Green Chemistry, Green Profits: Leveraging Sustainability for Bottom-Line Success

Session Summary: Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in the chemical industry—it’s a key driver of profitability and long-term business success. In this session, industry experts will discuss how integrating sustainable practices into chemical manufacturing and operations can lead to significant cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced brand value, all while contributing to a healthier planet. From energy optimization and waste reduction to adopting circular economy principles and green chemistry, this session will explore actionable strategies for chemical companies to reduce their environmental footprint while simultaneously strengthening their financial performance.

Attendees will gain insights into how sustainability efforts can lower operational costs, improve regulatory compliance, open new revenue streams, and strengthen customer loyalty. Real-world case studies will demonstrate how leading chemical companies are embedding sustainability into their business models, achieving both environmental and financial success. The session will also cover best practices for measuring sustainability’s impact on the bottom line and how to effectively communicate these efforts to stakeholders and investors.

This Session is Sponsored By:

Veolia

Speakers

Jennifer Singleton

Moderator

Jennifer Singleton is an Oil & Gas Strategic Key Account Manager for Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions. She has 28 years of industry experience holding various roles in manufacturing, engineering, process safety/risk management, sales and corporate account management, business development, sustainability, and senior leadership. Jennifer is passionate about solving customer’s most difficult issues utilizing our greatest asset – PEOPLE. She is dedicated to driving account excellence, sustainable value delivery, motivating and empowering her teams, support and growth of customers and colleagues, and transformative change.

Jennifer is also the North American Sustainability Champion & Value Delivery Manager. In this capacity she is responsible for integrating Veolia’s Green Up Strategy and sustainability efforts with business objectives across North America. Green Up is Veolia's strategic program that accelerates the deployment of concrete, affordable, replicable solutions that depollute, decarbonize, and regenerate our resources. She is focused on aligning sustainability initiatives with organizational strategies, driving operational efficiencies for our customers, and ensuring that value is delivered and communicated both internally within the organization and externally to customers and stakeholders.

Jennifer holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Lamar University. Jennifer has completed Veolia’s Climate School, GreenPath Digital Academy, and is a GreenUp Strategy Ambassador. She is currently studying French and planning to start her MBA in 2025. She resides in Nederland TX, with her husband, Chris, and their three fur babies. They have 3 children – Haley (31), Grace (25) and Drake (18), and are empty nesters starting August 2025!

Iliana Nava

Panelist

Iliana is a Market Development Manager with Jungbunzlauer. Her role is to ensure the technical success of the company’s biogums portfolio, which includes xanthan gum and gellan gum. With a background in Food Science, she has been in the food ingredient industry for 15+ years where she has had the opportunity to lead and collaborate on different projects involving starches, sweeteners, and hydrocolloids. She completed her B.S. in Food Engineering in Mexico City, where she is originally from, and her M.Sc. in Food Science and Human Nutrition with the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

In her free time, Iliana enjoys doing yoga, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Travis O’Banion

Panelist

Travis O’Banion is the Managing Director of Safety and Sustainability at Highway Transport, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. With a career spanning over four decades in the chemical industry, Travis has extensive experience in DOT and OSHA safety regulations, as well as environmental management. He began his journey in 1980, spending the first ten years in the bulk liquid storage and transfer sector before transitioning to chemical bulk transportation, where he has dedicated 35 years. Travis has played a pivotal role as an auditor and coordinator in the Responsible Care partner program with three different carriers. He joined Highway Transport two years ago and currently resides in Houston, Texas.