Atlantic Packaging Bets Big on Tech, Launching New Earth Ventures to Reinvent Supply Chains

CHARLOTTE, NC – May 05, 2026 – Atlantic Packaging, the largest privately held industrial packaging company in North America, today announced a significant strategic pivot with the launch of New Earth Ventures (NEV), a dedicated innovation and investment arm. The new entity aims to fund and scale the next generation of technologies set to transform the packaging industry and the global supply chains it supports.

An Industry Leader's Pivot to Venture Capital

For 80 years, Atlantic Packaging has built its reputation as a cornerstone of North American industry, providing essential packaging solutions. Now, the company is stepping beyond its traditional role to become a catalyst for change. The launch of New Earth Ventures represents a proactive move by an established leader to address the mounting pressures on modern commerce.

"We launched New Earth Ventures because packaging is one of the most essential and overlooked opportunities in the global economy," said Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging and a General Partner of the new venture. "Brands are under real pressure right now — costs are up, supply chains are uncertain, and the impact of packaging on the global environment is accelerating. We're backing founders solving those problems today, with better processes, smarter technology, and materials that enable a cleaner world."

This move isn't just about corporate responsibility; it's a strategic response to a market in flux. By creating a dedicated venture arm, Atlantic Packaging is placing a direct bet on innovation as the primary solution to the industry's most pressing challenges: economic inefficiency, logistical complexity, and environmental sustainability.

Sizing Up a $500 Billion Opportunity

NEV is entering the fray with an ambitious scope, targeting a combined addressable market it values at over $500 billion. This figure is not arbitrary but is supported by significant growth across three key sectors. The alternative and sustainable packaging market alone is projected to exceed $300 billion in the coming years, while packaging automation solutions are on track to become a market worth over $140 billion. The rapidly expanding field of AI tools for supply chain management adds another $60 billion-plus to the equation.

To capture value across this vast landscape, NEV has structured its investment strategy around three core pillars:

• Packaging Intelligence: Investing in AI and software that can model, design, and optimize packaging to meet complex regulatory, performance, and sustainability demands.
• Supply Chain Optimization: Backing software and automation technologies designed to streamline physical logistics, reduce waste, and cut operational costs.
• Next-Generation Materials: Funding the development of innovative materials, often derived from biological sources or waste streams, that offer scalable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional single-use packaging.

The venture arm, led by Managing Partner Matt Saunders, a seasoned investor with expertise in energy transition and supply chain optimization, will primarily target Series Seed and Series A companies, planning to make four to five investments annually.

From Seaweed to Software: The New Face of Packaging

NEV is hitting the ground running with established relationships that exemplify its investment thesis. These initial partnerships provide a clear window into the future of packaging that the fund intends to build.

One such relationship is with Sway, a materials science innovator converting ocean-farmed seaweed into home-compostable, microplastic-free replacements for flexible plastic packaging. Sway's TPSea resin is designed to be a drop-in solution for existing manufacturing infrastructure, tackling the scalability challenge that often hinders new biomaterials. This directly aligns with NEV's focus on next-generation materials that can replace problematic plastics at scale.

On the digital front, NEV is collaborating with companies like Specright and Forest. Specright is a pioneer in Specification Data Management, offering a platform that digitizes and centralizes all data related to a product's lifecycle—from raw materials to finished goods. This creates a "single source of truth" that enables companies to improve traceability, streamline sustainability reporting, and accelerate product development.

Building on this foundation, Forest operates as an AI-powered intelligence and sourcing engine for the packaging industry. It helps brands navigate the complex world of packaging options, using AI to compare materials, suppliers, and sustainability metrics, thereby streamlining decision-making and fostering connections across the ecosystem. Together, these companies represent the "Packaging Intelligence" and "Supply Chain Optimization" pillars of NEV's strategy, demonstrating a shift from physical boxes to intelligent, data-driven systems.

A New Hybrid Model for Industry Innovation

What may set New Earth Ventures apart is its hybrid model, which combines venture capital financing with the deep operational strength of its parent company. Startups in the NEV portfolio don't just receive a check; they gain access to Atlantic Packaging's 80-year-old network of customers, its industry expertise, and its state-of-the-art facilities, like the Packaging Solution Center in Charlotte.

"As regulators, brands, and consumers demand measurable progress, and as technology enables swift innovation, startups require more than capital. They need deep industry expertise and a clear path to market with the right customers," explained Saunders. "Our model delivers that. By blending the rigor of venture capital with the operational strength of an established major packaging company, we are well-positioned to reinvent global supply chains."

This approach is further bolstered by strategic support from the Minderoo Foundation, a major global philanthropic organization known for its work in tackling plastic pollution and promoting a sustainable "blue economy," and the Hula Fund, a Vermont-based venture fund focused on mission-aligned, impactful technology companies. The involvement of these partners underscores a shared commitment to creating long-term, net-positive change that extends beyond financial returns.

By creating this ecosystem, Atlantic Packaging is not merely adapting to the future but actively building it. The launch of New Earth Ventures signals a recognition that the next wave of value in the packaging industry will be created by those who can successfully merge sustainability, technology, and deep market knowledge, transforming a foundational industry from the inside out.