Events & Conferences

Upcoming Workshop

Reducing Marine Debris at the Source: Embracing Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic Food Packaging

Roundtable Workshop and Laboratory Tours

March 17, 2026

9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Wells Conference Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME

~ Virtual Connection Available via Zoom for the morning session from 9:30am – 12:00pm ~

Workshop agenda

9:30 – 10:00 Refreshments and Welcome Introductions

10:00 – 11:30 ReuseME (Research Track 4) Pilot Programs 

  • 10:00 – 10:30 Overview of ReuseME Take Out Container Pilot Program 
  • 10:30 – 11:00 Presentations from Pilot Programs Across the US
  • 11:00 – 11:30 Round Table & Small Group Discussions: Key Insights and Learnings for Scaling Reusable Take Out Programs 

11:30 – 12:00 Updates from Research Tracks 1, 2 and 3 

  • 11:30 – 11:40 Non-plastic Food Packaging and Film Materials Produced from Wood and Seaweed
  • 11:40 – 11:50 Thermally Insulating Packaging Materials
  • 11:50 – 12:00 Improved Molded Pulp Products (MPP) for Food Packaging using Wood and Chitin from Lobster Shells

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch provided

1:00 – 3:00 Interactive Tours of University of Maine Laboratories: Show and tell of biodegradable food packaging materials development initiatives

Register here! OR scan the QR Code given below

Upcoming Symposium

Reducing Marine Debris at the Source: Finding Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic

A Research-to-Application Symposium

September 21-22, 2026

Wells Conference Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME

University of Maine researchers and Maine Sea Grant partners will present findings and prototypes developed with support from a NOAA National Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Grant. Guest speakers will be invited to share alternative products, reusable food packaging systems, and case studies in developing alternatives to single-use plastic using biodegradable materials from forests, oceans, and agricultural bi-products.

More updates coming soon!