ARGO Group International provides specialized consulting services in chemical and polymer science, materials technology and market and applications development in North America, Europe, Japan and other international markets. Areas of major involvement have included new product, process and market development in biodegradable, compostable and biobased thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers; biobased chemicals, monomers and polymers; biofuels; water-soluble polymers; packaging technology and sustainable packaging; recycling technology; adhesives, sealants, inks and coatings; superabsorbants; general thermoplastics, elastomers, thermosets and composites; functional and reactive polymers; polymer blends and compatibilization; fuel cells; optical polymers; and emerging nanotechnology related to the above areas; and strategic research, development and technology portfolio analysis.

• D.Phil. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Oxford University
• MBA from Drexel University specializing in economic methods and international marketing
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Biophysics at Yale University
• Responsible for work recognized in 41 patents and applications and 80 publications
• Member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Independent Packaging Environmental and Safety Forum (UK), the Plastics Consultancy Network (UK) and the Chemical Consultants Network (US)

• Assessing the technology base, helping raise investment funding, planning and implementing R&D and market development programs, facilities and hiring personnel, and serving as R&D Director and Business Development Director for a UK-based start-up company specializing in biodegradable and water-soluble plastics.
• Formulation, applications and market development for a UK-based supplier of biodegradable and compostable plastics.
• Formulation, manufacturing, applications and market development for a US-based supplier of biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and their component materials.
• Technical and applications development, and market analysis, for a range of non-toxic biobased plasticizers derived from new chemistry with a US-based start-up company.
• Advising on new developments in materials, particularly renewable, biobased and biodegradable plastics, for three UK-based packaging design companies.
• Expert witness in two US trade secret-related lawsuits concerning biodegradable plastics and additives.
• Scientific Advisory Board member for the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (US) to develop processes to convert softwood waste to renewable jet fuel
• USDA grant review panel member for development of sustainable biomass feedstock supply chains for production of biofuels, chemicals, and value-added biobased products.
• Designing, performing and authoring two technology research studies on future trends in flexible packaging and sustainable packaging (UK).
• Serving on the advisory board and R&D management team and helping raise investment funding for a US-based start-up company developing new processes for recycling municipal solid waste, fly ash and tyres
• Setting up and managing R&D facilities, programs and product development, helping raise investment funds and acting as Chief Technology Officer for a Japanese-based start-up company specializing in high-performance optical polymer products and display systems.
• Serving on the management team for a US-Japanese joint venture in Japan.
• Materials selection, systems development and R&D planning for new alkaline fuel cell designs for a UK start-up company.
• Surveying polychloroprene latex technology and markets for a Japanese elastomer producer.
• Technology and market studies on hydrogen infrastructure and by-product production, flame retardants, carbon nanotubes, and REACH legislation for a UK/Japan-based consultancy.
• Chairing a series of seminars to promote, and identify plastics converters to operate in a new Saudi Arabian petrochemical complex conversion industrial park.

Dr. Cooper has over 49 years experience in worldwide polymer-related R&D, manufacturing and market development. He spent 16 years as a research scientist with E.I. DuPont De Nemours and then eight years managing various polymer-related research and business groups at Arco Chemical Company (Atlantic Richfield), before founding ARGO Group. He has extensive international work experience in the United States, Europe and Japan.

We provide services globally in the following areas:

• General polymer, materials and chemical science consulting
• New product, process, market and applications development in bioplastics (biobased, biodegradable and compostable) and water-soluble plastics
• Polymer formulations, compounds and process development
• Development of biofuels, biobased chemicals, monomers and polymers
• Packaging technology and sustainable packaging;
• Recycling and recovery technology and end-of-cycle processes
• Strategic market analysis and research, development and technology portfolio evaluation.