Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors presented by Atlantic Packaging

Cory Connors

Join industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers as we explore the future of packaging through the lens of sustainability.  Hosted by Cory Connors, an industry expert with over 25 years of experience, and presented by Atlantic Packaging, the leader in innovative sustainable solutions, we dive into what’s working (and what’s not) from cutting-edge materials to circular design strategies that can reduce waste and protect our planet.  Each episode blends real data, expert insights, and a dose of fun to help you stay informed and inspired. Whether you're in the packaging industry or simply passionate about sustainability, this podcast is your weekly go-to resource for making smarter, greener choices.

  1. 1 day ago

    What’s Next for the U.S. Plastics Pact? | Crystal Bayliss

    In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Crystal Bayliss, Executive Director of the U.S. Plastics Pact, to unpack a pivotal year for the organization. Crystal shares how a sustainability sign on an office water cooler sparked her personal journey from food and ingredient procurement into packaging sustainability, and how that path led her to the Pact — first as a member representative, then as a program manager, and eventually to the organization's top leadership role. Cory and Crystal dig into the departure of major member companies ahead of the 2025 targets, why the original goals were always meant to be a "blank sheet of paper" starting point, and what comes next as the Pact rolls out new, more flexible ways for companies to engage. The conversation also covers the recent leadership transition at the Pact, the case for voluntary industry action paving the way for smart regulation, and the newly released Film & Flex Circularity framework tackling one of packaging's most contentious materials. Key Topics Discussed: Crystal's path from procurement into plastics sustainability and up through the U.S. Plastics PactWhy major brands (Walmart, Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé) stepped back from the Pact ahead of the 2025 deadlineThe reality behind the 2025 targets: only ~50% of packaging reusable/recyclable/compostable and 11% recycled/bio-based content achieved, against 100% and 30% goalsNew, more flexible engagement tiers coming soon for Pact members with narrower packaging portfoliosThe recent CEO transition and Crystal's move from Director of Strategy & Engagement to Interim CEO to Executive DirectorVoluntary industry action vs. mandatory regulation, and how the Food Safety Modernization Act offers a precedentCalifornia's SB 54 and the Pact's role advising policymakersThe new "Journey to Film & Flex Circularity" framework and the unique challenges of flexible film packagingAtlantic Packaging's circular stretch film recycling system in North CarolinaWhat gives Crystal hope for the future of sustainable packaging amid regulatory uncertaintyResources Mentioned: U.S. Plastics PactJourney to Film & Flex Circularity: A Framework of Necessary Design, Collection, and End Market LeversCalifornia SB 54, Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility ActFDA Food Safety Modernization ActEllen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy InitiativeContact: Listeners interested in learning more about the U.S. Plastics Pact or its upcoming membership options can visit usplasticspact.org. Support our Sponsors: 3M https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/packaging-shipping-fulfillment-us/applications/sealing-recycled-corrugate/  Specright: https://www.specright.com/  Forest: https://www.forest-pkg.com/ Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  2. 6 days ago

    Is Your Recycling Label Still Legal? | Emily Williams

    In this episode, Cory Connors reconnects with longtime industry friend Emily Williams to discuss her new role leading How2Recycle. Emily traces her path from chemical engineering through roles at Michelman and TC Transcontinental (now ProAmpac) into a career built around product sustainability, policy, and partnerships. The conversation dives into the chaos surrounding California's SB 343 truth-in-labeling law and the recent injunction affecting it, how How2Recycle is guiding members through the uncertainty, and what's ahead at the organization's September 30th event in San Diego. Along the way, Emily and Cory swap stories about being recognized in public, obsessively sorting recycling bins at airports, and the growing culture of pre-competitive collaboration across the packaging industry. Key Topics Discussed: Emily's path from chemical engineering into packaging sustainability, and her new role at How2RecycleThe evolution of sustainability from a niche "side room" topic to a central industry focusThe SB 343 injunction: what it does and doesn't change, and How2Recycle's "hold the line" guidance for membersCalifornia's 60/60 recyclability threshold and the confusion it creates for brandsHow companies are responding differently to SB 343, from full compliance to pausing label rolloutsThe label redesign process: consumer studies, working groups, and industry jargon that doesn't translate to shoppersOngoing research into better consumer messaging around cleaning and emptying packagingContamination in recycling streams, including a look at the "wall of shame" at recovery facilitiesThe role of trust, transparency, and credibility in keeping recycling systems functionalNonprofit advocacy vs. lobbying: how How2Recycle can influence policy within legal limitsA sneak peek at the September 30th How2Recycle event in San Diego, including a cross-association panel on changing laws like SB 343The rise of pre-competitive collaboration as an industry normHow2Recycle's expanded member engagement efforts, including booths at Advance and the Summit and high-attendance member town hallsResources Mentioned: How2RecycleSustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) events: Advance and the SummitCalifornia SB 343 (Truth in Labeling law)Circular Action Alliance (Oregon)Ameripen and the PAC ActFPA's Fall Flex Forward meetingFPI's Spring meetingSCS GlobalContact: Listeners interested in How2Recycle's labeling program, upcoming events, or member resources can connect with Emily Williams and the How2Recycle team at their September 30th event in San Diego, or at upcoming SPC events including Advance and the Summit this fall. Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: - 3M - Specright - Forest  https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  3. 9 Aug

