Episode Title: Legacy, Leadership, and the New Earth Project with Wes Carter

Guest: Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging & Founder of A New Earth Project

---

Summary

In this special relaunch episode, host Cory Connors welcomes Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging and founder of A New Earth Project. Wes shares his personal journey, the history of Atlantic Packaging, and the powerful legacy of his grandfather, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Horace Carter, whose courageous stand for civil rights shaped the company’s values. The conversation explores why sustainable packaging is now at the heart of Atlantic’s mission and how the New Earth Project is driving industry change.

---

Key Topics Discussed

• Wes Carter’s background and family legacy in Tabor City, North Carolina
• The story of Horace Carter, the Tabor City Tribune, and the fight for civil rights
• Atlantic Packaging’s evolution from a local newspaper to a national packaging leader
• The impact of automation, efficiency, and sustainability on packaging
• The founding and vision of A New Earth Project
• How outdoor experiences and environmental awareness inspired Wes’s advocacy
• The role of consumer demand in driving sustainable change
• Atlantic’s health and wellness programs and commitment to employee well-being
• The launch of New Earth Ventures and investment in nature-based materials
• Advice for brands and packaging professionals: serving the greater good and building a legacy

---

Resources Mentioned

• A New Earth Project YouTube channel (including Journey to a New Earth and The Editor and the Dragon documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman)
• Atlantic Packaging’s Solution Center in Charlotte, NC
• New Earth Ventures and sustainable packaging technologies (seaweed, mycelium, hemp)
• Sponsors: SpecRight, Cruz Foam, Fishbone

---

Contact

Listeners can connect with Wes Carter on LinkedIn (Wes Carter Atlantic) and Instagram (@WesMCarter). Follow A New Earth Project on Instagram for updates and stories. For more information about Atlantic Packaging and the New Earth Project, visit their respective websites and social channels.

---

Closing Thoughts

Cory and Wes reflect on the importance of legacy, sustainability, and collective action in the packaging industry. They encourage listeners—brands, packaging companies, and consumers—to work together for a healthier, more harmonious future. Tune in next week for an inspiring conversation with Sydney Munoz, Sustainability Manager at Goodwill International.

Thank you for tuning in to the Sustainable Packaging Podcast with Cory Connors!

___

Podcast Show Notes: Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors
Episode Title: Data-Driven Sustainability with Olga Kachook
Guest: Olga Kachook, Director at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), GreenBlue

Summary:
In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes back Olga Kachook to dive into the latest research and initiatives from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Olga shares insights from SPC’s recent data collection efforts on store drop-off recycling, composting access, and consumer understanding of recycled content. The conversation highlights the importance of data transparency, consumer education, and industry collaboration in advancing sustainable packaging.

Key Topics Discussed:

• SPC’s research on store drop-off recycling access and participation
• Consumer awareness and behavior around flexible plastic recycling
• The role of the How2Recycle label in driving recycling action
• Challenges and progress in compostable packaging and composting infrastructure
• New data showing 36% of U.S. population has access to composting programs
• Private sector innovation in hard-to-recycle material collection
• Confusion between recycled content and recyclability among consumers
• Research showing recycled content is the most valued sustainability attribute when explained clearly
• Upcoming SPC Advance event in Boston (Sept 29–Oct 1) and its focus on EPR, recycled content, and labeling

Resources Mentioned:

• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)
• How2Recycle Label Program
• SPC Advance Event in Boston
• Compost Now, Ridwell, Recyclops, TerraCycle

Contact:
For more information on SPC’s research and upcoming events, visit the Sustainable Packaging Coalition website or attend SPC Advance in Boston.

Closing Thoughts:
Cory and Olga reflect on the positive momentum in the sustainable packaging space, emphasizing the power of data, education, and collaboration. They encourage listeners to stay informed, get involved, and help drive meaningful change in the packaging industry.

___

We’re excited to be in a moment when packaging is expected to do more than simply deliver a product. Today, it’s also a reflection of a brand’s values and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

That’s why we’re proud to have printed the Sway Polybag, a seaweed-based packaging innovation, for artist, snowboarder, and A New Earth Project Advocate, Chris Benchetler’s Grateful Dead 60th anniversary merch capsule, all done in-house at our Tabor City Printing & Graphics facility.

