What does a packaging company, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, and a surf trip in Southeast Asia have in common?
In a recent conversation with Robbie Shaw on the EVRYBDY Studios podcast, Atlantic Packaging President Wes Carter shared the unlikely story that connects them all. The episode explored the Carter family’s legacy, the evolution of Atlantic Packaging, and the experiences that inspired Wes to become an advocate for eliminating plastic pollution and accelerating regenerative innovation.
The conversation begins with Atlantic’s origins in 1946, when W. Horace Carter founded The Tabor City Tribune and used the newspaper to challenge civil unrest in eastern North Carolina, a courageous effort that ultimately earned him a Pulitzer Prize. Over time, that family business evolved into Atlantic Packaging, now one of the largest privately held, family-owned packaging companies in North America.
Wes reflected on both the benefits and consequences of modern packaging. Packaging has helped improve quality of life, reduce food waste, and enable global commerce, but it has also contributed to a growing waste crisis. A surf trip to Indonesia became a turning point for Wes when he witnessed rivers overwhelmed by plastic pollution flowing into the ocean, an experience that fundamentally changed how he viewed the industry’s responsibility.
Throughout the episode, Wes discusses Atlantic’s commitment to “innovating in the direction of life,” a philosophy that looks to nature as the ultimate model for designing materials and systems. The conversation explores emerging solutions including seaweed-based packaging, hemp, mycelium, and other regenerative materials that work with natural systems rather than against them.
The discussion also touches on the deeper cultural shift needed to address environmental challenges. Wes shares why he believes lasting change is driven not only by business and policy, but also by artists, athletes, storytellers, and other cultural leaders who can help people imagine a different future.
Ultimately, the episode is about legacy. Just as Horace Carter used his platform to address one of the defining challenges of his time, Wes is focused on helping tackle one of the defining environmental challenges of ours. Through Atlantic Packaging, A New Earth Project, and New Earth Ventures, that work continues with a simple goal: creating solutions that support healthy people and a healthy planet.