Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Meet our guest Claire Sand, the CEO of Packaging Technology and Research.  In this episode, Claire presents some encouraging solutions to two of our world’s most pressing problems: PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” and food waste.

This enlightening episode offers some fresh perspectives on how some new packaging coatings are being designed to help minimize PFAS in the food and beverage space, why significant food waste reduction is indeed possible thanks to newly developed packaging technologies as well as some simple consumer behavioral changes, how cellulose is experiencing a resurgence in both food and packaging circles, and much more!

Claire Sand is a Global Packaging Leader with over 35 years of food science and packaging experience. Her mission is to enable a more sustainable food system by advancing science and value chain innovations that increase food shelf life and decrease food waste. She manages cross-functional teams, implements innovative solutions, creates compelling business and technology strategies and business cases, and creates implementation roadmaps for the packaging and food industries.

Dr. Sand is the owner and founder of Packaging Technology and Research, LLC, as well as Gazelle Mobile Packaging Inc. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University and CalPoly, and a monthly contributor to Packaging Digest. She is an IFT Fellow, the Riester-Davis-Brody Lifetime Achievement in Food Packaging Award recipient, a member of numerous Editorial Boards, the author of the Packaging Value Chain, and the cochair of pacfoodwaste.

Dr. Sand received her doctorate in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota, as well as a master's and bachelor's degrees in packaging from Michigan State University.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Meet our guest Alicia Wallace, the Co-Founder and CEO of All Across Africa. Alicia has crafted a compassionate business model that, thanks in part to offering aspiring artists in Africa and their families hope for a brighter future, is making a major impact in today’s retail world.

This inspiring episode explores some of the popular consumer trends boosting growth in the handmade merchandise market, why using sustainable natural fibers like banana leaves and sweetgrass to make the company’s beautiful baskets, handbags, dining décor, and wall coverings is encouraging more farmers to embrace regenerative agricultural practices, how All Across Africa has managed to develop promising partnerships with premier brands including Disney, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Target, andmuch more!

All Across Africa was founded In 2013 by Alicia and her business partner, Greg Stone. They work to connect artisan communities and materials in Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania with business and infrastructure in the United States to provide wholesale and retail products.

KAZI, their San Diego-based company that falls under their All Across Africa parent company, employs almost 6,000 artisans in Africa and sells their handcrafted and sustainable cultural items through their website, Amazon storefront, and local boutiques. KAZI holds a Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft designation — outlining standards for fair wages, benefits, sourcing of materials, a commitment to care for the surrounding environment, health and safety, anti-child labor policies, and workers’ rights — a symbol that identifies items being sold as ethically made in a home or small workshop.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Our guest is Dr. Jay Singh, a Packaging Professor at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, CA, and the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Daksha Packaging Group. Jay unpacks some of the marketplace’s most pressing packaging problems like over-packaging along with some ideas on possible solutions.

This episode offers an amazing package deal on why replacing single-use plastic packaging with paper-based alternatives can substantially reduce waste, what package engineers are doing to create a sensible balance between package functionality and sustainability by minimizing a package’s material makeup, how a unique new packaging expert witness program is helping clients maximize their chances for courtroom success, and much more!

Jay received his MS and PhD in Packaging Science from Michigan State University. Considered amongst the top experts in the field of distribution packaging globally, Jay has published over 95 peer-reviewed articles, 73 articles in conference proceedings, 32 trade journal articles, 3 book chapters, coauthored 2 books and edited 1 book. Several of his publications have resulted in development/modification of numerous globally acknowledged packaging test standards. Several of his research efforts have led to innovative packaging designs that have been implemented in the field. His expertise includes teaching, training, testing services and contract research in package design, distribution environment measurement and simulation, material and package testing, product-package compatibility and LCA.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Our guest this month is Vicki Strull, Principal of Vicki Strull Design in Atlanta and a popular packaging and branding consultant. Vicki encourages us to think outside the box when it comes to understanding packaging’s primary purpose of selling products, why today’s marketplace increasingly values sustainable packaging materials like paper, how studying packaging “fails” can improve new packaging innovation, and much more!

