Overview

SHAPE is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines Type 2 proposal submitted by the Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSU Research Foundation), in partnership with Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Resource Recycling Systems (NextCycle Michigan), and many other collaborators. The Great Lakes Region is already an economic powerhouse representing some of the largest paper and plastics manufacturers. The SHAPE program will have a profound environmental, economic and social equity impact on the Great Lakes Region as it becomes a global leader in the packaging circular economy.

  • Drive economic growth across the Great Lakes Region through packaging waste reduction.

  • A world without paper and plastic packaging waste.

    • Position the Great Lakes Region as a regional model for sustainability.

    • Create new and reclaimable materials that meet packaging manufacturing needs.

    • Create economic opportunities by accelerating innovation, job creation, capital investment and scale up.

    • Catalyze collaboration across industry, government, higher education, and non-profits to tackle waste challenges.

Intellectual Merit

Solve Packaging Waste Pollution

SHAPE aims to solve packaging waste pollution through a total transformation of existing practices via convergence and coordination of diverse stakeholder groups.

Invent Sustainable Packaging

SHAPE will combine the creation and development of new cost-effective sustainable structural matrices, polymers, compatibilizers, and package designs with collection, sorting, recycling, and upcycling of used packaging.

Repurpose Waste Streams

SHAPE will help repurpose industrial and agricultural bio-based wastes to generate robust local supplies of sustainable manufacturing feedstocks.

Broader Impacts

  • SHAPE will leverage existing industrial and academic core facilities in a Packaging Circular Economy Factory of the Future to house real world research and translational activities and provide provide a focus for industrial research and development.

  • SHAPE will connect communities in cross-sector partnerships to serve as test beds to reiteratively optimize and validate the effective operation of the Engine’s innovation and translational ecosystem

  • SHAPE will expand to drive equal opportunity to participate in economic growth across the Great Lakes Region through integrated supply chains based on many decentralized waste management locations with a focus on creating jobs and opportunities for underemployed workers.

  • SHAPE prioritizes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) as fundamental to success in the sustainable packaging economy. Every collaborator and employee follows DEIA best practices, and projects are intentionally designed with DEIA principles. Embracing diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility enhances team performance and generates solutions benefiting all.

Functions

Use-Inspired Research

Develop innovative solutions that address the existing challenges in sustainable packaging. These solutions will enable sustainable packaging materials to effectively fulfill the requirements of both customers and manufacturers, while also enabling them to compete in the marketplace alongside conventional materials.

Practical Application of Innovations

Focus on developing technologies and solutions for the packaging circular economy value chain. This will involve a process of co-evolution within the marketplace, institutional, and social communities. To ensure fairness and inclusivity, SHAPE will actively reach out to diverse communities. The goal is to ensure that the developed technologies not only promote equitable outcomes but also involve community members who may not traditionally be part of the innovation process.

Workplace Development

Actively support the establishment of a thriving packaging circular economy that generates well-paid and meaningful employment opportunities. The aim is to meet or surpass the targets outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which advocates for sustained and inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for everyone.

Ecosystem Creation

Serve as a gateway for corporations in search of innovative solutions to the challenges they face. By doing so, it intends to establish a sustainable business ecosystem that fosters the growth and success of both entrepreneurs and multinational corporations.

Major Partners

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Brad Fingland
Chief Executive Officer, SHAPE
Principal Investigator, MSU Research Foundation

Yael Vodovotz
OSU Site Director, SHAPE
Co-Principal Investigator, The Ohio State University

Laurent Matuana
MSU Site Director, SHAPE
Co-Principal Investigator, Michigan State University

JD Lindeberg
Co-Principal Investigator, SHAPE
President, RRS

Angela Hall
Chief Human Asset Officer, SHAPE
Co-Principal Investigator, Michigan State University

Evaluators
W.E. Upjohn Institute
Jill Miller, LUNUM
Art Johnson, Infinity Systems
Joan Pasley, Horizon Research

GOVERNANCE BOARD

Brad Fingland
Chief Executive Officer, SHAPE
Principal Investigator, MSU Research Foundation

David Washburn
Executive Director, MSU Research Foundation

Kay Connelly
Associate Vice President of Research, Michigan State University

Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska
Vice President for Knowledge Enterprise, The Ohio State University

Hal Howell
Vice President of Sales, Amcor

JD Lindenberg
President, Resource Recycling Systems, Inc.

Joel Schultz
Chief Executive Officer, Sault Tribe Incorporated

Mark Fisher
President, Council of the Great Lakes Region

Minal Mistry
Systems Thinking & Wellbeing, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality

Hanny Rivera
Associate Director of Business Development, Ginkgo Bioworks

Let’s Collaborate

For more information about the Great Lakes Sustainability Hub for an Alternative Packaging Ecosystem (SHAPE), or to connect and collaborate with us, please fill out this form and our team will reach out.