This project marked the first customer-facing launch of the Sway Polybag from Atlantic, and it was more than just a print job, it was a statement. The bags were printed using sustainable inks on biobased film made from responsibly sourced seaweed, a material designed to decompose naturally and support ocean health, coastal livelihoods, and climate resilience.

Flexibility Meets Sustainability

As Caroline DeLoach, Atlantic’s Sustainability Director, explains,

“We’re not a vertically integrated printer-converter, which means we’re not bound to any one material. That flexibility allows us to meet our customers’ sustainability goals, whether it’s reducing plastic, switching to paper, or trialing something entirely new.”

This flexibility is more than philosophical, it’s operational. Atlantic is investing in equipment that can run a wide variety of substrates, including emerging materials not yet on the market.

“We’re making strategic investments quickly,” Caroline adds, “so we can help customers transition to sustainable options without delay.”

New Earth Approved

The Sway Polybag is part of our New Earth Approved catalog, a curated collection of sustainable packaging solutions designed to help brands align their packaging with their values. For the Grateful Dead capsule, we worked closely with Sway to ensure the bags met performance standards while showcasing custom artwork and messaging that reinforced the product’s compostable nature

From printing to pack-out and unboxing, this project was a full-circle moment for Atlantic and A New Earth Project along with Chris Benchetler as a partner willing to be a first adopter. It demonstrated how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can come together to create packaging that’s not only functional, but meaningful.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to support brands in their sustainability journeys, the Sway Polybag stands as a symbol of what’s possible when we rethink packaging from the ground up. Whether it’s seaweed, paper, or something entirely new, Atlantic is ready to help customers make the switch, and make an impact.

Podcast Show Notes: Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors
Episode Title: Why Is Paper a Sustainable Material? Featuring Metsa Board’s Kristen Clark
Guest: Kristen Clark, Communications Manager at Metsa Board

Summary:
In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Kristen Clark to explore why paper, especially paperboard from Metsä Board, is a sustainable packaging material. Kristen shares her journey from consumer packaged goods marketing to her current role at Metsa Board, highlighting the company’s deep commitment to sustainability and innovation. The conversation covers forest management, circular manufacturing practices, and the role of paperboard in replacing plastic packaging.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Kristen’s career path from CPG marketing to sustainable paperboard
• Overview of Metsä Group and its cooperative model with 90,000 Finnish forest owners
• How Metsä Board uses every part of the tree to minimize waste
• Bioenergy generation from bark and branches
• Reforestation practices: planting 4–7 trees for every one harvested
• Lightweight yet strong paperboard that reduces carbon footprint
• Circular side-stream applications, including animal bedding and soil improvement
• Metsä Board’s goal to be fossil-free by 2030 (currently 89% there)
• Water efficiency and process improvements
• Paperboard’s role as a plastic alternative and common missteps in adoption
• Metsä Board’s packaging design teams in Finland and the U.S.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and their impact on paper recycling
• Virgin vs. recycled fiber: why both are needed for a healthy recycling loop
• How to get in touch with Kristen and Metsä Board’s design and sales teams
• Upcoming events: Pack Expo Las Vegas (Booth SL19014) and Core Expo in Savannah

Resources Mentioned:

• Metsa Board Americas LinkedIn Page: Visit Metsa Board Americas 
• Kristen Clark: Connect on LinkedIn
• Pack Expo Las Vegas 2025 (Booth SL19014): Event Info & Registration | Booth Details 
• Core Expo Savannah 2025 (Corrugated Conference): CorrExpo Official Site 

Closing Thoughts:
Cory and Kristen emphasize the importance of collaboration, innovation, and education in advancing sustainable packaging. They encourage brands to explore paperboard as a viable alternative to plastic and to reach out for design support and guidance.

___

Updated August 22, 2025

Originally published Jul 28, 2023

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how the term “bioplastics” can refer to many different things, including (but not limited to) biodegradable or compostable plastics. In Part 2, we dove into the difference between “biodegradable” and “compostable,” what happens in a composting environment, and the compostability certifications. Here in Part 3 of this series, we’ll cover the appropriate uses of compostable packaging.

