#22 - Wes Carter - Closing the Loop on Packaging Pollution
Apr 26, 2024
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Wes Carter, Founder of New Earth Project and President of Atlantic Packaging, talks about solving packaging pollution through closed-loop economies. Topics include new biodegradable materials, effective recycling methods, aligning incentives for companies, consumer responsibility, and the need for true environmental cost accountability. The discussion also touches on psychedelic experiences, carbon offsets, the impact of shareholders on the environment, Amazon's progress, and advice for young entrepreneurs.
Transitioning to a circular economy can revolutionize the packaging industry by reusing materials as valuable resources.
Exploring eco-friendly packaging materials like hemp and kelp plastics can address environmental concerns surrounding single-use plastics.
Consumer demand and legislation like Extended Producer Responsibility drive businesses to adopt sustainable practices and materials.
Shifting industry focus towards accountability for packaging waste can foster systemic change and promote ecological considerations in product design.
Personal growth through spiritual practices like plant medicine can align personal values with sustainability efforts, fostering a holistic approach towards environmental consciousness.
Deep dives
Solving the Plastic Pollution Crisis Through Innovation and Collaboration
Addressing the plastic pollution crisis requires innovation, collaboration, coordination, and intention towards health. By healing and transitioning the supply chain, this problem can be resolved, serving as a global harmonizing effort similar to a generation's moon landing. Initiatives like redesigning incentive structures can drive industry shifts towards more sustainable practices, with a focus on developing eco-friendly packaging materials.
Transitioning Towards a Circular Economy in Packaging
Shifting towards a circular economy, synonymous with a closed-loop system, entails moving away from linear resource models towards reusing materials as valuable resources. The conventional linear economy, extracting resources and discarding waste, is unsustainable given finite resources and environmental responsibilities. The goal is to view waste as reusable feedstock, promoting recycling, composting, and reusing materials to mimic nature's zero-waste model.
Exploring Sustainable Packaging Alternatives and Materials
Identifying problematic packaging materials, such as single-use plastics, and exploring viable alternatives is crucial. While materials like paper offer recyclability and renewable sourcing, challenges arise in food packaging requiring innovative alternative materials. Initiatives focus on developing natural and organic alternatives like hemp and kelp plastics, aiming for recyclability and biodegradability to address environmental concerns.
Consumer Demand Driving Sustainability and Legislative Support
Consumer demand plays a pivotal role in propelling the sustainable revolution, with a growing emphasis on sustainability in purchasing decisions, particularly among younger demographics. Legislation like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can incentivize businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices by imposing fees on problematic packaging and investing in recycling infrastructure. EPR laws aim to shift towards more sustainable materials and processes, fostering a harmonized approach to packaging sustainability.
Encouraging Industry Responsibility and Transition for a Sustainable Future
Promoting industry accountability for packaging waste, rather than individual consumer blame, fosters systemic change. Companies are encouraged to prioritize ecological considerations in product design to minimize environmental impact. Leveraging innovative materials, recycling infrastructure, and consumer education, the packaging industry aims to transition towards a sustainable future, addressing plastic pollution and embracing circular economy principles.
Personal Journey Towards Spiritual Growth and Environmental Consciousness
Apart from professional endeavors, personal growth through spiritual practices like plant medicine has influenced a deeper connection to nature and environmental stewardship. A transformative journey led to introspection and awakening, aligning personal values with sustainability efforts. This holistic approach integrates individual growth, environmental consciousness, and industry responsibility in advocating for a sustainable and environmentally ethical future.
Embracing a Mission of Sustainability and Environmental Impact
The speaker reflects on a spiritual awakening that led to a realization about the interconnectedness of life. Through personal experiences with Iboga plant medicine, the speaker emphasizes the importance of stewarding healthy life and aligning business practices with ethical values. By emphasizing sustainability as an outer reflection of an inner commitment to health and well-being, the speaker advocates for integrating environmental ethics into business strategies to create a global impact.
Addressing Challenges and Transformative Healing Insights
The speaker shares experiences with Iboga plant medicine, highlighting the intense yet transformative nature of the journey. Iboga's ability to reveal and resolve deep-seated traumas and emotional imprints is discussed, leading to profound personal revelations. By emphasizing the importance of healing and self-awareness, the speaker underscores the role of spiritual and emotional well-being in fostering a sense of purpose and contribution to the world.
Navigating Greenwashing, Sustainable Innovations, and Environmental Accountability
The dialogue explores the concept of greenwashing in sustainability efforts, cautioning against superficial eco-friendly claims by companies. The importance of consumers' vigilance in discerning truly sustainable practices, such as compostable certifications and forest management sourcing, is highlighted. Additionally, the discussion extends to the role of innovation in sustainable packaging, the significance of corporate responsibility in driving environmental ethics, and the need for a collective focus on conservation and circularity to tackle plastic pollution.
Is it possible to solve ocean pollution by turning the packaging industry into a closed-loop economy?
Wes Carter thinks so. Wes is the Founder of a New Earth Project and President of Atlantic Packaging, on a personal mission to stop the significant pollution the packaging industry causes. In this episode we hear what it would take to close the loop on the economy via new types of biodegradable materials that could replace plastic and other common pollutants. We also discuss which types of recycling work, and which are rubbish. And of course, in true Win-Win Podcast style, we hear about what it would take to change the game so that companies (and their customers) are properly incentivized to account for the true environmental costs of the production and consumption.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:35 - Wes's Story & the Packaging Industry
00:10:07 - Circular Economies
00:24:30 - Potential Solutions
00:31:11 - How to Align Incentives?
00:46:22 - Are Consumers Responsible?
00:51:41 - A New Earth Project
00:58:06 - Psychedelic Experiences
01:08:38 - Carbon Offsets
01:13:30 - Are Shareholders bad for the environment?
01:23:14 - Amazon's Progress
01:27:38 - Advice to Young Entrepreneurs
Links:
♾️ A New Earth Project
https://anewearthproject.com/
♾️ Atlantic Packaging
https://www.atlanticpkg.com/
♾️ Breaking Open the Head by Daniel Pinchbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
♾️ A Journey to a New Earth Series https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...
The Win-Win Podcast:
Poker champion Liv Boeree takes to the interview chair to tease apart the complexities of one of the most fundamental parts of human nature: competition. Liv is joined by top philosophers, gamers, artists, technologists, CEOs, scientists, athletes and more to understand how competition manifests in their world, and how to change seemingly win-lose games into Win-Wins.
Watch the previous episode with Ocean Cleanup Founder Boyan Slat here: https://youtu.be/QEYbLN-LC5k?si=XaV2j...
Credits:
♾️ Hosted by Liv Boeree
♾️ Produced & Edited by Raymond Wei
♾️ Audio Mix by Keir Schmidt
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