Professional Role and Company Positioning
Barbara Ekerdt currently holds the position of Senior Scientist, Packaging Developer and Department Sustainability Lead for Kingsford at The Clorox Company, based in Emeryville, California. Her role integrates advanced material science and sustainability initiatives within Clorox’s packaging development efforts, with a special focus on the Kingsford brand, a leader in charcoal products under Clorox’s portfolio.
Educational Background and Expertise
Barbara earned her PhD, with confirmed doctoral research conducted at the University of Colorado as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellow. She graduated in May 2010, with her research partly carried out in the laboratory of Nicholas A. Peppas, indicating a strong foundation in chemical engineering, polymers, and material science. She is also certified as a Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), underscoring recognized expertise in packaging technology and regulations.
Technical Contributions and Intellectual Property
Barbara Ekerdt has been prominently involved in patent activity at Clorox, notably co-inventing the US Patent No. 11,959,045 B2, a hard surface disinfectant composition granted in April 2024. Additionally, she disclosed in early 2024 that she received two new patents originating from her work within Clorox’s Professional Products division. This underscores her active role in proprietary product innovation especially related to disinfectant formulations and possibly their application via packaging technologies.
Sustainability Leadership and Recognition
Barbara serves as the Department Sustainability Lead for the Kingsford brand, reflecting responsibility for integrating sustainable practices within product development and packaging life cycles. She was recognized with two awards from Clorox Global R&D Upthink in 2024 for Sustainability and Futuristic Intellectual Property, demonstrating formal acknowledgment of her contributions toward advancing sustainable innovation strategies at Clorox.
Professional Engagement and Industry Presence
She is publicly active on LinkedIn, sharing updates about her patent achievements and sustainability initiatives, signaling an open engagement with scientific and professional networks. Her professional narrative highlights a blend of innovation in product formulation and sustainable packaging development, which aligns with growing consumer and regulatory emphasis on environmental responsibility.
Analytical Summary for Strategic Engagement
Barbara’s combined expertise in chemical engineering, packaging technology, and sustainability leadership positions her as a pivotal figure within Clorox’s innovation pipeline, particularly in areas related to disinfectants and charcoal product packaging. Her recognized patent contributions indicate a strong capability in developing novel formulations and delivery systems, likely influencing product differentiation and competitive advantage. The sustainability awards suggest that she not only drives innovation but also aligns it with corporate ESG goals, a key priority for Clorox currently.
Engagement with Barbara would benefit from a focus on solutions and technologies that advance sustainable packaging innovation, novel delivery mechanisms for disinfectants, and compliance or improvement of environmental footprints. Her active role in R&D leadership and patent development emphasizes technical rigor and future-oriented product design as critical components of her work.
LinkedIn Profile: [Barbara Ekerdt, PhD, CPP](https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-ekerdt-phd-cpp-50248556/)
Location: Emeryville, California, USA
Patents: US Patent No. 11,959,045 B2 (2024, disinfectants formulation)
Awards: Clorox Global R&D Upthink – Sustainability and Futuristic IP (2024)
Certification: Certified Packaging Professional (CPP)
