In 2012, Atlantic officially launched our Wellness Program.  And from those early days, our commitment to employee well-being has gone far beyond the workplace. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight our growing partnership with Novant Health—a collaboration that’s helping us bring accessible, high-quality healthcare directly to our team members.

This partnership began with a shared vision: to make preventive care more convenient and impactful for our employees. Through Novant Health Employer Solutions, we’ve hosted onsite annual physicals at our Spring Garden and Beechwood locations, making it easier than ever for employees to prioritize their health. These events have already made a difference—one employee, for example, received a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis during an onsite visit and has since lost over 50 pounds, significantly improving their health outcomes thanks to early intervention and continued support.

This story is just one example of how our collaboration with Novant Health is transforming lives. It also reflects the guiding principles of our Atlantic Wellness Program, which is designed to support the whole person—physically, mentally, and emotionally. From personalized care plans and mental health resources to fitness challenges and nutrition coaching, our wellness initiatives are built to empower every employee on their health journey.

We’re especially excited about how this partnership aligns with our broader wellness goals. As part of our Wellness Program, we’ve long encouraged employees to establish a relationship with a primary care provider (PCP)—a proven step toward better long-term health. Novant Health’s expansive network of hospitals and clinics across North Carolina makes it easier for our team to find and connect with trusted providers.

This collaboration also reflects our belief that workplace wellness is more than a benefit—it’s a culture. Whether it’s through onsite care, mental health support, or our many wellness challenges throughout the year, like the Get Outside Nature Challenge and the Whole Food Challenge, we’re creating a workplace where health and well-being are part of the everyday and community experience.

We’re grateful to Novant Health for their partnership and look forward to continuing this journey together. Because when our people thrive, so does our company.

Learn more about our Wellness Program here.

At Atlantic Packaging, we believe that integrating nature into our workspaces is essential for the well-being and productivity of our employees. Our recent feature in Forbes, Employers Giving Workplaces Greater Exposure to Nature, highlights our innovative approach to creating healthier and more engaging work environments.

The Canopy Report Insights
The Arbor Day Foundation’s 2024 edition of The Canopy Report underscores the importance of trees and green spaces in American lives. According to the report, 88% of people regularly engage in activities near trees and green spaces, leading to higher mental and physical health scores. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, place a high value on nature, reflecting a growing trend among employers to incorporate natural elements into workplace design.

Wellbeing in the Worplace
Aligned with these findings, Atlantic Packaging’s approach of “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” is alive in our workplaces, aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of our 2,000 employees across more than 12 locations nationwide. Here are some of the key initiatives we have implemented:

• Green Spaces: We have incorporated green spaces with native plants where employees can decompress and rejuvenate
• Xeriscape Certification: We are working towards a Xeriscape certification, focusing on outdoor landscaping with drought-resistant native plants
• Nature Murals: We have adorned our warehouses and other locations lacking natural light with murals depicting nature

Industry Trends
The feature in Forbes also highlights the broader industry trend of employers integrating nature into workplace design to attract and retain employees. This trend is in line with the growth of the U.S. corporate wellness market, which was valued at $11.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $16.2 billion by 2029.

Atlantic Packaging is proud to be at the forefront of incorporating nature into our workspaces. By creating environments that promote mental and physical well-being, we are not only enhancing the lives of our employees but also contributing to a healthier planet.

Read the full Forbes article here.

We are  proud to be chosen as the winners of the 2025 Palmetto Workforce Vitality Award recognizing organizations championing health and wellness in the workplace. Atlantic Packaging president and founder of A New Earth Project, Wes Carter, was in attendance at the SC Resiliency Conference in Greenville, SC in April 2025 to be presented with this honor.

The Workforce Vitality Award was first introduced at the inaugural SC Resilience Conference in 2024. This award celebrates organizations that go above and beyond in fostering a culture of health and well-being among employees. Criteria include:

 > Initiatives that support physical, mental, and financial wellness

 > Efforts that encourage employee engagement in community service and volunteerism

The award highlights a holistic approach to workforce vitality, both within the organization and in the broader community.

At Atlantic Packaging and A New Earth Project, we have a vision for Healthy People, Healthy Planet, recognizing the fundamental connection between human wellbeing and planetary health.  Our committment to wellness in the workplace is a core pillar of our approach.

