Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors presented by Atlantic Packaging

In this episode of Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors, Huw Curtis shares how he approaches sustainable procurement in the maple industry, where packaging decisions must support both the customer experience and the long-term health of the forests that make the business possible. Cory and Huw explore why sustainability cannot sit within a single department, how trusted supplier relationships he...

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Hugo Adams , CEO of Kelpi, to discuss how the company is using seaweed-based coatings to replace fossil fuel-derived plastics in packaging. Hugo explains how Kelpi combines seaweed carbohydrates with vegetable oils to create high-performance barrier coatings for paper, card, and fiber packaging that are designed to be recyclable and biodegradable. The convers...

In this episode of Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors, Cory sits down with Ian Welsh, Co-Founder and Chair of Innovation Forum, and David Lickstein, Global Head of Packaging, Innovation, Sustainability & Experience at Kenvue, ahead of the upcoming Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum in Chicago. The conversation explores why the future of sustainable packaging depends on collaboration a...

This episode kicks off with a special announcement brought to you from See Change Sessions 2026. Sander Defruyt of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and today's guest, Allison Lin of Mars, discuss the launch of the PaperFlex Consortium, an R&D consortium aimed at accelerating innovation for paper-based flexible packaging. This consortium is convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, powered...

In this episode, Cory Connors reconnects with Lara Botta , Vice President of Bota Eco Packaging, joining from Italy. They discuss the intricacies of new sustainability regulations and the paperwork burden they place on consumers and companies alike, and how Lara's team works to make compliance as simple as possible. Lara shares how Bota Eco Packaging, founded by her grandmother in 1947, has s...

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with David Glover of 3M to preview what attendees can expect from 3M's booth at PACK EXPO, taking place October 18–21 in Chicago. David shares his 14-year journey at 3M — from product specialist to global sales trainer to portfolio marketing manager — and explains why he considers himself a "tape nerd." The conversation covers 3M's long h...

In this episode, Cory Connors talks with Teresa Williams , Director of Strategic Accounts for GS1 US, about Sunrise 2027 — the biggest shift in retail packaging data in 50 years. Teresa explains how the industry is transitioning from the traditional 1D linear UPC barcode to a data-rich 2D barcode (a QR code powered by GS1 Digital Link), why it matters for brands and retailers, and how companies ca...

Recorded live on stage at Atlantic Packaging's National Sales Meeting, this special episode traces Atlantic Packaging's remarkable 80-year journey from a small-town North Carolina newspaper to a billion-dollar, family-owned leader in sustainable packaging. Host Cory Connors sits down with CEO Rusty Carter, VP Bill Balkcum, and President Wes Carter to unpack the company's origin stor...

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Anna Perlina , a sustainable packaging and EU PPWR consultant with Integrity Solutions, to unpack why the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is reshaping how companies — even those outside Europe — think about packaging strategy. Anna traces her path from leading global packaging procurement at a major FMCG company to founding her...

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Delegate Jackie Hope Glass of the Virginia House of Delegates to talk about the road that led her from community organizing to the statehouse, and what that experience has taught her about building real partnerships between policymakers and the packaging industry. Jackie shares how a habit of "minding other people's business" turned into...

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 a...

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 tru...

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...

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 conversati...

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. Th...

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 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 expectin...

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 con...

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Adam Brundage from Nike to discuss the company's wide-ranging sustainability efforts. Adam shares his unconventional path into sustainability beginning with a degree in meteorology and atmospheric science and how that led him to learning about life-cycle assessments, discovering greenhouse gas analysis, and pursuing a decade-long career at one of the wor...

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Danielle Goad to discuss her journey at Specright, her recent move to London to lead the EMEA division, and the growing importance of packaging data management in the age of PPWR. Danielle shares how Specright helps companies build a foundational data infrastructure to navigate complex regulations, reduce reporting burdens, and drive sustainable innovation. S...

In this episode, Cory Connors reconnects with his friend Mitch Rovito from Burton Snowboards following a tour of Burton's Vermont facility. Mitch shares his unique origin story — writing a mock cover letter to Burton as an 18-year-old packaging student at RIT — and how that dream became reality. The conversation explores Burton's deep-rooted culture of curiosity and sustainability under...

 In this special live episode recorded at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee during the Sustainable Packaging Coalition Impact Event, Cory Connors shares the stage with Olga Kachook to present the Third Annual Sustainable Packaging Trends Report for 2025–2026. Olga walks through the four key trends shaping the industry and dives deeper into each one in conversation with Cory, c...

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Dana Voges to discuss her remarkable journey from growing up visiting landfills on Take Your Kid to Work Day in Colorado, to leading reusable packaging innovation in Germany. Dana shares how SEA ME and their open pool system Zerooo are building a scalable, brand-agnostic reuse infrastructure for cosmetics and personal care — and what the rest of the world can...

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Sydney Grier , Packaging Lead at Mill, to explore how the company is tackling one of the most overlooked environmental problems: household food waste. Sydney shares her journey from studying environmental management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to becoming a packaging engineer, and how she ended up joining Mill — then operating in stealth mode as Chewy L...

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Kyle Pischel and Jake Wyns to discuss the Atlantic Packaging Solutions Center — what it is, how it came to be, and the innovative work happening inside it every day. Kyle shares his background in packaging, from studying at Michigan State to working on Coca-Cola's packaging innovations team before joining Atlantic. Jake recounts his decade at Atlantic, b...