When does it make sense to use compostable packaging?

The primary circularity benefit of using compostable packaging is to help deliver food waste and other organic matter to composting facilities and away from landfills. Food waste in landfills is one of the top sources of waste in landfills and is also a major producer of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is more than 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Diverting food waste from landfills is a key intervention to limit climate change, and compostable packaging can help do that by being the “vehicle” that food scraps ride along with on their way to composting facilities. Composting facilities that accept compostable packaging are able to bring in more food waste than those that don’t.

Compostable packaging should be reserved for packaging that is:

• Used to serve prepared food or contains frozen or raw food
• Likely to deliver food to a composting facility
• Food-contact packaging and food service ware that is not readily recyclable
• Often disposed of with food waste (e.g., produce stickers)
• Fiber-based and is likely to become food-soiled

When should we not use compostable packaging?

Compostable packaging should not be used for the following applications, with some exceptions:

A package that can be made of easily recyclable materials
If a package can be made from a material that’s already widely recycled, that’s usually the better route. Recycling simply has more infrastructure and keeps materials working harder, longer.

Access matters. About 91% of U.S. residents can toss recyclables in the blue bin,i but only about 11% have access to composting programs that actually accept packaging.ii So if the same cup or box can be designed for recycling, it’s far more likely to avoid the landfill.

Value matters too. In a circular economy, we want to keep materials at their “highest and best use.”iii Recycling lets us do that: a PET bottle can be turned back into a PET bottle, and paper can become paper again. Composting, on the other hand, breaks things down into their basic organic parts. That’s still valuable, but it’s a one-way trip, or at least a very roundabout one—those materials can’t come back as the same product again, although the soil could theoretically be used to grow new feedstocks to make new compostable products.

That’s why recyclable should almost always beat compostable, when both are options. Compostables shine in other places—but for materials that are easily and widely recycled, recycling is the stronger play.

Packaging that is part of a suite of recyclable packaging products
Our goal is to make decisions as easy as possible for consumers when they’re discarding a suite of packaging. The ideal packaging system is either entirely recyclable or entirely compostable. If the package system has a mix of both recyclable and compostable items, it is less convenient (not to mention confusing) for consumers to separate items. For example, an e-commerce shipment that comes in a cardboard box ideally just has curbside-recyclable packaging inside so that the consumer can place all items (box, cushioning, etc.) in the recycling bin. Another example would be food service ware that’s entirely compostable. Ideally, a clamshell tray, napkins, and cutlery would all be compostable so the consumer can place everything in one bin.

Packaging not used for food, or packaging for personal care, cleaning products, or cosmetics
Packaging for non-food purposes doesn’t increase the amount of food waste diverted to composters, and thus should be used sparingly. Additionally, leftover product inside (like residues from cleaning products or cosmetics) may not be safe for compost since it will someday be soil. Some composters have raised the issue that if packaging for a lot of non-food items is designed to be compostable then they’ll receive too much packaging relative to food. The influx of compostable packaging may throw off the composters’ chemical balances at their facilities. While composters vary widely in their perspectives on and acceptance of compostable packaging, many composters who accept packaging note that they ultimately want mostly food and yard trimmings and just some packaging.

Moving towards food-contact materials

As we’ve explained in this series, the most appropriate use of compostable packaging is in food-contact applications to divert food scraps to composting facilities. That said, engineering high-performance compostable materials for food-contact applications is challenging, and we aren’t there yet. While it sounds simple to use a compostable film, for example, to package raw chicken, the performance requirements are steep for most food-contact applications: moisture and oxygen barriers, shelf life requirements, grease barriers, and more create an engineering challenge that few have solved, much less at a price point the market is willing to tolerate.

To keep R&D moving and build the scale needed to bring costs down, we’re thoughtfully exploring select lower-performance, non-food applications, like our Sway seaweed-based polybags. We believe non-food pilots can help us learn and scale, without losing sight of the main goal of composting and compostable packaging.

