Charleston, S.C. – Atlantic Packaging, a market leader specializing in end-of-line packaging systems and materials as well as converted paperboard solutions, is pleased to announce that it has joined the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator program’s Early Adopter Coalition. Known as the Accelerator, the one-year program is powered by award-winning nonprofit Lonely Whale and aims to advance awareness of traditional thin-film plastic and accelerate the market adoption of seaweed-based alternatives developed by Sway, Zerocircle and Notpla, the respective first, second and third place winners of the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize. The Accelerator is sponsored by TOM FORD Beauty, its parent company, The Estée Lauder Companies, and supported by Phillip Sarofim’s Trousdale Ventures.
Lonely Whale’s Early Adopter Coalition is a growing coalition of 20 international brands who will support the Prize-winning companies with industry expertise. Select brands are committing to trialing their readily degradable, seaweed-based packaging solutions, including The Estée Lauder Companies, which has begun its internal trial to identify potential use cases across TOM FORD Beauty. Acting as the convenor, Lonely Whale aims to bridge the gap between corporate interest in alternatives and brands’ ability to adopt them.
“Partnering with the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator strongly aligns with Atlantic’s continued commitment to helping the packaging supply chain implement sustainable, long-term solutions that are not harmful to wildlife or ecosystems,” said Stewart Whitmire, vice president for Atlantic Packaging and member of the Accelerator’s scientific and technical advisory board. “We are pleased to be part of this impactful program as we look for innovative ways to help lead the packaging industry into a sustainable future.”
According to a 2020 report by The Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, nearly half of all new plastic waste entering the ocean each year comes from thin-film plastic made from fossil fuels. These flexible films are not readily degradable and difficult to recycle — they can often end up in the ocean, where they can be ingested by sea life. The Accelerator will engage cross-industry expertise to facilitate monthly seminars and strategic communication workshops for the Prize-winning companies, empowering them with the support needed to advance their innovations and accelerate the reduction of traditional and not readily degradable plastics.
“We are thrilled to welcome Atlantic Packaging as a partner in the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator’s Early Adopter Coalition and grateful for their contribution to our Scientific and Technical Advisory Board,” said Lucy Sumner, co-founder of Lonely Whale. “Atlantic’s technical, scientific and data-driven approach to packaging testing, combined with their extensive network of packaging-material manufacturers is crucial to supporting the Prize-winning companies on their path to scale and accelerating their future impact.”
Atlantic Packaging’s involvement in the Accelerator further complements its A New Earth Project initiative, which is a strategic collaboration between outdoor enthusiasts and global packaging suppliers to rid the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers of plastic pollution.
More information about the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator can be found at unwrapthefuture.org or by following @TOMFORDbeauty, @esteelaudercompanies, @LonelyWhale and #UnwrapTheFuture on Instagram. To learn more about Atlantic Packaging and its sustainability initiatives, visit www.atlanticpkg.com, www.anewearthproject.com or follow @atlanticpkg or @anewearthproject on social media.
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