Our Wellness Program was launched in 2012 and has evolved to encompass all aspects of our wellbeing, with Guiding Principles that include connection, nourishment, purpose, and movement. Through strategic planning and communications, and with a diverse offering of resources, tools, and incentives, our Wellness Program has become embedded in our company culture.

A New Earth Project was officially launched in 2022 and has grown to become the guiding force by which we make all decisions. A New Earth Project today is a movement grounded in our deep commitment to the health and well-being of future generations, ensuring that the materials we use today support a cleaner, more regenerative tomorrow.

We are proud to be recognized by this deciding group of individuals and organizations dedicated to wellbeing by encouraging and incentivizing people to get outdoors so they gain an appreciation and begin to actively do their part to protect the outdoors. We are so aligned in our vision in this way and we are grateful for this recognition.

Congratulations to the leadership at Atlantic Packaging and A New Earth Project, and to all employees and associates of Atlantic who embody this philosophy and approach to make this a reality every day ❤️ 🌎 ⭐️

As the days grow longer and the weather warms up, there’s no better time to reconnect with nature. At Atlantic Packaging, we’re excited to announce the return of our Get Outside Nature Challenge, running from April 1st to April 30th. This initiative is designed to encourage everyone to spend more time outdoors and experience the wonderful numerous benefits that nature has to offer.  We encourage you play along with us!

The Healing Power of Nature

Spending time in nature is more than just a pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Research has shown that just 20 minutes a day outside can have profound impacts on our health and well-being. Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• Reduced Stress: Nature has a calming effect that can help lower stress levels and improve overall mood.
• Improved Mood: Exposure to natural environments can enhance your mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Enhanced Creativity: Time spent outdoors can inspire creativity and improve problem-solving skills.
• Lower Blood Pressure: Regular exposure to nature can help reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease.
• Better Immune Health: Being in nature can boost your immune system, making you more resilient to illnesses.

Join the Fun

For the month of April, we are challenging our employees to spend at least 20 minutes outside each day. This would be a great time for you to set your intentions with spending time outside, too! Whether it’s a walk in the park, a hike in the woods, or simply enjoying your backyard, every minute counts. The goal is to accumulate a total of 600 minutes of outdoor time by the end of the month.

Nature Bingo

To make the challenge even more engaging, we added a fun Nature Bingo game as a way to to explore new activities and stay motivated throughout the challenge.  Check out our Nature Bingo card here and join the fun!

Our Commitment to Well-being and Sustainability

The Get Outside Nature Challenge is part of our broader commitment to well-being and sustainability. By encouraging more time spent in nature, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the environment and promote healthier lifestyles.

We invite everyone to join us in this challenge and make a conscious effort to spend more time in nature. Share your experiences and inspire others by posting pictures and stories of your outdoor adventures. Let’s come together to embrace the healing power of nature and make this April a month of outdoor exploration and well-being.

To learn more about Wellness at Atlantic, visit our Wellness Program.

We are so proud to be chosen for the 2025 NC Culture of Wellbeing Award by the NC Business Coalition on Health! This statewide award recognizes the best employer wellness programs in North Carolina.

Programs are evaluated across five main components for this award. We have been building and evolving our Wellness Program over a decade and are thrilled to see how our strategies align with each of these well-researched and established components.

Culture, Foundation and Policies – this includes senior leadership involvement and support as well as how well the program is embedded in company culture.

Progam Offerings, Tools, and Incentives – this includes resources corresponding to our Guiding Principles (Pillars/Dimensions of Health), and resources we make available onsite, via telephonic, and digital (online) programs, as well as rewards for participating and engaging.

Strategic Planning / Communications – this is evaluated according to the goals and objectives we set out aligned with our multi-year strategy, and the channels of communication we maintain to make sure all employees are engaged.

Reporting Metrics & Evaluation – a great plan is not complete without a means of evaluation and measurement of engagement to ensure the program resonates with the employee base.

Innovation – this recognition is also awarded based on our unique and innovative approach to wellbeing and the different aspects of our program.

Congratulations to Becca Schusler, our Wellness Program Director, and her amazing team of supporters throughout the company on being chosen for this award for 2025. Congratulations also to the leadership team at Atlantic for having the vision for such a robust program. 

We also want to thank the employees of Atlantic Packaging for embracing this program for so many years. The engagement from everyone is inspiring and is truly the engine of the entire program. Thank you and congratulations!!

