The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens The Packaging Revolution: Industry’s Responsibility & the Innovations That Could Mitigate the Waste Crisis with Wes Carter
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Jul 23, 2025 
Wes Carter, president of Atlantic Packaging and founder of A New Earth Project, passionately discusses the urgent need for sustainable packaging. He highlights how packaging accounts for nearly half of plastic waste and shares his personal journey toward environmental stewardship. The conversation delves into the complexities of recycling, the potential of biodegradable materials, and the importance of integrating health into business practices. Carter also emphasizes enlightened leadership and personal transformation as vital for driving real change in an environmentally challenged world.
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Revolutionizing Packaging Priorities
- Innovation in packaging has prioritized cost, convenience, and comfort over sustainability for decades.
- A sustainable revolution means innovating towards life and health, integrating with natural laws.
Surfing Trip Sparks Awareness
- Wes Carter witnessed radical plastic pollution in the Mentawa Islands during a surfing trip.
- This personal experience sparked his journey towards championing sustainable packaging.
Plastics Recycling Challenges
- Only about 8%-9% of plastics globally get recycled, with flexible plastics being hardest to recycle.
- Paper recycling rates are much higher, around 60%, due to existing demand and infrastructure.
