

Accredited RecyClass Auditor Worldwide

About

ECOGRANT, MB specializes in providing professional services to plastic waste collection, sorting, recycling, and manufacturing companies. Accredited with the EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard and collaborating closely with RecyClass, it helps businesses comply with new EU regulations, adopt advanced technologies, and improve their market competitiveness.
certification@ecogrant.eu
www.ecogrant.eu
linkedin.com/company/ecogrant-eu/

Almontas Kybartas

General Manager of  “The Green Dot”

About

„Žaliasis taškas” is the first packaging waste management organization established in Lithuania, operating for 22 years. For more than two decades, we have been developing a system aimed at achieving maximum efficiency and the greatest possible benefit for the environment. While we have undoubtedly accomplished a lot — as the numbers clearly show — we still face challenges that, today, are likely being addressed by all of Europe.
Almontas.kybartas@ztl.lt
zaliasistaskas.lt

Contact person

Why you need to attend the event

The event will facilitate in-depth discussions on international agreements, regulatory requirements, and pioneering solutions in the field of plastic waste management. Attendees will gain valuable insights into global trends, exchange best practices, and explore innovative approaches to addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges.

A key highlight will be Lithuania’s renowned Deposit Refund System for single-use beverage packaging, a proven success story that has been shared with EU Neighbourhood countries through TAIEX-NEAR and bilateral programs. In addition, the conference will showcase cutting-edge plastic recycling solutions developed by forward-thinking Lithuanian businesses, offering practical examples of sustainable innovation.

Join us to be inspired, share expertise, and contribute to shaping a greener future!

Register

Neringa Hotel

Gedimino pr. 23

Vilnius, 01103 Vilniaus m. sav.

(0-5) 212 2288

Green Lithuania Conference

The “Green Lithuania: Best Practices for Plastic Waste Management” conference is a unique opportunity to connect with policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management practices.

Contact us
  • +370 602 83 718
  • rasa.cernakauskiene@apva.lt