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
• Integration of PCR stretch film into MUST programs
• Eligibility requirements for MUST and automatic stretch wrapping systems
• 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.

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