PolyOne names sustainability VP

Avon Lake, Ohio-based PolyOne Corp. has announced the appointment of Walter Ripple as its vice president, sustainability. The hiring was made at the same time the firm announced that it has joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as a founding member.

In the newly created position, Ripple will be responsible for leading initiatives that help customers and PolyOne achieve sustainability and performance goals.

“Walter has a broad understanding of our specialty technologies and their value-generating applications,” says Robert M. Patterson, chair, president and CEO of PolyOne Corp. “He has also forged deep, trusting and collaborative relationships with our many stakeholders. He is uniquely qualified for this important role, which will further accelerate our sustainability efforts.”

Adds Patterson, “We are proud to have joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as a founding member. This new organization will be instrumental in bringing collective action and scale to help eliminate plastic waste from the environment. We look forward to providing our resources and expertise in this global effort.”

PolyOne describes Ripple as a polymers industry veteran with 27 years of experience who joined PolyOne in 2008 after its acquisition of GLS, a global business he previously led. Prior to PolyOne, Ripple served in several strategy, commercial and general management positions at Shell Chemical Co.

PolyOne Corp. had 2017 revenue of $3.2 billion based on providing specialized polymer materials and services. On the sustainability page of its website, the company says it is seeking ways to “incorporate post-consumer or postindustrial [recycled materials] content” and is contributing to packaging that can be recycled more easily, such as its PlanetPak packaging system.