That’s why we’re proud to have printed the Sway Polybag, a seaweed-based packaging innovation, for artist, snowboarder, and A New Earth Project Advocate, Chris Benchetler’s Grateful Dead 60th anniversary merch capsule, all done in-house at our Tabor City Printing & Graphics facility.
This project marked the first customer-facing launch of the Sway Polybag from Atlantic, and it was more than just a print job, it was a statement. The bags were printed using sustainable inks on biobased film made from responsibly sourced seaweed, a material designed to decompose naturally and support ocean health, coastal livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Flexibility Meets Sustainability
As Caroline DeLoach, Atlantic’s Sustainability Director, explains,
“We’re not a vertically integrated printer-converter, which means we’re not bound to any one material. That flexibility allows us to meet our customers’ sustainability goals, whether it’s reducing plastic, switching to paper, or trialing something entirely new.”
This flexibility is more than philosophical, it’s operational. Atlantic is investing in equipment that can run a wide variety of substrates, including emerging materials not yet on the market.
“We’re making strategic investments quickly,” Caroline adds, “so we can help customers transition to sustainable options without delay.”
New Earth Approved
The Sway Polybag is part of our New Earth Approved catalog, a curated collection of sustainable packaging solutions designed to help brands align their packaging with their values. For the Grateful Dead capsule, we worked closely with Sway to ensure the bags met performance standards while showcasing custom artwork and messaging that reinforced the product’s compostable nature
From printing to pack-out and unboxing, this project was a full-circle moment for Atlantic and A New Earth Project along with Chris Benchetler as a partner willing to be a first adopter. It demonstrated how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can come together to create packaging that’s not only functional, but meaningful.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to support brands in their sustainability journeys, the Sway Polybag stands as a symbol of what’s possible when we rethink packaging from the ground up. Whether it’s seaweed, paper, or something entirely new, Atlantic is ready to help customers make the switch, and make an impact.