Douglas Horne

Bio

Douglas Horne is the Founder and CEO of Evanesce Packaging Solutions Inc. A serial entrepreneur with business acumen in corporate development across several industries, Doug has proved to be a visionary. During his time elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly for the Canadian Province of British Columbia he contributed to many roles including Deputy Speaker, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Council of State Governments West. As a politician, he drove projects that promote sustainability, most notably completing the Evergreen rapid transit line to the community he served after years of delay. A dynamic leader, Doug has built and financed numerous companies, including a world-renowned design firm that led the master planning of Sochi 2014 Olympics. After decades of running successful companies, Doug founded Evanesce with a mission to challenge the crisis of plastics. He is a passionate advocate of sustainability and is purposefully focussed in providing responsible solutions to the industry.

Why do you want to serve on the Executive Committee?

Research and science-based approaches are critical to advance the environmental vision for packaging and support the development of sustainable packaging materials. As the Founder & CEO of Evanesce, a business-driven sustainable technology innovator, we align with this vision. Our sustainable packaging solutions are guided by the circular economy and are at the forefront of material science and engineering. We continue to explore next-generation packaging technologies to deliver sustainable packaging solutions. Additionally, I am an advocate for plant-based, compostable materials. Recycling has long been seen as the top solution for sustainable packaging materials. While it is an important part of the solution, it is not a silver bullet. For example, less than 10% of plastics are recycled in the US and this waste is piling up in landfills. Recyclable materials are simply not ideal for certain types of packaging such as food packaging, where they may contaminate the recycling stream with food waste. To fully achieve a sustainable materials economy, plant-based, compostable packaging innovations and solutions should be represented on the SPC Executive Committee.

What do you think you would contribute as an Executive Committee representative?

With decades of experience as a successful business leader, entrepreneur, and former politician, I deeply understand the importance of best practices, strategic collaborations and partnerships to work towards a common goal. To transition the packaging industry to sustainable materials, we need solutions that are sustainably sourced, regenerate after use, are commercially scalable and most of all, affordable. Evanesce is committed to making sustainable packaging technology cost-competitive and truly sustainable. We’ve developed a patented material technology that is half of the other green packaging alternatives and far better for the environment than traditional plastics and Styrofoam. Creating economically viable solutions is an essential aspect of sustainable materials management and will be critical to help achieve SPC’s mission of a truly closed loop.