Sway is a compostable replacement for thin-film flexible plastics made with seaweed. We are currently developing Sway for lower-risk, lower-performance uses like protective poly bags for apparel, home goods, accessories, cosmetics, and personal care items. Trials like these help us improve compatibility with manufacturing processes, validate end-of-life pathways, and generate informative data, all of which accelerate progress toward food-grade films. Simultaneously, we’ll be working with material scientists and packaging engineers to improve the barrier properties of Sway films so that they could be used for all kinds of food-contact applications. Until then, we’ll keep development targeted and responsible, and we’ll steer customers to recyclable formats when that’s the better choice.

I have a good use case for compostable packaging. What else should I know?

Compostable packaging should be certified by one of the below bodies or tests:

• BPI Compostable – used for compostable foodservice packaging
• TUV Austria OK Compost (either “HOME” or “INDUSTRIAL”)
• ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868 (more common in the U.S.)
• EN 13432 (more common in Europe)

For more information on compostability certifications, check out the previous Deep Dive in this series!

Compostable packaging should be clearly marked to prevent contamination.
Compostable packaging only turns to compost if it’s composted. Compostable packaging should be marked clearly to instruct consumers to find an outlet to compost it. It should also include any applicable certifications on the package. Signals and wording of compostability also help composters spot compostable packaging and avoid contamination from non-compostable packaging. Best practices include tinting the packaging or food service ware green and displaying the compostability language in large text.

Endnotes

i Sustainable Packaging Coalition, “2020-2021 Centralized Study on Availability of Recycling.” This number represents the “US residents [who] have access to either curbside and/or drop-off recycling programs that accept packaging materials.”

ii Sustainable Packaging Coalition (2021), “Understanding the Role of Compostable Packaging in North America.”

iii For more information, see the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s page on this principle: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circulate-products-and-materials

___________

Where to go from here?

• Visit our library of all our Deep Dives articles here
• Check out our Sustainability Terms Glossary, where we’ll add key terms from each of our Deep Dives over time.
• Sign up for our Deep Dive LinkedIn Newsletter and get these articles delivered straight to your inbox every month.
• Bookmark these pages for future reference!

 

We love this episode of The Downtime Podcast featuring Atlantic Packaging and Memphis Record Pressing by WTWH Media – and we think you will, too!

In this episode, Nick Ott from our Packaging Equipment Program joined forces with Brandon Severs, Co-Founder and CEO of Memphis Record Pressing, and Austin Burke, Operations Manager, to talk about how packaging automation is transforming the vinyl packaging process.

Listen Now:

• Packaging OEM
• Plant Engineering
• Control Engineering

From Punk Rock to Precision

Vinyl records are known for their analog charm and collectible appeal, but behind the scenes, packaging them efficiently and sustainably is no small feat. As Brandon puts it, Memphis Record Pressing went from a “punk rock band” to a “well-orchestrated symphony” thanks to automation support from Atlantic Packaging.

Nick and Austin dive into how our team at Atlantic helped modernize their packaging line with shrink wrap systems, case packers, pallet wrappers, and label applicators, all while preserving the artistry and integrity of each record.

Sustainability Meets Collectibility

The episode also highlights how Memphis Record Pressing uses low-energy, thin-gauge shrink wrap to protect vinyl records without compromising sustainability. As Nick explains, the materials are designed to be clear, durable, and gentle on the product, ensuring that collectors can proudly display their records without removing the protective wrap.

Real Results

Since implementing automation, Memphis Record Pressing has quadrupled its capacity while keeping headcount growth minimal. The result? Faster output, better quality control, and happier operators.

If the Packaging Line Were a Band…

In one of the episode’s most memorable moments, Austin compares their packaging line to an orchestra – precise, harmonious, and efficient. It’s a fitting metaphor for a partnership that blends engineering with artistry.

Final Thoughts

This episode is more than just a behind-the-scenes look at vinyl packaging – it’s a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and craftsmanship. The partnership between Atlantic Packaging and Memphis Record Pressing shows how automation can elevate even the most analog of industries, preserving the artistry of vinyl while meeting modern demands for efficiency and sustainability.

Whether you’re a collector, a packaging professional, or just a fan of great engineering stories, this conversation hits all the right notes. Be sure to give it a listen.

While you’re at it, here’s a look at a spotlight on our partnership with Memphis Record Pressing:

Effective Aug. 18, 2025: FedEx now rounds any fractional inch up to the next whole inch for each package dimension before calculating dimensional (DIM) and billable weight. UPS adopted the same rule the same day.

