May 5-6, 2026
The Westin
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Thank you for joining us for another successful Conference!
CARE’s 24th Annual Conference, “Elevating the Future: From Valley to Summit,” took place May 5-6, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Professionals from across the carpet recycling industry shared fresh insights, breakthrough technologies, and dynamic discussions around progress in recycling technology, market development, and solutions for the circular economy. Attendees also had the unique opportunity to tour carpet and fiber production facilities to see amazing technology at work on a special mill tour the day after the Conference.
Conference Presentations
Battle of Chattanooga: Matt Spaulding
Chemical Processing – Solving the Plastic Waste Challenge: Bob Peoples
Recycling Challenges Update: Frank Endrenyi
CARE Tracking Products and Technology: Frank Endrenyi
Unlocking the Performance of Recycled Flooring Materials through Compatibilization, Dr. Jie Wu
AI as a Recycling Tool for Impact: Jordan Fladell
Printing Identification Solutions for Carpet: Michael Knee
Scaling the Circular Economy: The Role of Mass Balance: Cassie House
From Feedstock to Flooring: Scaling Chemical Recycling for the Carpet Industry: Matt Allen
Economical, High Yield Enzymatic Recycling of Polyester Carpet: Johan Kers
Carpet, Textiles & EPR, Where Do They Intersect?: Doug Kobold
Establishing and Running a Reuse Network: David Knaub
Agenda
| Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | |
| 10:00 – 10:10am | Opening Remarks: Bob Peoples |
| 10:10 – 10:30am | Welcome: Mayor Annalee Sams (Dalton), Dylan Rivera, City of Chattanooga |
| 10:30 – 11:00am | Introductions: Wes Nelson |
| 11:00 – 11:45am | Battle of Chattanooga: Matt Spaulding |
| 11:45 – 12:00pm | Break |
| 12:00 – 12:45pm | Chemical Processing – Solving the Plastic Waste Challenge: Bob Peoples |
| 12:45 – 1:45pm | Lunch |
| 1:45 – 2:15pm | Design for Circularity – Kara West, Brian Kuritz, Jay Henry, Randa Dean |
| 2:15 – 2:30pm | ID Technology Update/ CARE Tracking Products and Technology: Frank Endrenyi |
| 2:30 – 3:15pm | Unlocking the Performance of Recycled Flooring Materials through Compatibilization, Dr. Jie Wu |
| 3:15 – 3:30pm | CARE Update/Annual Survey |
| 3:30 – 4:00pm | Break |
| 4:00 – 5:00pm | Roundtable Discussions: Rachel Palopoli |
| 5:00 – 5:30pm | CARE Business Meeting |
| 6:30 – 8:30pm | Reception/Awards Dinner |
| Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | |
| 8:00 – 9:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 9:45am | State of the Industry: Kemp Harr |
| 9:45 – 10:15am | AI as a Recycling Tool for Impact: Jordan Fladell |
| 10:15 – 10:30am | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:00am | EPR (CA & NY) / Packaging & CARE LLC Update & AB 863 Update: Troy Virgo, moderator; Bob Peoples, Russ Delozier, Doug Kobold |
| 11:00 – 11:30am | Backstamping: Michael Knee |
| 11:30 – 12:00pm | Scaling a Recycled Product: Kevin Line |
| 12:00 – 12:45pm | Lunch |
| 12:45 – 1:10pm | Scaling the Circular Economy: The Role of Mass Balance: Cassie House |
| 1:10 – 1:40pm | From Feedstock to Flooring: Scaling Chemical Recycling for the Carpet Industry: Matt Allen |
| 1:40 – 2:10pm | Economical, High Yield Enzymatic Recycling of Polyester Carpet: Johan Kers |
| 2:10 – 2:45pm | Break |
| 2:45 – 3:00pm | Carpet, Textiles & EPR, Where do they intersect?: Doug Kobold |
| 3:00 – 3:15pm | Establishing and Running a Reuse Network: David Knaub |
| 3:15 – 4:00pm | Open Dialogue |
| 4:00 – 4:15 | Closing Remarks: Bob Peoples |