Procter & Gamble Day Highlights

The Center for Renewable Carbon in collaboration with AgResearch and many other faculty and leadership members across UT, UTORII and UTIA recently welcomed Dr. Matthew Wagner of Procter & Gamble for a day of conversation, collaboration, and discovery across the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Wagner’s seminar, “From Biomass to Better Materials: Sustainable, Scalable Ingredients for Next-Generation Consumer Products,” explored opportunities to translate renewable resources into practical materials and consumer-product solutions. Faculty also connected with Dr. Wagner through discussions and lab tours at the Center for Renewable Carbon, Bioeconomy Systems Innovation Hub,  and the Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing.

Conversations highlighted shared interests in bio-based chemicals and materials; chemical and biochemical transformations that address formulation and packaging challenges, sustainable and scalable biomass resources, and circular bioeconomy systems, including responsible sourcing, circularity, lifecycle assessment, and supply-chain integration.

Participants praised Dr. Wagner’s deep knowledge, insightful perspective, and practical approach. His ability to connect with faculty across disciplines led to valuable conversations around shared research priorities and future opportunities for collaboration.

Dr. Wagner expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet UT’s faculty, staff, and students and to see the passion and innovation behind their programs firsthand. He described the discussions as insightful and inspiring and noted a deeper appreciation for the breadth of work underway at UT.

Thank you to everyone who attended the seminar and to the faculty and staff members who hosted conversations and tours throughout the day. Your engagement and thoughtful discussion showcased the breadth of research expertise and the innovative work underway at UT.