The ReMA Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter has selected Myles Cohen, founder and managing director of Circular Ventures LLC and board member of VIPA USA, as the next recipient of the PSI Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Phil Alpert. The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding leadership, achievements, and contributions to the PSI Chapter and the paper recycling industry. PSI will honor Cohen with the award on Wednesday, Oct. 28, during the Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference in Chicago.

“For the past 20 years, no one has worked harder than Myles to advance and improve the recycling industry," says PSI Chapter President Kathy DeLano of Dixie Pulp & Paper Inc. "In his corporate, association, and chapter leadership positions, he has been a thought leader and changemaker, all with an eye toward making recycling more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. Our industry certainly is much better off today thanks to his many contributions.”

Cohen's career in recycling began in 2006 when Sonoco Products Co., which he joined in 2004 as a vice president, asked him to become president of its recycling division. In 2008, Pratt Industries hired him to serve as president of Pratt Recycling, a position that involved overseeing the company’s network of recycling plants and MRFs throughout the U.S. as well as directing the sourcing for Pratt’s 100% recycled paper mills.

In 2021, Cohen founded a consultancy named Circular Ventures LLC, and that same year he was named to the board of VIPA USA. His focus now is on providing expert advisory services on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues, particularly related to recycling, waste management, landfill diversion/zero waste, sustainable packaging, and challenging public policy issues and legislation.

Throughout his career, Cohen has been an active member and leader in the former ISRI (now ReMA) as well as the association’s PSI Chapter. Notably, Cohen served as PSI Chapter President from 2016-2018, a position that also earned him a seat on then-ISRI’s national board of directors as well as its Council of Chapter Presidents. He also served on ISRI’s Executive Committee with the elected national officers of ISRI from 2018 to 2020, and he was instrumental in the creation of a MRF Committee within ISRI/ReMA.

Thanks to his career achievements, the New Jersey Paper Recycling Association honored Cohen with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. In addition, his broad expertise continues to make him a sought-after keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist at many industry events.

"At VIPA, Pratt and Sonoco, I made sure each company joined PSI because associations are where you build lasting relationships with customers, suppliers, and competitors," Cohen says. "While I’ve rocked the boat at times to challenge us to be better, we always came out stronger and still friends. I'm grateful to be recognized by the people who taught me so much, and I'm not done yet: I'll keep paying it forward."

The PSI Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Phil Alpert was formerly called the Phil Alpert Memorial Award. Alpert, a partner in National Fiber Supply Co. (Chicago), was a longtime PSI Chapter participant and served as the chapter’s president from 1986-1988.

ReMA Paper Stock Industries (PSI) Chapter

A National Chapter of the Recycled Materials Association

P.O. Box 482, Palm Beach, FL 33480

remapsichapter@gmail.com

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