SPEAKER INTERVIEW

In the lead up to Adhesives & Bonding Expo and Foam Expo Europe 2021 we caught up with Jason Robinson, the CEO of Evoco. Jason works closely with bio-based materials and was kind enough to offer some insight into his role and what Evoco are up to in 2021. Hear Jason in person on 9 November in Stuttgart, Germany, where he will be speaking as part of the panel discussion entitled Bypassing Petrochemical Feedstock Shortages by Pushing the Boundaries of Bio-Content Material Development and Implementation at 13:10 CET. Register for your free pass to attend the conference here.

Can you briefly explain your role and how it relates to materials?

As Evoco’s CEO I’m not only running a rapidly growing company it is also my duty to raise awareness about the benefits of biomaterials throughout North America and Europe. We have developed a plant derived eco-foam that uses 6-10 times less CO₂ than the industry standard polyurethane foam. We have ensured there is an important performance aspect as our plant-based material matches or outperforms petroleum-based equivalents, making it the clear choice for the future of the footwear and extended foam industry. And it has already been taken up by major footwear brands like Keen, Kodiak and Timberland.

Why is it important to attend your conference session? What will the audience learn? 

The foam industry is in flux as it reacts to the growing market shift to sustainable alternatives spearheaded by the Green Consumer. We can no longer continue with business as usual. My conference session will expand on this market shift and explain why eco-foams can do the same job as petro-based foams while reducing carbon dioxide emissions substantially. We also offer better performance. The last topic will be biodegradability; Evoco’s materials are biodegradable, thereby diverting materials from landfill that would otherwise sit there for over 1,000 years.

What do you see as the biggest trend within the foam and adhesive supply chain?

The foam and adhesive supply chain is facing increased pressure from government and consumers globally to reduce its environmental impact. We cannot, with a clear conscience, continue along this same track. Many internationally recognized companies such as Nike, Adidas, and VF Corporation are launching more eco-friendly products and greening their supply chain in reaction to this trend. Materials producers who fail to embrace this important shift in the market risk being left behind permanently.

What are you most looking forward to about attending the event?

Foam Expo is a great place to meet and engage with companies, leaders, and technical experts. I look forward to making these connections and having lots of conversations on eco-foams, especially with those who may not yet be convinced but who are willing to look at it with an open mind. At Evoco, we have a compelling business case which we’re always excited to talk eco-foam.

If you could have one famous person (living or deceased) over to dinner, who would it be and why?

Elon Musk has a quote that has always stuck with me: “We’re running the most dangerous experiment in history right now, which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle before there is an environmental catastrophe.” I would love to hear from him how he looks at this problem and which areas he feels can make the most positive environmental difference.