We’re excited to share our 2023-2024 Healthy People, Healthy Planet Report with you!

Over the last three years, we’ve released a Sustainability Report that highlights the Sustainability Program’s initiatives, goals, and progress of Atlantic and A New Earth Project.  

It has become clear that our journey toward environmental sustainability is closely tied to health: planetary health of course, but also our health as humans. The oceans, lakes, and rivers we fight to keep clean are the same waters that sustain us. Our search for new and better materials for packaging has just as much to do with protecting human health as it does protecting the environment. 

For that reason, as we roll out our 2023-2024 report, we’re excited to expand it from being just a sustainability report to our first Healthy People, Healthy Planet Report. It covers environmental sustainability alongside our ever-growing Wellness Program that has become a cornerstone of our culture. It also covers the critical intersection of sustainability, wellness, and the initiatives we’re taking to weave these principles together.  

“Whether it be our own personal health, the health of our communities and businesses, or the health of our shared, natural ecosystems, we know that health must be holistically cultivated to create a more beautiful thriving world for all life,” says Atlantic Packaging President Wes Carter. “Because of this understanding, we have established health as the throughline by which we make all decisions at Atlantic. It only made sense to weave together our sustainability and wellness initiatives into a comprehensive report through this first Healthy People, Healthy Planet report.” 

In the sustainability section, the report brings an expanded overview of our sustainable packaging offering, alongside new customer success stories and a feature on our new product, FibreStrap. It also includes updates on our closed-loop system for stretch film and details about Atlantic’s inclusion on CDP’s A List for environmental transparency and performance on climate change. 

The wellness section provides a brand-new overview of how we’ve integrated health and wellness into our operations and culture. A special section on “healthy people, healthy planet” highlights the areas we’ve worked on together to further both planetary and human health.  

Atlantic is excited to share this report with our customers, suppliers, and partners as we continue to be lead in health and well-being across the supply chain. 

A group of Atlantic employees took an educational field trip to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, North Carolina. The visit strengthened the dedication we have to our mission. We must come together to end plastic pollution.

Single-use plastic packaging harms wildlife and is bad for the planet. At Atlantic, we take interest in learning about how pollution impacts marine life. This is one of the best ways to discover how the existing supply chain is causing harm to the environment.

Atlantic is the most technical resource in sustainable packaging and a protector of its namesake, the Atlantic Ocean. Our A New Earth Project initiative aims to create packaging that is 100% curbside recyclable, made from renewable resources, and not harmful to wildlife or ecosystems.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit that aims to protect sea turtles. They do this through the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick or injured turtles. The organization also offers public education and learning opportunities for people interested in turtles, ancient creatures that face the threat of extinction.

We spent the day learning from turtle experts and observing the impacts of plastic pollution on turtles. Reading and hearing about the effects of plastic pollution on sea creatures is disheartening for anyone. Seeing turtles injured by plastic litter firsthand will turn you into an advocate for change.

At the turtle medical facility we saw real evidence of why we are so driven to do what we do. The lessons we learned at the Karen Beasley Center will resonate with us for the rest of our lives.

On the ride back to the office from the turtle center we took time to reflect on our experiences and learnings. This adventure makes us want to work even harder to end plastic pollution. Seeing is believing. We give our thanks to the passionate staff and volunteers at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

We will rid the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers of plastic pollution.

We do this now. We do this together.

Atlantic collectively raised $21,414 for the survivors of the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our hearts go out to the victims and survivors of the tragic mass shooting.

Atlantic collaborated with VictimsFirst, a network of survivors and relatives affected by previous mass shootings, to raise money for those impacted by the incident at Robb Elementary. 100% of what VictimsFirst collects goes directly to the victims and survivors of shootings.

Thank you to VictimsFirst and all the incredible organizations working to heal and support communities impacted by violence.

VictimsFirst reached out to an Atlantic representative and wanted to thank everyone at the organization who was able to contribute.

Atlantic employees raised $10,707, and this was matched by Atlantic Corporation during a fundraising campaign that lasted from May 26, 2022, to June 9, 2022. The total amount raised was $21,414 for those impacted by the shooting in Uvalde.

Whenever Atlantic organizes a fundraiser for those impacted by tragedy, it is heartwarming and inspiring to see so many individual colleagues come together to support those in need.

Thank you.