Keynote
PVC Myth-Busting: Exposing the Remarkable Reality that has Been Hidden from Us
Chris DeArmitt, Ph.D., FRSC, FIMMM, CChem, President, Phantom Plastics LLC
Society faces tough challenges, and the only way to solve them is to make wise choices based on accurate data. At present, however, society is making poor choices in medical, food packaging, construction, infrastructure, and many other sectors due to our reliance on faulty information propagated online. An extensive review of the peer-reviewed evidence shows that alternative materials are less safe and less green than plastics – the true influence of PVC and other plastics reveals the path to a brighter future.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Chris DeArmitt is considered one of the top plastic materials experts and problem-solvers in the world. A luminary in the fields of polymers, functional fillers, innovation, and the environmental aspects of plastics, the Fortune 100 come to him for breakthrough solutions to complex technical problems. Chris has worked with Hewlett Packard, Apple, Proctor & Gamble, iRobot, Eaton, Total, and Disney, to name a few, and solved a serious production issue that had plagued BASF for 30 years and cost them millions. Dr. DeArmitt has received six open innovation cash prizes, placing him among the top 0.01% of innovators. He is an award-winning speaker educating global audiences on plastic materials science and their environmental benefits. Dr. DeArmitt has innumerable publications and patents in addition to the books “Innovation Abyss” and “The Plastics Paradox”, the first comprehensive, scientific overview of plastics materials and their impact on the environment, covering all topics including waste, litter, microplastics, degradation, ocean plastics, and more. He was an expert witness in a class-action lawsuit related to Marlex mesh plastic implants, helping thousands of women get settlements. Media appearances include CBS 60 Minutes, BBC, and Sky News. Dr. DeArmitt is Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a Chartered Chemist.