Katherine Barton, 31, and her family moved around frequently when she was growing up. She was born in Canada and lived all over the United States and in Indonesia.
"Moving around … gave me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and provided me with the valuable skill to adapt to all sorts of new and different situations," said Barton, adding that seeing mismanaged plastic waste in Indonesia inspired her career in sustainability.
Barton graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Her first role in the industry post-graduation was a chemist for future feedstocks in corporate research and development at Saudi Basic Industries Corp. She is now senior analyst with Sabic.
"It was exciting to me to work on projects that form a pillar of our modern life, but at the same time, I wanted to make the production and usage of these materials more sustainable. I believed I would be able to make a greater impact on the sustainability of the industry by working from within," she said.
Barton's previous positions also include research chemist and senior analyst for Americas sustainability strategy in corporate sustainability.
"My greatest achievement thus far in my career has been in playing a critical role in developing and executing on Sabic's circular economy strategy in the Americas region, such as through contributing to circular economy standards and in spearheading ISCC PLUS certification efforts to produce Sabic's first certified Trucircle products in this region," the senior analyst said. "It has been an extremely rewarding experience to build a new ecosystem for plastics, one in which used plastics are recycled again and again, and we incorporate new bio-based feedstocks in plastics production. The plastics industry is truly undergoing transformative change, and my work with Sabic has enabled me to be a key player in bringing about this change."
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Q: What emerging technology or market most interests you?
Barton: Advanced recycling is an emerging technology that is opening up new ways for us to truly build the circular economy for plastics. Unlike mechanical recycling, there are no limitations to the number of times plastics can be recycled through advanced recycling. With advanced recycling, we are able to give plastics a new life, keep them out of the landfill and return them to a virgin state. Advanced recycling also enables us to reduce our usage of fossil-based feedstocks and increase recycled content in products with demanding property requirements. I am excited to see how this technology will continue to open up new possibilities and applications in plastics recycling and transform the plastics industry.
Q: What should the plastics industry do to expand its efforts in diversity and inclusion?
Barton: I strongly believe that one of the best ways the plastics industry can expands its efforts in diversity and inclusion is to reach out to kids. Recently, I was involved in a career fair and plastics sustainability lesson at a local elementary school in Houston. During the lesson, it was amazing to see kids from all backgrounds get excited to learn about plastics and recycling and to discover that this material can be found in toys and items all around them. After the career fair, many of the kids walked away dreaming about becoming a scientist one day. Our journeys that brought us to the plastics field began when we were kids, and if we inspire and reach out to a diverse range of kids, I believe we will see diversity and inclusion continue to expand in this industry.
Q: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Barton: The best advice I've ever received is to never be afraid to ask a question, no matter how silly you may think it is. Often the simplest questions can reveal unseen flaws or risks in strategies, projects or arguments, and you may ask a question everyone else has but is too afraid to ask. I have asked my fair share of silly questions, but many of these questions have led to new solutions, ideas or ways of thinking.