“The health of our people and our planet are intertwined.” That belief sits at the core of A New Earth Project and guides how we build, buy, and bring packaging solutions to market. It’s also the lens for the Healthy People, Healthy Planet Report, Atlantic Packaging’s annual impact report that connects employee wellbeing with environmental action
Our values in action
A New Earth Project is Atlantic’s values in action, a movement to eliminate plastic pollution, accelerate regenerative innovation, and protect the well‑being of people and planet for generations to come. Our New Earth First Principles ground that movement in health, integrity, coherence, and balance, reminding us that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s inheritance.
That same ethos runs through this year’s Healthy People, Healthy Planet report. Structured to GRI 2021 Universal Standards and supported by third‑party verification, the report is more than a scorecard, it’s a roadmap for how corporate sustainability, conservation, wellness, and innovation reinforce each other at Atlantic.
Why this report matters
It proves out our philosophy. The report documents how Atlantic operationalizes the idea that caring for people and restoring ecosystems are not separate goals, they are one strategy. From the New Earth Approved product catalog to the Wellness Program, the same principles show up in how we design packaging to how we design workplaces.
It sets measurable goals. Science‑based climate targets, Zero‑Waste milestones, supplier engagement thresholds, and wellness participation metrics give brands, partners, and employees a clear picture of where we’re headed and how we’ll get there.
It’s built for accountability. This edition aligns to GRI Universal Standards, references CDP disclosures, and includes certifications of GHG emissions verification from Apex - so the numbers, methods, and boundaries are transparent.
Highlights
Cutting carbon, accelerating renewables
SBTi‑approved net‑zero pathway. Atlantic became the first packaging & containers company in North America with an approved net‑zero science‑based target. Near‑term commitments include reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 70% by 2030 (from a 2021 base), achieving 55% of supplier spend with SBTs by 2027, and reaching net‑zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2046.
Real energy on the roof, right now. On‑site solar at our facilities in Charlotte, Summerville, and the Dominican Republic produced ~1.4 million kWh in 2024, supplying ~37% of those facilities’ electricity and avoiding ~768 tCO₂e, evidence that distributed renewables are already bending the curve.
Electrifying logistics and material handling. Atlantic integrated two Class‑7 battery‑electric box trucks on Charlotte routes and converted ~70% of forklifts to electric, lowering emissions and improving air quality for operators.
Designing out waste and closing loops
TRUE‑certified zero‑waste sites and a North‑Star goal. Multiple converting facilities now hold TRUE Zero‑Waste certification with diversion rates above 90% (including Sturgis with 99.4%, Dallas with 97.6%, Spring Garden wth 96.5%, and Greenville wth 93.9%). The enterprise goal: 90%+ diversion company‑wide by 2036, Atlantic’s 90th year.
The world’s first closed loop for stretch film. With stretch film recycling capacity for ~10 million lbs/year and a high‑performance PCR stretch film at 18% recycled content, Atlantic is turning used PE wrap from select customers back into premium film.
Waste prevention at the source. The MUST system optimizes stretch wrap, and right‑sizing plus taping standards reduce materials while protecting shipments—practical circularity that brands can scale now.
Wellness as a strategy for good business
Incentivized preventive care. By tying plan discounts to checkups and screenings, 72% of covered employees completed the full incentive program in 2024—shifting care upstream.
Care where people are. The Carter Wellness Center (Tabor City) delivered 1,074 appointments and engaged 87% of employees—plus company‑wide biometric screenings and chronic‑condition coaching that show measurable clinical improvements.
Mental health access without barriers. Through our new vendor, SpringHealth, employees and families can now get same or next‑day care for mental health needs. The engagement since we launched this platform reached 7.9%, roughly double traditional EAP benchmarks.
Nature‑connected workplaces. Our five‑year plan integrates greenscaping, pollinator habitats, indoor biophilia, and in‑office composting, linking daily wellbeing with holistic ecosystem health.
“By embracing sustainability and health as fundamental principles, we pledge to help ensure future generations inherit a world that is vibrant, resilient, and full of possibility.” — Wes Carter
#WeDoThisTogether
Read the full Healthy People, Healthy Planet Report to see the metrics, programs, and partnerships behind these headlines. For the philosophy and pillars that drive our work, visit A New Earth Project @ Atlantic Packaging.
If you’re feeling inspired and ready to collaborate on regenerative packaging or wellness‑forward workplaces, we'd love to connect with you!