An Interview With Russell McLeod
Visionary Leadership: A commitment from the top along with clear alignment between sustainability and business’ strategy is essential.
In our current economic model, we see a lot of waste and inefficiency. Products are designed, used, and then discarded, often creating environmental and economic burdens. The circular economy offers a solution by designing out waste and keeping materials in use for as long as possible. This shift can lead to innovative business models, sustainability, and economic resilience. How are companies making this transition, and what can others learn from their journey? I had the pleasure of interviewing Clint Smith, Director of Sustainable Packaging at Pregis.
Clint has been with Pregis since 2007. He is responsible for advancing the company’s sustainability initiatives, including increasing recycled content in materials and supporting circular economy practices. He collaborates with global teams and industry partners to implement innovative, sustainable packaging solutions.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up with a strong sense of sustainability ingrained in me from a young age thanks to my grandfather, who was a dairy farmer. He believed in making the most out of everything and finding ways to reuse materials. He, of course, reused glass milk bottles and wooden crates. In fact, I still have a few of those crates and bottles to keep this reuse system in mind. If something broke down, like a truck, it wasn’t discarded — it was kept for spare parts. This mindset of reusing and repurposing everything around us left a lasting impression on me, shaping my understanding of sustainability and circularity long before I even knew those terms.
Could you share with us your journey and the pivotal moments that led you to focus on the circular economy within your business?
My upbringing influenced my journey and was further shaped by what I’ve seen in my jobs and just everyday living. I went to Clemson and studied packaging. Witnessing the wastefulness of traditional business practices, and even in some of the industry’s most impactful designs, I was driven to explore ways to improve. The idea of circularity really resonates with me because it aligns with the values I learned from my family — ensuring that every product, from start to finish, has a continuing journey of reuse. This approach has guided my work at Pregis, where I have advocated for integrating circular economy principles into our business model whenever possible. Fortunately, Pregis is just as committed as I am to finding the best way to design products that perform and make the least amount of environmental impact.
What experiences in your background have shaped your understanding and commitment to sustainable business practices?
As I mentioned before, spending time at my grandfather’s farm taught me the value of resourcefulness and conservation. My grandfather’s methods involved using everything without waste — everything. This instilled in me a strong sense of what we now call ‘sustainability.’ But really, it’s “waste not, want not.” Drawing from my background and professional experience, I have gained insight into developing and executing approaches prioritizing circularity.
Can you tell us about a significant challenge you’ve faced in your career that has influenced your approach to business and sustainability?
One of the main challenges I have faced is integrating circular economy principles into existing business models. We still live in a take, make, waste world that rewards the lowest prices and quickest delivery, so it can be tough to challenge people to think differently. Convincing stakeholders to see the long-term benefits of circularity required a different approach and view of the total cost of ownership. These changes didn’t happen overnight, but when they do occur, it is incredibly rewarding. These challenges reinforced my belief in advocating for sustainability at every level of the business, and it’s why I’ve built my career with Pregis in particular.
How has your company evolved to integrate circular economy principles, and what role have you played in this transformation?
At Pregis, we’ve made significant progress in embedding circular economy principles into our core operations, transitioning from a linear model to one that prioritizes reuse and recycling. More importantly, we make this journey public and transparent by outlining and measuring the goals we want to achieve by 2030. You can find these goals and where we are meeting them proudly displayed on our website.
My role has been instrumental in championing initiatives that ensure our products are designed with their entire lifecycle in mind. A prime example of this is our innovation in polyethylene (PE) foam solutions, where we introduced circular innovations that allow these materials to be reintegrated into the economy after their initial use. We also help fabricators recycle more efficiently and cut down the number of trips to the recycling center by offering them a way to palletize their scrap. Additionally, by partnering with like-minded companies and retail brands, we have developed advanced protective packaging solutions that enhance recycling and improve overall circularity by not starting with virgin resin. This approach ensures that our products are not merely used once and discarded but are part of a continuous cycle, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
What does ‘closing the loop’ in the circular economy mean to you, and why is it important for businesses today?
‘Closing the loop’ means that every material used in a product is purposely designed to be accounted for, recovered, and reintegrated into the economy at the end of its life. At Pregis, this concept is at the heart of our innovation strategy, and we encourage our customers to think the same way by offering them all the tools needed to gauge their impact. Honestly, this approach is crucial for any business right now, not just packaging, because it not only reduces environmental effects and promotes efficiency, but consumers are demanding it, and they are getting more savvy about the greenwashing that is out there. In an era where the ‘take, make, waste’ model is becoming outdated, embracing circularity is an ethical choice and a tactical imperative. Everyone must do it. There’s no getting around it.
Does designing products to be circular increase the cost of the product? What are the challenges of balancing cost with creating a circular product that has demand?
Designing products to be circular can lead to additional costs, especially in the beginning. This is where innovation can really be exciting, though. When you explore alternatives, you often find that you can offset increased material costs by implementing lower total cost processes. Investing in better materials and more thoughtful design processes that ensure a product can be reused, recycled, or repurposed down the line can lower your operational costs.
I can think of two examples. One is the EPR regulations that may influence the cost of ownership for packaging choices specifically. Another can be found in zero-waste operations. Many companies have found that they can save on operational costs by being more purposeful about processes leading to scrap or material waste. More importantly, there definitely is some hidden equity in doing the right thing — it’s just sometimes hard to measure on a piece of paper.
The real challenge is helping consumers understand why these products might cost a bit more and showing them the value of their choice. People need to see that by choosing circular products, they’re contributing to something bigger — reducing waste, conserving resources, and ultimately creating more opportunities for environmental value. It’s about shifting the conversation from just price to the impact and benefits. You want to ensure the product remains accessible while still pushing the envelope on sustainability. It’s a delicate dance, but when done right, it creates a win-win situation for both the planet and the consumer.