    What Happens When Companies Pay for Packaging Waste? | Kim Holmes

    In this episode, Cory Connors talks with Kim Holmes about Oregon's landmark position as the first U.S. state to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Kim traces her path into sustainability — from a paralegal detour to a master's in urban studies at Portland State University, through hands-on recycling and waste characterization work with Community Environmental Services — before landing in her current role leading Oregon's CAA team. She breaks down what a producer responsibility organization actually does, how Oregon's "shared responsibility" model differs from other states, and what's driving the buildout of the Recycle On network of drop-off sites across the state. Key Topics Discussed: Kim's career path into recycling and sustainability policyWhat the Circular Action Alliance is and how it supports producer compliance across Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, and WashingtonOregon's shared responsibility model between producers, local governments, and haulersThe Recycle On brand: public education, outreach, and drop-off collection networkHow producer fees are calculated and why they vary state to stateBuildout of Oregon's 144 planned collection points, including partnerships with transfer stations and Southern Oregon GoodwillMaterials accepted at drop-off centers (film, rigid plastics, foil, shredded paper, glass) versus the curbside systemHow Recycle On differs from Oregon's Bottle Bill deposit systemThe NAW constitutional challenge to Oregon's EPR law and its narrow preliminary injunctionEPR's long track record internationally (Canada, Europe, and beyond) versus its newness in the U.S.Recent wins: roll cart rollouts in The Dalles, new truck deliveries in Southern Oregon, and transportation cost reimbursement for rural communitiesThe Contamination Audit Center and Contamination Reduction Funding mechanismWorking toward a national responsible end-market verification standard with SCS GlobalHow other states are watching Oregon's implementation and where harmonization may emergeResources Mentioned: Recycle On Oregon page Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)SCS GlobalContact: Listeners can learn more about Oregon's EPR programs, find drop-off locations, and get in touch with the Circular Action Alliance team at recycleon.org/oregon. Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: - 3M - Specright - Forest  https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  4. 2 Aug

    What’s Really Driving Corrugated Demand | Ryan Fox

    In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes back longtime friend of the show Ryan Fox from Bloomberg Intelligence for his fourth or fifth appearance. Ryan shares how he stumbled into the corrugated industry by accident in 2010 after a career detour through ministry and fitness equipment sales, and how he eventually landed at Bloomberg Intelligence in 2020 to cover the industry full time. The conversation dives deep into Ryan's one-of-a-kind Box Makers' Certificate (BMC) collection, the surprising history behind why BMCs exist at all, and what's really driving corrugated demand (or the lack of it) in 2025.  Key Topics Discussed:  Ryan's winding path into corrugated: ministry, fitness equipment sales, an MBA in innovation management, and a chance connection into a box plant sales jobHow Ryan became a full-time industry analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence starting April 1, 2020Ryan's collection of over 500 Box Makers' Certificates (BMCs), how he organizes and classifies them, and his "This Old Box" LinkedIn seriesThe 100+ year history of the BMC: corrugated's origins in the late 1890s, Robert Gare's accidental invention, and Sam Langston's early corrugating machineThe 1914 Pridham decision, railroad price gouging, and how Rule 41 created the need for box certificationThe 1960s shift with NMFC Item 222 and how the 42-lb kraft linerboard / 26-lb semi-chemical medium index shaped "should-cost" pricing for 200-lb Mullen boardThe industry's move from Mullen to ECT (Edge Crush Test) starting in 1990, and why 32 ECT (C-flute) dominates as the commodity grade for single-wall boxesThe science of box strength: the McKee formulation, predicting ECT from paper properties, and tools like the Chalmers Dynamic Stiffness TesterBehind-the-scenes craftsmanship: corrugator operations, die-mounting, flexographic print plates, and why a cutting die can cost $5,000The value of skilled trades on the plant floor and the case for box buyers to tour a corrugated plant2025 industry trends: square footage of boxes produced matching 1994 levels, the impact of offshoring pre-packaged imports, and 400,000+ open U.S. manufacturing jobsWages and opportunity in box plants, from $22/hour entry-level to $35/hour for skilled press operatorsWhy corrugated demand spiked during the pandemic and has since receded: shifting consumer spending, GLP-1 drugs, e-commerce paper mailers, and macro headwinds like conflict in Iran and rising freight and gas pricesOutlook for corrugated volume heading into the next 12-18 monthsResources Mentioned: Bloomberg IntelligenceFibre Box Association dataLinkedIn: Ryan FoxLinkedIn: BloombergContact:   Listeners interested in Bloomberg Intelligence's corrugated and box industry research can reach out to Ryan Fox. Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: - 3M - Specright - Forest  Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  5. 26 Jul

