On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Innovation Philadelphia attended the Philadelphia Material Project (PMP) at the Center for Architecture in Center City. PMP was sponsored by the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, Tree Boom, The Green Perspective and Green Village Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Material Project’s half day event focused on bringing together professionals from different fields across the supply chain: design, materials, manufacturing, distribution and financing with knowledge specific to Philadelphia in order to discuss what is needed to redevelop vibrant, sustainable, local manufacturing infrastructure in the Philadelphia region. With facilitated discussions and brainstorming sessions, PMP sought to identify the current gaps in infrastructure and determine common goals for local manufacturing.

The first case study panel included Andy Levin from the Penn Scale Manufacturing Company, Jamie Salm from MIO and Kevin Lyons from Supply Chain Archeology at Rutgers. The Penn Scale Manufacturing Company mixes age-old techniques with modern technologies, making products that are built to last. MIO works with the environment to craft the most beautiful, eco- friendly home designs. Supply Chain Archeology focuses on inventive green approaches to sourcing goods and services all around the world.

The second panel featured Barry Miller, President and COO of the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Ned Rauch- Mannino, the Policy and Program Analyst for the Urban Industry Initiative, Frank Baldassarre Jr., the President and CEO of e3bank, Michael Cooper, the Assistant President of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, and Dr. Mark deGrandpre,. the Director of Investments: Physical Sciences at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southern PA.

Barry Miller discussed DVIRC’s “lean green manufacturing.” Miller pointed out that the Department of Energy is currently investing in only the top 4,000 manufacturers across the country, overlooking the 340,000 small to medium-sized manufacturers. “Lean green manufacturing” provides a sustainable strategy for a company, analyzing the ROI of using eco-friendly processes and the company’s current production impact on the environment. Taking these data points into account, DVIRC will then suggest a sustainable strategy. Michael Cooper spoke about PIDC’s upcoming energy efficiency block grants for retrofitting and the green building industry.

Innovation Philadelphia’s Global Creative Economy Convergence Summit features Creative Sustainability as one of the four conference tracks. Sustainable manufacturing, entrepreneurial resources, and green technologies are among the many issues that will be explored during the Summit in October. For more information or to register, please visit www.GCECS2009.com.

Did you attend the Philadelphia Material Project? Tell us what you thought of it! Post comments below.

Tags: creative sustainability, Innovation Philadelphia, Philadelphia Material Project