If you want to get into the consumer’s head, get to New Horizons 2017 for insights into what makes people want to buy your products. New Horizons 2017 will be held Sept. 17-20, 2017 in Tempe, AZ. The three-day conference is held every three years as part of the Consumer Specialty Products Association’s education series. In other years, CSPA addresses cleaning product fundamentals and intermediates.

 
“The industry’s biggest challenge and opportunity is understanding consumer preferences, they drive product development and the cleaning industry overall,” explained conference chairman Tim Brown, VP-regulatory counsel and international affairs, CSPA. “And that’s what our conference is all about, looking at what’s on the horizon regarding consumer preferences.”

 
A focus on the future is evident in New Horizons’ subtitle, “Cleaning: Focus 2020.” The cleaning industry is undergoing rapid change due to a variety of factors. Several of these agents of change, including online purchasing, the microbiome, and state and federal regulations, will be addressed by industry experts during New Horizons. For example, Brent Nelson, senior manager, packaging, consumer packing experience at Amazon, will explain how to design packaging for e-commerce. Later in the week, Dr. Gary Anderson, University of California, Berkeley, will discuss the uniqueness of the built microbiome.
 
 
According to Brown, New Horizons is unique because of its laser focus on cleaning issues.

 
“This is a unique educational opportunity for anyone in this industry,” he said. “Everyone who attends says ‘wow,’ they feel like they have stumbled on to something great,” he added.

 
In addition to two-and-a-half days of conferences, New Horizons 2017 will give attendees plenty of time to network as well, with breakfasts, dinner, receptions and breaks, according to Brown.
 
 
Here’s a look at the agenda:
 
 
Sunday, Sept. 17
5-7pm: Registration
7-8pm: Welcome Reception
8-10pm: Dinner and Keynote. “Digital Moment of Truth: Designing Packing for E-Commerce,” Brent Nelson, Amazon, senior manager, packaging, consumer packing experience
 

Monday, Sept. 18
8-8:30am: Registration and continental breakfast.
8:30am-noon: “What’s New in Industry & Academia?” Session chair: Mart Ventura, Church & Dwight Co.
            • Dr. Jan Shulman, Dow Chemical, “Polymers 2020 – Opportunities for Development in Laundry, Dish & Hard Surface Cleaning;”
            • Dr. Ponisseril Somasundaran, Columbia University, “Advances in Bio-Based Surfactants;”
            • Dr. Andrew Guttentag, Church & Dwight Co. “Nano-engineered Materials for Future Cleaning;”
            • Dr. Scott Jaynes, Croda, “Bio-based Ethoxylates: Bringing Sustainability to High Performance Surfactants;”
            • Dr. Edgar Acosta, University of Toronto, “Smart Formulations for the Smart Home;” and
            • Lauren Zarama, InKemia Green Chemicals, “Designing, Developing & Commercializing Green Chemistries for the Future.”
12:30-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30-5pm: “I&I Specific Cleaning Challenges,” Session chair: Courtney Stasko, State Industrial Products
         • Dr. Rebecca Korwin, State Industrial Products, “Trends and the Future of the I&I Industry;”
         • Dr. Michael Ott, The Clorox Company, “Unique Challenges in I&I Cleaning and Disinfection;”
         • Rob Miller, EAC Product Development Solutions, “Internet of Things (IoT) in Industry;”
         • Mark Kozak, BEAM Strategic Solutions, “The Future of Sustainability and How to Incorporate It into Formulating.”
5-6pm: Reception
 

Tuesday, Sept. 19
8am-2pm: Open Morning. See link for suggested activities.
2-5:30pm: “Cleaning the Smart Home/Innovations in Technology,” Session chairs: Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Stepan Company and Faith Savanhu, Stepan Company.
         • Terri Germain, Stepan Company, “An Overview of the Challenges and Opportunities in Cleaning the Smart Home;”
         • Kathleen Gisser, Sherwin-Williams, “Latest Innovation within the Homecare Space;”
         • John Ouseph and Irena McDowell, GE Appliances (invited).
5:30-6:30pm: Reception
6:30-8:30pm: “Marketing & Packaging Cleaning Products for the Online Customer,” Session chair: Jesus Castillo, SC Johnson
         • Gary Ashe, EmpireEMCO, “Current Activity with Failures with Online Shipping and What We Can Do in Packaging to Combat These Failures;”
         • Fred Hart, Interact Boulder, “Latest Marketing and Packaging Trends Impacting the Cleaning Industry;” and
         • Cliff Haynes, Stress Engineering Services, “Marketing and Packaging for the Online Consumer.”
 

Wednesday, September 20
8:00-8:30am: Breakfast
8:30-12pm: Microbiome of the Built Environment, Session chair: Vidya Ananth, The Clorox Company
         • Erica Hartmann, Northwestern University, “Antimicrobials in the Built Environment;”
         • Richard Shaughnessy, University of Tulsa, “Cleaning & Microbiology of the Built Environment;”
         • Gary Anderson, University of California, Berkeley, “Uniqueness of Built Microbiome;”
         • Jack Gilbert, University of Chicago, “Human Built Environment Microbiome;” and
         • Emma Saunders, Genesis Biosciences.
12-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30-3:30pm: Regulatory Impacts on the Industry. Federal Track: “New TSCA Rules and Its Impact on Industry” and State Track: “California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017: Key Provisions, New Requirements and When to Comply,” speakers:
         • Jim Jones, EVP-strategic alliances and industry relations, CSPA;
         • Hal Ambuter, director, regulatory and government affairs, RB; and
         • Tim Brown, VP-regulatory counsel and international affairs CSPA.
 
 
 
To register for New Horizons 2017, click here.