    Where Venture Capital Meets Sustainability with Matthew Wright, Laura Foti & Matt Saunders

    In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes three influential leaders — Matthew Wright, Laura Foti, and Matt Saunders — to discuss the new partnership between Specright and New Earth Ventures. Together, they explore how digitizing packaging data, leveraging AI, and strategically deploying venture capital can accelerate sustainability, compliance, and product innovation across global supply chains. The conversation highlights the growing need for accurate packaging data, the impact of extended producer responsibility (EPR), and how purposeful investment can support both the planet and profitable business growth. Key Topics Discussed: Specright’s origin and mission to eliminate waste through better data.Why packaging data accuracy is essential for sustainability and compliance.New Earth Ventures’ investment strategy and partnership goals.How EPR regulations drive the need for digitized, centralized spec data.The role of AI in transforming packaging and product development.Broader uses of Specright beyond EPR, including search, NPD, and procurement.Resources Mentioned: Specright – Specification Data Management PlatformNew Earth Ventures – Hybrid corporate venture fund from Atlantic PackagingAtlantic Packaging Solution CenterContact: New Earth Ventures: InstagramLinkedInWebsite Specright:  LinkedIn WebsiteClosing Thoughts: Cory and the guests emphasize that packaging is entering a new era driven by AI, regulation, and data transparency. They highlight how collaboration between innovators, investors, and manufacturers can create a more sustainable world—one where packaging is smarter, supply chains are more efficient, and businesses thrive through responsible innovation. Together, Specright and New Earth Ventures aim to redefine how packaging is designed, measured, and managed. Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  6. 19 Jul

    Sustainable Hospitality and Travel with Greg M. Poirier

    In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Greg Poirier to discuss how hotels and resorts can operate more sustainably and how travelers can reduce their impact on the road. Greg shares his path from dishwasher and night auditor to hotel general manager, and how his interest in sustainability and social equity led him to Audubon International. He explains the origins of Audubon International — founded in 1987 as a certification body rooted in the legacy of the New York State Audubon chapter — and walks through how its hospitality certification program works, from membership and a detailed designation application to on-site, third-party audits. Greg and Cory dig into practical sustainability opportunities in the industry, including waste tracking, energy savings, refillable programs, and the emerging trend of planned sustainable resort communities. Key Topics Discussed:  Greg's career journey through independent hotels and into sustainability leadershipThe history and mission of Audubon International across golf, communities, and hospitalityUsing tools like EZ3 Data to track haulers, containers, and waste metricsSmart thermostats and occupancy-based energy savings of 20–40% on electric billsRefillable water programs, filtered water stations, and moving away from single-use plastic bottlesThe nuance of bulk shampoo/conditioner dispensers and the role of Clean the WorldAudubon International's four certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and PlatinumAdvice for travelers on how to choose and advocate for more sustainable propertiesResources Mentioned: Audubon InternationalEZ3 Data (waste tracking platform)Clean the World (bulk amenity recycling program)Populus Hotels (Denver, Seattle)Cabot developmentsBlack Desert Resort (Utah)Contact: Listeners can learn more or reach out to Greg directly: - Website: auduboninternational.org - Email: greg@auduboninternational.org Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: ⁃www.3M.com/sustainablepackaging ⁃https://www.specright.com/ https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  7. 13 Jul

