FOR DETAILS ON THE 2023 INNOVATION SUMMIT PLEASE CLICK HERE!

SP 2022 Innovation Summit
Please save the dates of July 27-28, 2022 for the 2022 SP Innovation Summit co-hosted with The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio!
Since 2002, Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) has been the leading forum for global automakers, their large and small suppliers, the US EPA and other government entities from around the world to work together to improve the environmental sustainability and business value of the global automotive supply chain.

SP’s automaker and tiered supplier members are leading action on the next generation of ambitious environmental sustainability goals aspiring to advance positive environmental, economic and community impacts through their operations and value chains, including in areas such as carbon neutrality, circular and sustainable materials, EV battery lifecycle management and water stewardship.
Hosted in collaboration with The Ohio State University on its campus in Columbus, Ohio, the 2022 SP Innovation Summit is designed as an interactive event focused on building understanding of critical barriers impacting the sustainability of the automotive industry and supply chain and working towards practical solutions to accelerate innovation in support of industry sustainability priorities.
Throughout 2-days over July 27-28, 2022 cross-functional teams from SP member companies, industry partners, government and academia will come together to understand key industry sustainability priorities, explore barriers to action / progress, and identify opportunities to accelerate efforts in support of long-term sustainability goals.
Select executive-level keynote speakers will provide critical insights and inspiration to attendees throughout the event, together with deep-dive working sessions, showcases of emerging sustainable innovations and curated networking activities.
Key Themes for 2022 SP Innovation Summit

Key themes to be discussed in the 2022 Summit include:
- Carbon Neutral Manufacturing. Innovations that minimize manufacturing process energy consumption, optimize use of renewable / alternative electricity and thermal energy, and support evolution toward net-zero manufacturing operations and supply chains.
- Circular EV Batteries. Innovation to support 100% of EV batteries being responsibly managed through the lifecycle, including new technologies to further improve recycling yields and economics, enable new second use applications, enhance design for recyclability / disassembly, and/or others.
- Environmental Justice. Innovations that positively impact the environment, the economy, and the people who live and work in host communities surrounding automotive manufacturing operations and measurably increase environmental benefits for underserved communities and vulnerable populations, including nature-based solutions.
- Water Stewardship. Innovations that minimize, or eliminate where possible, water usage in manufacturing operations and positively impact surrounding communities / watersheds. Opportunities may include assembly plant phosphate systems, cooling towers cycles and blow down, evaporative cooling, paint wastewater recycling, RO efficiency and reject management, pretreat rinse optimization, wastewater treatment reuse, and / or others.
- Zero Waste & Sustainable Materials. Innovations that minimize, or eliminate where possible, waste from automotive manufacturing operations. Innovations that increase percentage of recycled or renewable materials in automotive components or packaging, replace traditional materials with more sustainable alternatives, increase recyclability of material design, eliminate single-use plastic packaging and / or others.
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Registration Policies
Registration is open to employees of SP member companies, their tiered automotive suppliers, and invited guests. The event is closed to media.
Below are the registration fees for the 2022 SP Innovation Summit.
Ticket Type | Early Bird (by April 22) | Standard (by June 26) | Late Registration (after June 27) |
SP Member | $ 200.00 | $ 250.00 | $ 350.00 |
Invited Non-Member | $ 300.00 | $ 350.00 | $ 450.00 |
Invited NGO / Government | $ 200.00 | $ 200.00 | $ 200.00 |
Student | $ 75.00 | $ 75.00 | $ 75.00 |
SP member companies and their invited guests will receive additional registration details through their regular communications. Additional companies in the automotive value chain may request an invitation to register for the event using the form below. Qualified requests for a registration invitation will be considered as space permits. Please be sure to use your work email address in completing the form.
Request an Invitation to the Summit
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the 2022 Innovation Summit.

Innovation Summit Planning Committee
Thank you to our 2022 SP Innovation Summit planning committee volunteers!

Venue
The Summit will be held at The Ohio Union on The Ohio State University campus. As a landmark facility honoring university tradition, the Ohio Union provides a welcoming environment for the Ohio State community and guests.
The Ohio Union is located at 1739 N. High Street at the corner of 12th Avenue and High Street. The closest airport is John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), roughly 7 miles drive from campus. Detailed directions and parking information may be found at: https://ohiounion.osu.edu/visiting/directions_and_parking/
The Blackwell Inn, located on the campus of The Ohio State University, is the recommended hotel for the event. A discounted group rate of $159.00, plus tax and parking, per evening for a room with either a King bed or Two Queen beds, may be offered to Summit attendees subject to availability.
Attendee Feedback from Previous SP Summits

“We are here today because collaboration is key, and one of the great things about this forum is the dialogue that we are all participating in. We have all done so many great things as an industry together that we can be proud of, but one of the things that also came out of the [Summit] dialogue was some frustration about how hard it can be to get to yes. And, I think the dialogue today has helped plant the seeds for making getting to yes easier in the future.” Sustainability Director, OEM.
“This [Summit] is hands on, and that’s the exciting part. Because we have a lot of work to do. We have to accelerate innovation and reshape the manufacturing mindset, up-skilling the workforce… lots of things on the table. And, what I like about [the Summit] is this is ‘can do’. This is learn by doing. And, if we’re going to match the scale of the challenges that confront this country we really have to have that attitude.” Senior Policy Counsel, Government Agency.
“[The breakout session regarding customers and value drivers] really made me think about how there are so many different customers within the supply chain. From the value standard you look at what is important to the customers, which causes you to think outside the box.” Purchasing Program Manager and Innovation Lead, OEM
“We are very interested in greening our vehicles and the best way to do that is through the supply chain.” Technical Specialist, Materials Science, OEM.
“The ability to expose [our organization] to a revolutionary way of extinguishing the barriers associated with the move to sustainability increases the credibility of the institution.” Dean of Engineering, University.
Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about the 2022 SP Innovation Summit and how your company can get involved.