PODCAST: MUST Stretch Film System , Reducing Plastic and Saving Money with Ric Lee at Atlantic Packaging

Episode Title: MUST Stretch Film System , Reducing Plastic and Saving Money with Ric Lee at Atlantic Packaging

Guest: Ric Lee, Stretch Sales & Marketing Director at Atlantic Packaging

Summary:

In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Ric Lee of Atlantic Packaging to discuss one of the most impactful sustainability programs in the packaging industry today: MUST. Ric shares his 30-year journey through the packaging and equipment world and explains how his experience led to the development and expansion of MUST, a first-of-its-kind stretch film management system. The conversation highlights a major announcement around the scale, impact, and validation of MUST, including its role in dramatically reducing plastic use, cutting customer costs, and delivering long-term, financially sustainable environmental benefits. Ric explains how the program evolved from a simple monitoring concept into a fully managed system that drives real-world results across thousands of facilities. Over the past decade, MUST has helped remove 247 million pounds of plastic from the supply chain while saving customers over $80 million, proving that sustainability can succeed when it delivers both environmental and economic value.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Ric Lee’s background and career in stretch film and packaging equipment
• Challenges with traditional stretch film equipment ROI and real-world performance
• The origins of the MUST system through collaboration with Coca-Cola
• How MUST differs from basic stretch wrapper monitoring solutions
• Managing stretch film standards through data, accountability, and partnership
• Environmental impact of MUST, including plastic reduction at scale
• Customer cost savings and damage reduction benefits
• Real-world success stories with Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition
• Use of quarterly business reviews and big data to drive continuous improvement
• Integration of PCR stretch film into MUST programs
• Eligibility requirements for MUST and automatic stretch wrapping systems
• Atlantic Packaging’s guaranteed savings model
• The future of MUST, including AI and expanded capabilities

Resources Mentioned:

• Atlantic Packaging
• MUST Stretch Film System
• Atlantic Packaging Solutions Center
• WolfTec Stretch Wrapping Equipment

Contact:

Listeners interested in learning more about MUST or scheduling a facility evaluation can reach out to Ric Lee via email at ricl@atlanticpkg.com, through the Atlantic Packaging website, or on LinkedIn.

Closing Thoughts:

Cory and Ric emphasize that true sustainability must deliver both environmental and financial value to be successful long term. MUST demonstrates how reducing plastic waste, improving operational performance, and saving money can work together through technology, data, and strong customer partnerships.

Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!

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