Zero Waste at 73,000 Seats: How Mercedes-Benz Stadium Built a Closed-Loop System

Zero Waste at 73,000 Seats: How Mercedes-Benz Stadium Built a Closed-Loop System

Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability. In this episode, Andrew Bohenko, the Sustainable Initiatives Manager at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, dives into what it actually takes to operationalize sustainability at a massive scale. What You’ll Learn: * How the stadium earned its TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification * Why two-bin systems outperform three or more * How to design packaging systems that align with recovery infrastructure * Why procurement policies matter more than material swaps * How to operationalize zero waste at a massive scale Andrew Bohenko is the Sustainable Initiatives Manager at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where he oversees one of the world's first venues to achieve TRUE Platinum Zero Waste Certification. With expertise in operational sustainability, packaging systems integration, and community engagement, Andrew has led the stadium's evolution from zero-waste events to achieving 90%+ waste diversion rates across 350+ annual operating days. Download the full 2026 Sustainable Packaging Trends report here [https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6TtfVYWk/cXOxfdp6nyiXb_xDPhiWtg/view?utm_content=DAG6TtfVYWk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h40c8a1d30d]! To see how these innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape. This podcast features guest speakers expressing their own company’s products, views, and experiences. Any statements regarding environmental attributes, such as biodegradability, compostability, degradation, or “zero waste” claims, are representations made solely by the guest about their own products or technologies. Veritiv Operating Company has not independently substantiated or verified such claims. Under the FTC’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 C.F.R. Part 260), environmental performance may depend on disposal conditions, infrastructure, and environment, and outcomes may vary. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or guarantee by Veritiv Operating Company. CHAPTERS: * [00:00] Intro * [01:48] The Scope of Sustainability at Mercedes-Benz Stadium * [05:39] From Opening Day to Zero Waste * [09:46] Achieving TRUE Platinum Certification * [11:56] Aligning Packaging with Recovery Systems * [13:55] Inside the Resource Recovery Room * [19:04] Three Points of Contact Before You Pay * [23:00] Evaluating New Packaging Partners Beyond the Sustainability Claim * [25:10] Lessons for Retail, Hospitality, and Beyond * [26:57] The Future of Sustainable Venues and the Next Workforce * [29:41] What Gives Andrew Hope If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]  Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam Check out our three most downloaded episodes: 1. Plastic-Free Paper Packaging: Flexi-Hex on Designing for Luxury and Sustainability [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-free-paper-packaging-flexi-hex-on-designing/id1805605532?i=1000729335332] 2. How Metsä Board Is Redesigning Packaging From Forest to Shelf with Nathan Pajka [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mets%C3%A4-board-is-redesigning-packaging-from-forest/id1805605532?i=1000731799367] 3. The Future of Foam: Compostable Materials That Perform with John Felts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-foam-compostable-materials-that/id1805605532?i=1000733870230]

How Burton Snowboards Is Rethinking Packaging From the Inside Out with Mitch Rovito

Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability. In this episode, Mitch Rovito, a Packaging Manager at Burton Snowboards, navigates how Burton’s rooted culture of sustainability led the team to take aim at single-use plastic packaging across its global supply chain. What You’ll Learn: * The real technical hurdles of replacing polybags with paper-based alternatives * Why Burton chose to lean into imperfection with its refreshingly honest “It's Just Paper” campaign * How to translate sustainability vision into operational reality across global supply chains Why reframing packaging performance prevents over-engineering and reduces both cost and environmental impact * How to identify hidden packaging waste opportunities in your supply chain Mitch Rovito is a Packaging Manager at Burton Snowboards, where he has spent the past five years spearheading the brand's mission to eliminate single-use plastic from distribution and consumer-facing packaging. With deep expertise in sustainable materials innovation and supply chain optimization, Mitch has been key in Burton's transition from conventional polybags to paper-based alternatives, a transformation that required rethinking global logistics, warehouse operations, and retail handling standards. Download the full report here [https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6TtfVYWk/cXOxfdp6nyiXb_xDPhiWtg/view?utm_content=DAG6TtfVYWk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h40c8a1d30d]! to see how these ink innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape. This podcast features guest speakers expressing their own company’s products, views, and experiences. Any statements regarding environmental attributes, such as biodegradability, compostability, degradation, or “zero waste” claims, are representations made solely by the guest about their own products or technologies. Veritiv Operating Company has not independently substantiated or verified such claims. Under the FTC’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 C.F.R. Part 260), environmental performance may depend on disposal conditions, infrastructure, and environment, and outcomes may vary. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or guarantee by Veritiv Operating Company. Chapters: * [00:00] Intro * [01:45] Sustainability in Burton's DNA * [04:27] Why Polybags Became the Target * [07:28] The Technical Reality of Going Paper * [11:03] “It’s Just Paper” * [15:41] Transparency Over Perfection * [20:32] Advice for Packaging Engineers * [24:52] The Future: Harmonization and Humans in the Room * [29:45] Sustainable Innovation Is Not a Zero-Sum Game If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]  Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam Check out our three most downloaded episodes: 1. Plastic-Free Paper Packaging: Flexi-Hex on Designing for Luxury and Sustainability [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-free-paper-packaging-flexi-hex-on-designing/id1805605532?i=1000729335332] 2. How Metsä Board Is Redesigning Packaging From Forest to Shelf with Nathan Pajka [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mets%C3%A4-board-is-redesigning-packaging-from-forest/id1805605532?i=1000731799367] 3. The Future of Foam: Compostable Materials That Perform with John Felts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-foam-compostable-materials-that/id1805605532?i=1000733870230]