Can you identify the 2–3 critical mistakes companies often make when transitioning to a circular economy model?
A critical mistake is underestimating the importance of working together — no single company can do it alone. Another is failing to communicate the benefits of circularity effectively to consumers, which can result in a lack of market acceptance. We see this most often when talking about the word ‘recyclable.’ A consumer’s and corporate definitions of that word might not align, and sometimes companies don’t correct false assumptions, which is unfortunate. I also feel like companies overlook the need for long-term commitment, thinking that quick fixes will suffice and that can close the door to new opportunities in the future. Or worse, they don’t understand or communicate clearly why they are making these choices, so teams get confused, and multiple people within the same organization become misaligned when trying to solve the same problem.
How does your company address the entire lifecycle of a product, from design to end-of-life, to ensure circularity?
At Pregis, we approach the lifecycle of our products with a comprehensive view, ensuring that circularity is considered from the design phase through to the end-of-life. Our products are engineered with the specific goals of being repurposed or recycled and reducing waste. For instance, recent innovations in our poly-based inflatable cushioning solution, AirSpeed HC Renew PCR, highlight our commitment to circularity by creating materials that are post-consumer recycled materials and can be easily integrated into the production cycle. Even before the recent moves by retail giants to avoid plastic in shipping, Pregis was already ahead of the trend by offering curbside-recyclable paper options that perform similarly well.
Moreover, we actively collaborate with partners and industry stakeholders to spread recycling technologies and infrastructure, such as through our partnership with Henkel to develop advanced protective packaging that enhances recyclability. This continuous culture of innovation in the selection of both our materials and processes ensures that every Pregis product aligns with our sustainability goals.
What innovative strategies has your company implemented to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency?
We’ve implemented strategies that focus on reducing waste at every product lifecycle stage. For instance, we optimize our manufacturing processes to minimize waste and have developed materials that can be easily recycled, contributing to the circular economy. We literally draft an entire report about it every year and post it online, so it’s easy to see the finer details if you visit our website.
What role do partnerships and collaborations play in your efforts to close the loop and create a more sustainable business model?
Partnerships and collaborations are fundamental to our efforts to advance sustainability. We recognize that achieving true circularity requires collective action, which is why we actively engage with industry associations, suppliers, and customers to co-develop and implement circular solutions. Additionally, our participation in industry organizations like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Circular Great Lakes, CEFLEX (Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging Europe), and The Climate Pledge allows us to influence broader industry practices and advocate for necessary infrastructure and policy changes. These partnerships keep us at the cutting edge of sustainability and amplify our initiatives’ impact, ensuring that our circular economy strategies provide the maximum benefit to anyone working with us.
What are your “5 Things You Need To Create a Successful Circular Economy Based Business”?
Visionary Leadership: A commitment from the top along with clear alignment between sustainability and business’ strategy is essential.
Innovative Design: Products must be designed with their entire lifecycle in mind.
Collaborative Partnerships: Working with others is key to creating effective solutions.
Consumer Education: Consumers need to understand and value circular products.
Regulatory Engagement: Staying ahead of regulations and advocating for supportive policies is crucial.
What is one actionable step companies can take today to move closer to a circular economy model?
One powerful step companies can take right now is to dive deep into a life cycle analysis (LCA) of their products. While it might sound technical, it’s all about looking at every stage of a product’s life — from the raw materials used to make it to how it’s manufactured, shipped, used, and ultimately disposed of. This holistic view can reveal a lot about where improvements can be made to move closer to a circular economy.
But here’s where it gets interesting: most people don’t realize that even if you design a product to be recyclable or reusable, other factors can impact its sustainability. For example, shipping a product across long distances uses a lot of fuel, which creates emissions that can offset the environmental benefits of a recyclable product. Similarly, if the vendors you’re working with aren’t using best practices — like conserving energy or minimizing waste — then your overall impact might not be as green as you think.
So, it’s not just about designing a product that can be reintegrated into the economy at the end of its life, it’s also about scrutinizing every step in its journey. By doing a thorough LCA, companies can identify where they can cut emissions, reduce waste, and ensure that every part of the supply chain is aligned with their goals. This kind of approach makes a difference, and any company can start doing it today to inch closer to true circularity.
Could you share a story of a business or leader who has inspired you in the realm of the circular economy?
I’ve been deeply inspired by Simon Sinek and his concept of “Start with Why.” Sinek’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose behind what we do, which has profoundly shaped my approach to sustainability and circularity. For me, the “why” is about creating a future where resources are utilized to their fullest potential, just as my grandfather did on his farm. He lived by sustainability principles long before it became a buzzword, ensuring that nothing went to waste. This resourcefulness and commitment to making the most out of everything have guided my career. By starting with this clear purpose, I’ve been able to drive meaningful change within Pregis, ensuring that our circular economy initiatives are not just about compliance but about creating lasting impact.
How can our readers further follow your work or your company online?
You can follow Pregis on LinkedIn or visit our website to stay updated on our sustainability initiatives and progress toward a circular economy.
This was great. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your business. We wish you continued success!
About the Interviewer: Russell McLeod is an experienced business leader, social entrepreneur, and mentor. A champion of profit with purpose, the circular economy and of collaboration for positive progress.
Russell is the founder of Mightyhum a Toronto-based impact enterprise dedicated to supporting growing organizations. And, while it’s not a requirement, the Mightyhum team has a passion for collaborating with purpose-driven businesses. Mightyhum specializes.
Closing the Loop: Clint Smith Of Pregis On Embracing the Circular Economy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.