Kenneth Carter
Staff Material Engineer, Polymers Fuel Systems
Guest Speaker
Carbon Neutral Industrial and Agri Applications:
A Sustainability Update
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
(see full conference schedule)
Presentation Description:
This update outlines John Deere’s current sustainability performance, global regulatory context, and forward-looking strategies to advance circular economy practices across its supply chain. The presentation reviews the evolution of sustainability frameworks—from the 1992 Earth Summit and Kyoto/Paris Protocols to the EU’s 2024 sustainability regulations—highlighting the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality, life-cycle assessments (LCAs), and extended producer responsibility (EPR).
Speaker Biography:
Kenneth Carter has been in the plastics industry for over 45 years, with twenty of those years associated with the Automotive Industry. He has a broad spectrum of work experience and knowledge from tooling, materials/compounding, manufacturing, injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and rotational molding.
He began his career as a toolmaker and operator, progressing to multiple engineering positions, including processing, manufacturing, and project engineering. He spent over 12 years in operational management prior to joining John Deere. He held multiple roles during this period, including Technical Supervisor/Manager, Plant Manager/ Operation Manger to VP General Manager.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Materials/Processing Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Operational Management.
He is currently working in the Advance/Polymer Engineering Group for John Deere and Technical Lead for Polymers/Elastomers Sustainability Team for John Deere Enterprise. He has been with John Deere for the past 17 years, supporting the Materials Engineering group in various roles.
He has been active with SPE for over 35 years, serving as a board member Blow Molding group, as a TPC representative for ANTEC, as well as presenting multiple papers at different divisions'
conferences and ANTEC levels. He is currently working with multiple universities supporting the National Science Foundation in the future development of materials for the Polymer Industry. He is currently a Technical Advisor for the National Soybean Board for future development with Soybeans. He is also active with SAE, SME, ARPM, and FFA organizations.
He is currently enjoying his time as a mentor for the polymer industry and transitioning towards retirement.