03.28.22
On Friday, March 25, the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory hosted a virtual event to discuss how the orbiting platform can facilitate and support plastics alternatives research and development. The event included an all-female panel that addressed advancements and opportunities in plastics alternatives, including Stefanie Spodek, senior vice president of strategic partnerships, Estée Lauder.
The session also featured finalist highlights from the ISS National Laboratory Sustainability Challenge: Beyond Plastics, of which Estée Lauder is a partner.
Announced in 2021, the Sustainability Challenge seeks novel plastics alternatives. Researchers were invited to propose potential projects that could utilize the unique environment of the space station to investigate environmentally responsible biopolymers or plastics alternatives.
The online event provided a forum to address how the microgravity environment of the orbiting laboratory can open pathways for research and development not possible in ground-based settings, leading to advancements that improve our planet.
The all-female panel of industry leaders and experts and was moderated by Ashley Strickland, science and space writer for CNN. In addition to Spodek, the panel included Christine Kretz, vice president, innovation programs and partnerships, ISS National Lab; Erin McCluskey, managing director, Ocean Plastics Leadership Network; and Karen Hagerman, director, Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
“At Estee Lauder, we believe in innovation with a focus on sustainability. And as a leader in the beauty industry it is our responsibility to push boundaries of innovation,” said Spodek.
Plastic alternatives are “important to the whole planet not just Estée Lauder,” she said.
According to Spodek, Estée Lauder hopes that the selective proposal performs successfully and yields positive results with tangible benefits for the entire planet.
She noted, that the development of a "broad-use biopolymer or plastic alternative that can be translated to many industries including the beauty industry but also beyond."
“Science and innovation are huge part of who and what we are as a brand. And it goes back to our founder, Mrs. Estee Lauder, who was a true trailblazer and someone who always pushed the boundaries of innovation," Spodek said during the panel discussion, which you can watch below.
Prior to the virtual event, the public was also encouraged to go to the ISS National Lab’s YouTube channel to select their favorite pitch video from initial proposed concepts.
• Reduce plastic waste introduction into the environment
• Seek alternative feedstocks and pathways for polymer production beyond petrochemicals
• Reduce virgin plastic manufacturing
Sustainability Challenge flight projects seek to demonstrate applied research and development, technology readiness level (TRL) maturation, and technology demonstration of technology areas that reimagine the design, production, use, and upcycling of polymers. ISS is seeking technology projects for which space-based testing can uniquely enable technical solutions to known or new science and engineering challenges and the creation of new products and business opportunities.
Finalists may have the opportunity to launch flight projects to the orbiting laboratory under the sponsorship of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the ISS National Lab, announced the sustainability challenge in partnership with ELC last year.
Building on the brand’s long-term sustainability goals, Estée Lauder said it intends to provide funding to support one or more flight projects awarded through this Sustainability Challenge.
The Sustainability Challenge sought concepts that leverage the ISS National Lab for applied research and technology demonstration or maturation. Concepts could be in existing or emerging technology areas that reduce plastic waste and consumption of water, energy, and/or petrochemical feedstocks in our environment. Concepts that promise to address either the virgin production of polymers through sustainable feedstocks or the end-of-life of polymers to be biodegraded or upcycled are desired. Ideal concepts will address both through a whole-of-life design approach that accounts for cradle-to-grave (biodegrading) or cradle-to-cradle (recycling or upcycling) approaches, according to ISS National Laboratories.
The session also featured finalist highlights from the ISS National Laboratory Sustainability Challenge: Beyond Plastics, of which Estée Lauder is a partner.
Announced in 2021, the Sustainability Challenge seeks novel plastics alternatives. Researchers were invited to propose potential projects that could utilize the unique environment of the space station to investigate environmentally responsible biopolymers or plastics alternatives.
The online event provided a forum to address how the microgravity environment of the orbiting laboratory can open pathways for research and development not possible in ground-based settings, leading to advancements that improve our planet.
The all-female panel of industry leaders and experts and was moderated by Ashley Strickland, science and space writer for CNN. In addition to Spodek, the panel included Christine Kretz, vice president, innovation programs and partnerships, ISS National Lab; Erin McCluskey, managing director, Ocean Plastics Leadership Network; and Karen Hagerman, director, Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
“At Estee Lauder, we believe in innovation with a focus on sustainability. And as a leader in the beauty industry it is our responsibility to push boundaries of innovation,” said Spodek.
Plastic alternatives are “important to the whole planet not just Estée Lauder,” she said.
According to Spodek, Estée Lauder hopes that the selective proposal performs successfully and yields positive results with tangible benefits for the entire planet.
She noted, that the development of a "broad-use biopolymer or plastic alternative that can be translated to many industries including the beauty industry but also beyond."
“Science and innovation are huge part of who and what we are as a brand. And it goes back to our founder, Mrs. Estee Lauder, who was a true trailblazer and someone who always pushed the boundaries of innovation," Spodek said during the panel discussion, which you can watch below.
Prior to the virtual event, the public was also encouraged to go to the ISS National Lab’s YouTube channel to select their favorite pitch video from initial proposed concepts.
Sustainability Challenge
The Sustainability Challenge seeks to eliminate plastic waste in the environment and reduce the consumption of water, energy, and petrochemical feedstocks. The objective of the Sustainability Challenge is to use the unique ISS environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that have potential to:• Reduce plastic waste introduction into the environment
• Seek alternative feedstocks and pathways for polymer production beyond petrochemicals
• Reduce virgin plastic manufacturing
Sustainability Challenge flight projects seek to demonstrate applied research and development, technology readiness level (TRL) maturation, and technology demonstration of technology areas that reimagine the design, production, use, and upcycling of polymers. ISS is seeking technology projects for which space-based testing can uniquely enable technical solutions to known or new science and engineering challenges and the creation of new products and business opportunities.
Finalists may have the opportunity to launch flight projects to the orbiting laboratory under the sponsorship of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the ISS National Lab, announced the sustainability challenge in partnership with ELC last year.
Building on the brand’s long-term sustainability goals, Estée Lauder said it intends to provide funding to support one or more flight projects awarded through this Sustainability Challenge.
The Sustainability Challenge sought concepts that leverage the ISS National Lab for applied research and technology demonstration or maturation. Concepts could be in existing or emerging technology areas that reduce plastic waste and consumption of water, energy, and/or petrochemical feedstocks in our environment. Concepts that promise to address either the virgin production of polymers through sustainable feedstocks or the end-of-life of polymers to be biodegraded or upcycled are desired. Ideal concepts will address both through a whole-of-life design approach that accounts for cradle-to-grave (biodegrading) or cradle-to-cradle (recycling or upcycling) approaches, according to ISS National Laboratories.