Coast Summit ’24 was a true celebration of the innovators, leaders, and changemakers driving us toward a sustainable future. This year’s gathering united a dynamic blend of experts, activists, and visionaries, each bringing compelling stories, transformative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to inspiring meaningful change.
The day-long summit, featuring compelling panel discussions, has quickly become a highlight of Laguna’s annual Coast Film & Music Festival, which showcases powerful outdoor impact films from around the world.
Wes Carter, president of Atlantic Packaging and founder of A New Earth Project, joined Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe to kick off this year's event. Both leaders helm transformative efforts within their respective industries—Carter in sustainable packaging and Scaringe in sustainable transportation and energy. Together, they emphasized the transformative power of storytelling in driving societal change.
“It’s the reason we bought this theater,” Scaringe explained. “It’s not typical for a car company to purchase a movie theater...but storytelling is one of the most critical elements of bringing about these societal changes.”Carter echoed this sentiment, underscoring his mission with A New Earth Project: to amplify the voices of innovators striving to replace traditional plastics with sustainable alternatives. “This entire effort requires radical collaboration,” he said. “And we’re here to help.”
In that spirit, the Coast Summit’s Modern Alchemy panel showcased companies transforming waste into valuable resources. James Merrill captivated the audience with the origin story of Stoked Plastics, which emerged during his work as a counter-terrorism expert serving under-resourced communities living amid trash. Today, his company produces plastic pellets from used water bottles, achieving the market's highest recyclability rates.
David Stover detailed how Bureo, once a niche skateboard company, evolved into an industry-leading supplier of materials made entirely from discarded fishing nets—one of the most significant contributors to ocean pollution. Through partnerships with over 25 forward-thinking brands, Bureo tackles this major environmental issue head-on.During the Seaweed Stories panel, Julia Marsh, co-founder and CEO of Sway, highlighted her progress in developing flexible plastic packaging alternatives derived from green algae—one of Earth’s oldest plant species. Modern brands like Florence Marine X, founded by three-time World Champion surfer John John Florence, now use Sway packaging to ship surf trunks.
Marsh, who began her career in design, emphasized that the opportunity for waste reduction starts at the design stage. “Eighty percent of environmental waste is determined at that stage,” she noted. “Designers have immense power to choose better materials. Imagine if everyday materials not only reduced harm but did good for the environment and society.”
The summit also featured several panels focused on environmental issues. During the Balancing Act panel, Dr. Chad Nelson, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, offered an encouraging update on Laguna Beach’s marine protected area, which is up for renewal after a decade of remarkable success. Nelson, a Laguna native raising his children there, shared, “It’s an amazing success story. My kids are growing up with a healthier ocean than I did. When nature is given space, it can heal itself.”
Jose Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors struck a chord with his insights during the Stories Move People panel. Gonzalez challenged conventional expressions of efficiency and teamwork, suggesting that “a well-nurtured meadow” might be a more inspiring metaphor than “a well-oiled machine” for teams and our approach to the environment.
The powerful Athletes as Activists panel featured pro skiers Cody Townsend, Connor Ryan, and Ellen Bradley. Townsend described how abandoning helicopter-supported ascents five years ago transformed his relationship with the mountains, leading to a more spiritual connection and a deeper understanding of ancient navigation practices rooted in the indigenous histories of Ryan and Bradley. 
Ryan, a Lakota, and Bradley, a Lingit, spoke candidly about the imbalances faced by indigenous communities regarding land access and enjoyment. They warned that even well-meaning outdoor enthusiasts risk becoming another extractive industry unless they actively support indigenous causes.
“It’s not easy,” Ryan admitted. “Convincing a brand that I won’t take a helicopter, that they’ll not only need to pay me but fund programs and provide gear for indigenous youth—it’s a tough sell.”
In the end, Coast Summit ’24 was a celebration of progress and a powerful call to action, leaving participants informed, empowered, and ready to build a more sustainable world. Together, we’re shaping a sustainable future—one bold idea at a time.
Catch all these powerful panel discussions and more on our Coast Summit landing page.
