Innovation in the food sector offers opportunities for the life sciences sector, where the need for sterile, stable, and environmentally responsible packaging is growing. Advances such as bio‑nanocomposite coatings, antimicrobial films, and improved barrier materials have clear relevance for pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical devices. Circular‑economy business models, driven by regulatory pressure and consumer expectations, can reduce waste and lifecycle impact for life science companies.

This workshop will explore the drivers and explore how cross‑sector innovation can accelerate the development of sustainable products in the health and life science sector and how advances in bio-inspired materials can be used in the food sector. Connecting the Food and Drink Sector to the Health and Life Science Sector

Join us for an exciting in-person event where we bring together the food and drink industry and the health and life sciences community. It’s a great chance to network, share ideas, and explore how these two dynamic sectors can collaborate for a healthier future. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow!

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P R O G R A M M E

09.30 Registration

10.00 Welcome and introduction

10.10 Why the NHS needs innovation in sustainable materials

– Logan Ryan, Health Innovation West of England

10.40 The regulatory driver to the adoption of sustainable materials

– Richard Marriot, Ecosurety

11.10 Refreshment break

11.30 Plastic free packaging from seaweed

– Kim Lees, Notpla

12.00 The big ask of new sustainable materials and packaging for the food sector

– Charlotte Keenan, Yeo Valley

12.30 Q&A, ask the panel and next steps

13.00 Networking lunch

14.00 Close

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Kim Lees : Senior National Account Manager

visit notpla.com | follow us @notpla

Kim Lees at Notpla: Kim has spent the last nine years in the packaging industry, specializing in sustainable packaging, though she has experience with all materials. Kim has worked with Notpla for nearly 2 years, focusing on innovation and plastic free solutions without greenwashing and offering advice on how businesses can adopt truly sustainable options.

Kim has experience working alongside waste collectors to build a network and solution enabling consumers to implement the best end of life solution for packaging.

Notpla won the Earthshot Prize in 2022. They focus on researching and engineering materials to solve the problem of plastics. They engineer packaging that will naturally disappear in nature, the core material for this is seaweed. They have a portfolio of products, including food packaging, edible packaging and seaweed paper.

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Richard Marriott : Refill Project Manager

visit Ecosurety | Packaging compliance redefined

Richard is head of refill and reuse at Ecosurety, a Bristol-based packaging compliance scheme and B Corp that helps businesses comply with environmental regulations and collaborate on take-back and recycling schemes.

Richard has implemented reusable packaging solutions across multiple sectors and channels, including home delivery, in-store and on-the-go and has a deep knowledge of what’s needed to deliver circular packaging systems.

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Logan Ryan : Associate Director – Strategic Partnerships & Delivery

visit www.healthinnowest.net

Logan has had a career spanning the innovation pathway, having delivered in roles within NIHR MedTech & In-vitro Diagnostic Cooperatives (now HealthTech Research Centres), NHS Trusts, SME/Startup Incubators & Accelerators and more recently Health Innovation Networks (previously Academic Health Science Networks).

Logan’s experiences include advising start-ups and spinouts on commercialisation & product development, implementing national innovation programmes across Integrated Care Board geographies, supporting economic growth through delivery of Office for Life Science commissioned activity through Health Innovation Networks, and directly supported the implementation of innovation into NHS and Local Authority settings.

In his current role, Logan is responsible for ecosystem enablement, ensuring that the structures in the West of England all contributing to health and wellbeing of our population have the tools they need to be able to succeed. This includes leading teams which are driving collaboration across sectors through enabling quadruple helix partnerships, supporting the upskilling of colleagues in innovation & improvement methodology, advocating for cross-cutting health innovation enablers such as environmental sustainability & social value, and identifying opportunities for innovative programmes of work aligned to the Left Shift and the drive to neighbourhood health.

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Why attend

This Workshop Will Explore

• Technology transfer opportunities between sectors
• Case studies of material and packaging innovations
• Circular-economy models for healthcare logistics
• Collaboration pathways between industry, academia, and innovators

Why Life Science Organisations Should Attend

• Gain an insight into innovation pipelines developed in the food sector.
• Lower‑carbon materials aligned with sustainability and ESG frameworks.
• Understand key challenges in the food sector:
• • Packaging sterility
  • Stability and shelf-life
  • Waste reduction
  • Cold-chain integrity
• Chance to build partnerships and broaden relationships.

Why Food‑Sector Organisations Should Attend

• Explore high‑value markets (pharma, diagnostics, med‑tech).
• How can biopolymers, sensors, and smart coatings have direct transferability to life sciences.
• Help to identify partnerships, licensing, and co‑development pathways.
• Life sciences face strong regulatory pressure and need sustainable solutions.