    How to Fix Failing Tape: 3M's Julianne Strunk & Kelsey LaCoursiere

    In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes back Julianne Strunk and introduces Kelsey LaCoursiere as they discuss 3M's latest packaging innovations and their upcoming PACK EXPO International booth in Chicago. Julianne shares a career update, including her recent move into a marketing management role overseeing all of 3M packaging in North America, as well as personal news that she's expecting her second child. Kelsey steps into the spotlight as the new owner of 3M's Matic case sealer and sustainable packaging portfolio. The conversation dives into why tape adhesion is becoming more challenging as recycled and alternative fiber content (like eucalyptus) increases in corrugate, along with emerging trends in carry handles, recycling stream considerations, and where 3M sees sustainable packaging headed over the next five to ten years. Key Topics Discussed: Julianne's transition into a marketing management role and Kelsey's move into the 3M Matic and sustainable portfolio3M's frontline marketing internship program and how interns are contributing fresh insight, including AI perspectives3M's role as founding sponsor of the podcast and the value of reaching a sustainability-focused audienceWhy recycled corrugate and non-tree fibers like eucalyptus make it harder for tape to adhere, and how 3M's tape line is engineered to address thisGrowth trends in the carry handle market, including bundling, sustainability drivers, and new global use casesThe growing importance of recycling streams and post-consumer considerations, including 3M's recyclable 570 paper tapeCustomer demand for custom-printed tape and the shift from water-activated tape to paper tape3M's long-term focus on marrying sustainable consumable products with sustainable automationA preview of 3M's PACK EXPO 2026 booth in Chicago, centered on a new recycled corrugate "sealing made simple" campaignResources Mentioned: 3M Packaging3M Box Sealing Equipment3M Primary PackagingPACK EXPO International, Chicago, 2026Contact: To connect with 3M's packaging team directly, reach out through their support page. To find 3M at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago, check the exhibitor directory and plan your visit here. Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: - 3M - Specright - Forest  https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

  8. 12 Jul

    From Banana Farm Waste to Award-Winning Paper with Bethelhem Dejene

    In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Bethelhem Dejene to discuss her journey from observing waste at an Ethiopian fruit and vegetable market to founding Zafree Papers, an award-winning startup manufacturing tree-free virgin pulp from banana farm waste. Bethelhem shares how she iterated through multiple business models before discovering the potential of banana fiber, how Zafree partners with converters to supply sustainable packaging materials, and what it meant to become the first African company to win the Sustainable Packaging Summit Innovation Challenge. Key Topics Discussed: Bethelhem's origin story and how a visit to a fruit and vegetable market sparked a waste management businessThe evolution from paper recycling to manufacturing virgin pulp from banana farm wasteHow Zafree sources banana stems and leaves after harvest and extracts fiber to produce pulpThe types of packaging products the pulp can be converted into, including corrugated, folding carton, duplex, and molded packagingZafree's partnership model with converters and customers such as AB InBevWinning two awards at the Sustainable Packaging Summit Innovation Challenge as the first African company to compete at that levelPlans to have a booth at the upcoming Sustainable Packaging Summit in UtrechtThe potential to scale the banana fiber model across Africa and other banana-producing regionsScaling from a pilot factory to a commercial facility targeting 100 tons per day capacityZafree's active Series A fundraising roundAdvice for sustainable packaging founders: align cost, quality, and impact or the business will not scaleResources Mentioned: Zafree PapersBethelhem DejeneSustainable Packaging SummitAB InBev SustainabilitySway Contact: Listeners interested in working with Zafree Papers or learning more about their Series A fundraising round can reach out to Bethelhem Dejene via LinkedIn. Support our Sponsors  Learn more here: - 3M - Specright - Forest  Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors! https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

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Join industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers as we explore the future of packaging through the lens of sustainability.  Hosted by Cory Connors, an industry expert with over 25 years of experience, and presented by Atlantic Packaging, the leader in innovative sustainable solutions, we dive into what’s working (and what’s not) from cutting-edge materials to circular design strategies that can reduce waste and protect our planet.  Each episode blends real data, expert insights, and a dose of fun to help you stay informed and inspired. Whether you're in the packaging industry or simply passionate about sustainability, this podcast is your weekly go-to resource for making smarter, greener choices.

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