How Sway Is Turning Seaweed Into Scalable Packaging with Julia Marsh

Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability. In this episode, Julia Marsh, Co-founder and CEO of Sway, discusses how seaweed-based materials are making their way from the lab to the fulfillment line as Sway is developing thermoplastic seaweed flexible films designed to replace single-use plastic in applications, such as polybags and retail packaging. What You’ll Learn: * How to identify when a material is truly ready to scale beyond innovation * Why seaweed outperforms traditional compostable feedstocks * The performance-meets-sustainability framework Sway employs * How to build regenerative supply chains with transparency * Why cost, not innovation, is now the primary scaling barrier * How EPR is reshaping material decisions across regions Julia Marsh is Co-founder and CEO of Sway, a pioneering company developing seaweed-based materials to replace flexible plastic films and advance regenerative sourcing practices in packaging supply chains. With expertise in biomaterial innovation and sustainable packaging systems, she has spent five years translating material science into real-world commercial applications, working directly with brands and manufacturers to evaluate, test, and scale compostable solutions. Her work addresses a critical gap in the packaging landscape: creating high-performance, home-compostable flexible films that simultaneously protect product integrity and actively improve ocean health and coastal communities. Download the full report here [https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6TtfVYWk/cXOxfdp6nyiXb_xDPhiWtg/view?utm_content=DAG6TtfVYWk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h40c8a1d30d]! to see how these ink innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape. This podcast features guest speakers expressing their own company’s products, views, and experiences. Any statements regarding environmental attributes, such as biodegradability, compostability, degradation, or “zero waste” claims, are representations made solely by the guest about their own products or technologies. Veritiv Operating Company has not independently substantiated or verified such claims. Under the FTC’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 C.F.R. Part 260), environmental performance may depend on disposal conditions, infrastructure, and environment, and outcomes may vary. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or guarantee by Veritiv Operating Company. CHAPTERS: * [00:00] Intro * [01:25] What Actually Signals a Material Is Ready for the Real World * [02:40] Why Seaweed * [04:39] Compostables Can Be Reused Too * [06:47] Flexible Films and the “Poucherification of Everything” * [08:40] Home Compostability as a Non-Negotiable Design Principle * [10:10] Cost, Partners, and the Biggest Barriers to Scaling a New Material * [11:59] Building a Supply Chain in the Ocean * [14:02] Composting Infrastructure and Building Trust with Composters * [15:46] Creating Barrier Properties for Fiber-Based Packaging * [18:18] Come for the Seaweed, Stay for the Performance * [19:19] EPR: Accelerator or Obstacle? * [20:56] Julia’s Vision: Ubiquity, Healthier Oceans, and 100 Million Jobs * [22:46] Advice for Packaging Engineers Evaluating New Materials * [24:24] What Gives Julia Hope If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]  Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam Check out our three most downloaded episodes: 1. Plastic-Free Paper Packaging: Flexi-Hex on Designing for Luxury and Sustainability [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-free-paper-packaging-flexi-hex-on-designing/id1805605532?i=1000729335332] 2. How Metsä Board Is Redesigning Packaging From Forest to Shelf with Nathan Pajka [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mets%C3%A4-board-is-redesigning-packaging-from-forest/id1805605532?i=1000731799367] 3. The Future of Foam: Compostable Materials That Perform with John Felts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-foam-compostable-materials-that/id1805605532?i=1000733870230]

From Bacteria to Biodegradable: The Science and Strategy Behind PlantSwitch with Dillon Baxter

Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability. In this episode, Dillon Baxter, CEO and Co-founder of PlantSwitch, a company developing plant-based, home-compostable materials designed to biodegrade in any environment, shares how his team achieved cost-competitive PHA alternatives using agricultural waste. What You’ll Learn: * How bacteria actually build a polymer that looks and performs like plastic * A practical roadmap for zero-waste packaging * How PlantSwitch is tackling the cost problem that has kept PHA materials on the sidelines for years * Why behavior change is a harder solution than material design * The critical difference between PLA and PHA in regulatory and marketing contexts Dillon Baxter is the CEO and Co-founder of PlantSwitch, driving innovation in plant-based, home-compostable materials designed to replace traditional plastics in single-use applications. With vast expertise in material science, cost-effective scaling, and circular economy solutions, he has developed a proprietary technology that transforms bacterial polymers into functional, biodegradable alternatives that break down naturally in any environment. Download the full report here [https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6TtfVYWk/cXOxfdp6nyiXb_xDPhiWtg/view?utm_content=DAG6TtfVYWk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h40c8a1d30d]! to see how these ink innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape. This podcast features guest speakers expressing their own company’s products, views, and experiences. Any statements regarding environmental attributes, such as biodegradability, compostability, degradation, or “zero waste” claims, are representations made solely by the guest about their own products or technologies. Veritiv Operating Company has not independently substantiated or verified such claims. Under the FTC’s Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (16 C.F.R. Part 260), environmental performance may depend on disposal conditions, infrastructure, and environment, and outcomes may vary. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or guarantee by Veritiv Operating Company. Chapters: * [00:00] Intro * [00:37] The Packaging Waste Challenge * [04:11] How PlantSwitch Works * [05:49] Cracking the Cost Problem * [07:27] Rethinking the Infrastructure Argument * [10:33] PHA vs. PLA * [11:55] Why PlantSwitch Isn’t Trying to Change Consumer Behavior * [14:44] What Gives Dylan Hope for the Future of Packaging If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]  Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam Check out our three most downloaded episodes: 1. Plastic-Free Paper Packaging: Flexi-Hex on Designing for Luxury and Sustainability [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-free-paper-packaging-flexi-hex-on-designing/id1805605532?i=1000729335332] 2. How Metsä Board Is Redesigning Packaging From Forest to Shelf with Nathan Pajka [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mets%C3%A4-board-is-redesigning-packaging-from-forest/id1805605532?i=1000731799367] 3. The Future of Foam: Compostable Materials That Perform with John Felts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-foam-compostable-materials-that/id1805605532?i=1000733870230]

300 Billion Reasons to Rethink Plastic Zip Ties with Sigrid Svedberg

Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability. In this episode, Sigrid Svedberg from EVLR International dives into how FibreStrap is replacing fossil-based plastic ties with a PLA biocomposite and paper fiber alternative that matches traditional performance, why upcoming EU PPWR regulations are accelerating the conversation, and where fiber-based materials are heading next. What You’ll Learn: * Why 300 billion zip ties annually represent packaging's most underestimated sustainability challenge * How to conduct a micro-component audit of your packaging system * The performance parity principle for material substitution * Why regulatory pressure is accelerating the conversation from "should we change?" to "where do we start?" * How to leverage drop-in solutions to reduce disruption in your supply chain Sigrid Svedberg is the Co-founder of EVLR International, an innovative company revolutionizing load containment and strapping solutions in the packaging industry. With over 20 years of experience in packaging design, sales, and business development, Sigrid has developed a deep expertise in optimizing packaging systems across all stages, from production to distribution and end-of-life. She identified a critical sustainability gap in the widespread use of single-use plastic zip ties and created a fiber-based alternative, combining PLA biocomposite locking heads with FSC-certified paper cord, that matches the performance of traditional plastic while eliminating its centuries-long environmental persistence. Download the full report here [https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6TtfVYWk/cXOxfdp6nyiXb_xDPhiWtg/view?utm_content=DAG6TtfVYWk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h40c8a1d30d]! to see how these ink innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape. The information presented in this episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]  Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam Check out our three most downloaded episodes: 1. Plastic-Free Paper Packaging: Flexi-Hex on Designing for Luxury and Sustainability [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-free-paper-packaging-flexi-hex-on-designing/id1805605532?i=1000729335332] 2. How Metsä Board Is Redesigning Packaging From Forest to Shelf with Nathan Pajka [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mets%C3%A4-board-is-redesigning-packaging-from-forest/id1805605532?i=1000731799367] 3. The Future of Foam: Compostable Materials That Perform with John Felts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-foam-compostable-materials-that/id1805605532?i=1000733870230]