What this means

• Old: Sub-half-inch fractions often rounded down for length, width, and height.
• New: Any dimensional fraction rounds up (for example, 11.1 inches becomes 12 inches).
• Result: Cubic inches increase, so dimensional weight will exceed scale weight and be used to caclulate billable weight more often. 
• Billable weight: Carriers continue to round any fractional pound up to the next whole pound.

Quick math

• 11.1 x 8.1 x 4.1 inches → 12 x 9 x 5 inches = 540 cubic inches
• DIM: 540 ÷ 139 = 3.88 pounds → billed 4 pounds

Enterprise shippers (under contract)

• Assume it applies: The new measurement rule is part of baseline service; most contract discounts apply after DIM math. Check your agreement for any exceptions.
• Where contracts can help: Large-volume shippers sometimes negotiate a higher DIM divisor or targeted surcharge relief.
• DIM divsor: The DIM divsor set by major carriers is typically 139. Higher divsors, sometimes 166+, are secured by large, enterprise accounts causing prices to go down at scale.

Annual impact and what to do

• Small changes add up: Rounding-driven increases across tens or hundreds of thousands of parcels compound into a meaningful annual spend increase.
• Right-size packaging: Shift to tighter cartons or mailers to reduce void and cubic inches.
• Audit and forecast: Remeasure top items under the “round up each side” rule, update warehouse management systems and label settings, and model before-and-after costs.

Contact your Atlantic sales consultant to discuss right-sizing technology. Atlantic’s Packaging Solution Center experts can support package redesign and testing!

 

Podcast Show Notes: Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors
Episode Title: Sustainable Packaging Summit Utretch Netherlands November 10-12 , 2025
Guest: Tim Sykes, Brand Director of Packaging Europe

Summary:
In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes back Tim Sykes to discuss the upcoming Sustainable Packaging Summit, the evolving role of Packaging Europe, and the global challenges and innovations shaping the packaging industry. Tim shares insights into the summit’s new location in Utrecht, the growing importance of networking, and the expanded focus on international collaboration and emerging technologies.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The mission of Packaging Europe as an educational platform for the packaging value chain
• Strategic challenges in packaging and the increasing importance of sustainability
• The move to Utrecht and the summit’s growth from 250 to 750+ attendees
• Enhancing networking opportunities and social events at the summit
• Global perspectives: partnerships with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Chinese innovators
• Key panels including long-term sustainability goals (2045), geopolitical impacts, and regulatory landscapes
• Participation from global stakeholders including Africa, Latin America, India, and Australia
• Innovations in packaging materials, reuse case studies, and paper bottle technologies
• Expanded exhibition space featuring academic research, startup zones, and curated networking
• Launch of the Emerging Tech Zone hosted by Cory Connors
• The importance of diverse voices and cross-sector collaboration
• How to register and access a 20% discount using code CORYC20 at https://packagingsummit.earth/2025

Resources Mentioned:

• Sustainable Packaging Summit
• Packaging Europe
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition
• European Union’s Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall

Contact:
Listeners can learn more and register at https://packagingsummit.earth/2025 or follow Packaging Europe on LinkedIn for updates.

Closing Thoughts:
Cory and Tim highlight the summit’s role as a global hub for sustainable packaging innovation and collaboration. They encourage professionals across the value chain to attend, engage, and contribute to shaping the future of packaging.

___

From extended producer responsibility (EPR) to reuse, AI-enabled recycling, and California’s SB 54, this conversation explores how policy, innovation, and industry action can accelerate a circular economy for packaging.

Plastic packaging touches nearly every product journey – from the shelf to your doorstep – and it remains one of the world’s most visible waste challenges. In a new episode of the Environmental Law Institute’s People, Places, Planet podcast, host Dara Albrecht talks with Caroline DeLoach, Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging, alongside Daniel Zlatnik from CalRecycle and Dacie Meng from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to unpack what’s changing and what’s next for sustainable packaging.

