SBIO

What is the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials (SBIO) all about?

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials provides instruction, research, and outreach across a broad range of environmentally related materials, products, and systems. A particular strength is instruction and research in the use of natural, renewable resources to produce innovative materials in a sustainable manner. Our vision statement is “a world without waste, through the advancement of regenerative materials, products, and systems.”  We design and build innovative and sustainable products, buildings, packaging, and other materials while minimizing waste and extends beyond physical and technological boundaries.

Since graduating from Virginia Tech’s packaging science program in 2013, I have held multiple positions in the sustainable packaging industry and received a M.S. in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2015. My experience in the packaging program gave me the foundation to pursue my career and enabled me to grow into the position I’m in today. In my role leading sustainability at Brook + Whittle, I get to work across all stakeholders, ranging from developing our sustainability strategy to working on innovative and sustainable label and packaging solutions to help brands meet their ambitious sustainable packaging targets. Packaging is a large industry with a significant environmental footprint that we must solve as quickly as possible. The reality is that we are behind on curbing climate change. However, I’m optimistic with the next generation of packaging students and peers that we can cut emissions at scale to create a sustainable future.  Go Hokies!