Vicki Strull is a left brain Ivy League intellectual and a right brain dynamic creative with over 25 years in the industry. Known for the energy she brings to graphic design, strategic thinking and brand positioning, Vicki is a design strategist, consultant and packaging designer who has become an indispensable marketing and creative partner for some of the top brands in America, including HP, Bayer, Coppertone, and Pizza Hut. Vicki is a regular contributor and columnist in various design, branding, and print focused trade publications.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Our guest this month is John Heaney, SVP of Sales & Director of Sustainability at Advertisers Printing Company.

John provides a unique printer’s perspective on how environmental efforts like installing solar panels and employing a fleet of hybrid and EV delivery vehicles have contributed to his century old firm’s longevity, why recycled paper and packaging are increasingly valued in today’s B2C marketplace, how strategic direct mail programs are dynamically influencing consumer behavior, and much more!

John joined the Advertisers sales team in 1991 and in addition to maintaining and expanding sales to a large and diverse client base in the St Louis region, he has also helped to guide the firm’s environmental vision since 2002, with a goal of making this commercial fine color printer one of the most sustainable print communications providers in the country. 

John is an avid outdoorsman and extremely passionate about the environmental issues facing our communities, country, and planet. He graduated with a Masters in Sustainability from St Louis University and in December 2015 was appointed to the Board of SGP. John has given environmental talks and/or panel discussions regarding leaner, more sustainable print processes at Washington University, Georgia Tech, St Louis University, Regional Chamber of St Louis, AIGA, Canon Corporation, and Ad Club St Louis in addition to clientele and the creative community of St Louis. 

Advertisers Printing is a family-owned and operated printing company based out of St. Louis providing high quality and sustainable print services and marketing solutions since 1923.  Advertisers Printing has achieved some very aggressive targeted environmental goals, including: first FSC certified printing company in the State of Missouri, SGP certification (Sustainable Green Printing partnership) only the 26th printer to be certified, installation of 25kW – 101 panel roof top solar array, Advertisers is moving toward a goal of 80% landfill avoidance by 2025, and has a company fleet of 5 Prius hybrids & one EV – saving over 3000 gallons of fossil fuel annually.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Interested in learning more about sustainability from a variety of professionals committed to helping develop the circular economy to improve our environment? Then be sure to subscribe to our channel to catch Sustana Fiber’s Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

Our guest this month is Katie Brill, Sr. VP Global PR & Communications at Junk Kouture. Katie offers us a behind the runway view of their student fashion show competitions and how they nurture children’s creativity and confidence, why upcycled materials, like paper, are experiencing renewed popularity in apparel design, how sustainable clothes are starting to positively impact the fast fashion space, and much more!

Katie is a former contestant winner of Junk Kouture with her design made from orange peel 'Re' Juicing is Ap'Peeling' in 2012 and now is part of the Junk Kouture team as SVP of PR and Comms. The experience helped create her passion for environmental sustainability and she is committed to expanding the mission of Junk Kouture and to inspire more young creatives.

 Junk Kouture is a creative program for youth that promotes the importance of sustainability. Highlighting the fact that what we view as ‘junk’ can be recycled in useful and impactful ways, it challenges young people to create beautiful and interesting fashion outfits out of materials that are normally thrown away. Founded in Ireland in 2010 by tech entrepreneur, Troy Armour, the competition has recruited 100,000 participants to date, produced 15,000 distinctive designs, saved 40,000kg of waste from landfill and amazed packed crowds at 60 sold-out arena shows.

In 2021, Junk Kouture chose to expand globally with a 10-year ambition to enrich the lives of a billion young people through creativity and sustainability. This progressive competition is free to enter and open to all students between the ages of 13 and 18. Participants may join as individuals or in groups of up to three. Designed to create an inclusive community, educate people about the importance of protecting our planet and promoting creativity, students of all backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome to join.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

 Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

The Best of Pulp NonFiction is our special gift to you this holiday season! It includes highlights from our very first episode with actress Bonnie Wright in September 2021 through our latest episode last month with Rache Brand, CEO of One Potato.  



This special episode also includes guests Michelle Thatcher, Julie Corbett, Anne Barr, Kristen Fulmer, Cheree Berry, Mary Anne Hanson and their thoughts on sustainability.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and be sure to join Greg Johnson and Dr. Marta Pazos and their new guests in 2023! 

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Interested in learning more about sustainability from a variety of professionals committed to helping develop the circular economy to improve our environment? Then be sure to subscribe to our channel to catch Sustana Fiber’s latest episode of Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast.