🎧 Listen to the episode: Packaged with Care: Plastic Packaging, EPR, and the Circular Economy

What you’ll hear in this conversation

• The current state of plastic production and waste (01:32): Why packaging dominates the waste stream, and where interventions can have the most impact.
• Towards a circular economy (13:07): Moving from take‑make‑waste to systems that prioritize reduction, reuse, and high‑quality recycling.
• International efforts (17:14): How global treaty negotiations and cross‑border collaboration are shaping national and state approaches.
• Innovation & the private sector (21:17): From AI‑powered sortation to closed‑loop reuse, what’s real now and what will take partnership to be able to scale.
• Consumer choices & sustainable packaging (35:19): What brands can (and shouldn’t) ask consumers to do.
• EPR 101 (37:36): What extended producer responsibility means for brands, municipalities, and material systems.
• California’s SB 54 (48:04): Why this landmark law matters beyond California and what its ambition could signal for other states.
• Closing thoughts (01:01:47): Where collaboration between policymakers, NGOs, and industry can move fastest.

Recording note: The episode was recorded June 20, 2025, ahead of the INC‑5.2 negotiating session. For the latest on international plastics treaty developments, please visit UNEP’s website.

Atlantic’s Approach Toward a Circular Economy

At Atlantic, we partner with brands to navigate a rapidly shifting landscape. These partnerships tackle the balancing of performance, cost, consumer experience, and environmental outcomes. EPR frameworks are expanding in the U.S., and implementation details are coming into focus. Brands need practical guidance to prepare product and data systems, evaluate material trade‑offs, and plan for fee structures and design criteria. Caroline and our sustainability team support customers through this transition with clear, actionable steps rooted in systems thinking and real‑world operations.

About Caroline DeLoach

Caroline DeLoach serves as Atlantic Packaging’s Director of Sustainability, advising companies across industries on sustainable packaging strategy, from recyclability and reuse pathways to regulatory readiness and consumer behavior. She brings an interdisciplinary background spanning policy, business, and industrial ecology, with degrees from Georgetown University (B.A.) and Yale School of Management (MBA) and coursework at the Yale School of the Environment. Her work reflects a commitment to evidence‑based decision‑making that advances a circular economy.

If your team is building an EPR‑ready roadmap or pressure‑testing packaging choices across materials and end‑of‑life pathways, Caroline and our sustainability team can help.

 

Keep learning with Atlantic

• Work with our Sustainability Team: From EPR readiness to reuse pilots, get a plan tailored to your portfolio  → Sustainability Program
• Explore circular packaging strategies: Dive into our primers and updates on the evolving EPR landscape and design-for-circularity best practices  → Your Guide to EPR and The Recycling Reset Series
• Stay in the loop: Subscribe to Atlantic’s newsletter for policy updates, case studies, and technology spotlights.

Episode Title: Driving Innovation in Produce Packaging with Vonnie Estes
Guest: Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association

Summary:
In this episode, Cory Connors talks with Vonnie Estes about her journey from plant pathology to leading innovation in the produce industry. Vonnie shares insights into her role at IFPA, the importance of technology in agriculture, and the challenges of creating sustainable packaging solutions for fresh produce. She also highlights the USDA-funded Fresh Field Catalyst Program and its mission to reduce single-use plastics in packaging while maintaining food safety and reducing waste.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Vonnie’s background in agriculture and technology commercialization
• The role of the International Fresh Produce Association in driving innovation
• Overview of the Fresh Field Catalyst Program and its USDA funding
• Challenges of replacing single-use plastics in produce packaging
• Upcoming Demo Day event in Salinas, CA on August 20
• Examples of innovative solutions, including compostable tags and algae-based coatings
• The impact of global regulations and non-tariff trade barriers on packaging
• Opportunities for companies to secure future funding for sustainable packaging projects

Resources Mentioned:

• International Fresh Produce Association
• Fresh Field Catalyst Program
• USDA Grant for Sustainable Packaging Innovation
• Companies featured in the program: Kwik Lock, Sway

Contact:
For more information or to attend the Demo Day event, reach out to Vonnie Estes via LinkedIn.

Closing Thoughts:
Cory and Vonnie stress the urgency of developing sustainable packaging solutions that balance environmental responsibility with food safety and quality. They encourage innovators and industry leaders to collaborate and take advantage of funding opportunities to accelerate change in the produce sector.

___