Our next episode of Sustana Fiber's Pulp NonFiction: The Paper & Packaging Podcast features Rache Brand, CEO of One Potato, a popular Los Angeles-based meal kit subscription service, and a partner in Star Strong Capital (SSC). Rache serves up several helpings of the latest tasty trends in the meal kit space from how her kits are working to reduce our waistlines as well as plastic waste, what meal kit companies like One Potato are doing to incorporate more sustainable paper-based packaging materials, how intermittent fasting can improve our wellbeing, and much more!

Mark your calendar and tune in on Friday, November 18th beginning at 9:00am EST.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging.

We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com

Greg Johnson, Host

Sustana Fiber’s Director of New Business Development, Greg has held various sales and marketing leadership roles with organizations including DS Smith, Johnson Paper, and Whiting. Greg enjoys helping companies improve their packaging and has extensive experience introducing sustainable paper and packaging products to brands such as Starbucks, Quaker Oats, and Target.

Dr. Marta Pazos, Co-Host

A passionate sustainability advocate while working at Coca-Cola, Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble, and the United States Department of Defense, Marta holds a PhD in Polymer Science. With her refreshing and unpretentious sense of style, Marta explains even the most complex scientific subjects in an easy-to-understand, educational, yet fun way. As a scientist, Marta has been able to develop and qualify many innovations in product formulations, materials, and decorations for consumer products and their packaging.

As a partner of a newly created skin care enterprise, Marta has been spending a great deal of her time concocting blends that, while they don’t promise miracles, are assured of creating a transformation guaranteed to make you happier with yourself.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

This month's podcast includes two guests; Anne Barr of Sonoco FRESH and Dr. Andrew Hurley of Clemson University. Anne and Andrew provide some valuable lessons on a number of subjects from how packaging design can help reduce food waste, why brands need to measure their packaging’s environmental impact and use more recycled materials, how confusion over food and beverage labeling dates is wasting more than consumer’s patience, and much more!

Anne is the Executive Director of Sonoco FRESH and engages industry and academic partners in solving for safe, secure and sustainable solutions across the food value chain. She has worked for Clemson University for eight years. Most recently, Anne managed Clemson’s corporate relations program where she secured high impact philanthropic investments in areas such as automotive engineering, packaging science/graphic communications, advanced materials and STEM education.

Dr. Andrew Hurley is an Associate Professor and Director of Entrepreneurship at Clemson University. He has worked on projects at companies like Kraft Foods, Milliken, and Quad, to name just a few. His passion for lifelong learning is evidenced by his degrees in packaging and design. One of many ventures founded by Dr. Hurley is PackagingSchool.com, a combination of his passions for packaging and learning. He teaches courses leading to the Certificate of Mastery in Packaging Management, which has been earned by many professionals in more than 40 countries.

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Interested in learning more about sustainability from a variety of professionals committed to helping develop the circular economy to improve our environment? Then be sure to subscribe to our channel to catch Sustana Fiber’s latest episode of Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.

Welcome to Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast!

This month's guest is Kristen Fulmer, a passionate environmentalist and the newly named Senior Director of Sustainability at the Oak View Group (OVG) in Los Angeles, provides us with a behind the scenes view of how Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena’s “Rain to Rink” system results in “green ice,” what’s being done to engage more fans in recycling their paper cups and other recyclables at ballgames and concerts, how sports and entertainment venues are minimizing their energy usage and maximizing water conservation, and much more!

This podcast is brought to you by Sustana Fiber, a leading producer of FSC®-certified sustainable recycled fibers. At our facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin in the United States and Lévis, Quebec in Canada, we use automated proprietary processes to transform recovered paper into high-quality recycled fiber for use in printing papers, tissue grades and formed molded fiber packaging. We also produce EnviroLife®, a sustainable recycled fiber compliant with FDA standards for food service packaging. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanafiber.com.

Interested in learning more about sustainability from a variety of professionals committed to helping develop the circular economy to improve our environment? Then be sure to subscribe to our channel to catch Sustana Fiber’s latest episode of Pulp Nonfiction: The Paper and Packaging Podcast.

Hosted by Sustana Fiber’s Greg Johnson, Director of New Business Development, and Dr. Marta Pazos, a leading sustainable packaging materials scientist, this monthly video podcast series features fascinating discussions on several trending topics involving sustainability.