11 - Chris Davidson, PhD - Director of Corporate Sustainability from WestRock

People of Packaging · 27 Nov 2019 · 30m

What this episode covers

Chris Davidson, PhD, Director of Corporate Sustainability at WestRock, discusses his career path from Jamaican forestry to leading sustainability strategy at a major packaging corporation. He explains that sustainability requires balancing environmental, economic, and social factors, and highlights WestRock's commitment to the circular economy through renewable resources and recyclable products. Davidson also emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership to drive innovation and shares advice for young professionals seeking internships and co-ops in the industry.

Mentioned

Companies
WestRock, Champion International, International Paper, TerraCycle

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Designing in the Wild · 1h 13m

    #011 Season 2: Jason Belaire - IDSA Chair(2021-2022) | Belworld Creative, INC. Talks of living abroad, childhood abuse, empathy, social projects around the world, and sustainability

    Jason Belaire, Chair of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) and founder of Belworld Creative, INC., discusses how his experiences living in Argentina and working in the outdoor industry shaped his sustainable design philosophy. He explains that designing for resource-constrained environments in places like Northern Argentina fostered a deeper empathy and creativity than standard first-world models allow. Belaire advocates for integrating emotional intelligence and servant leadership into product development to create more equitable and sustainable outcomes, arguing that the design profession must actively address its environmental impact.

  • How I Built This · 26m

    Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard (2016)

    Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, explains how he transitioned from a blacksmith making pitons in a chicken coop to building a billion-dollar outdoor apparel company. He details the company's early struggles with rapid growth, the strategic decision to slow expansion to ensure longevity, and the implementation of radical sustainability practices like the Ironclad Guarantee and garment repair services. Chouinard also discusses his unique leadership philosophy, which emphasizes employee autonomy, flexible work policies like 'surfing when the waves are up,' and a commitment to environmental responsibility over traditional profit maximization.

  • Designing in the Wild · 19m

    #002: Rob Irwin Takes Us On His Journey To Becoming An Industrial Designer

    Host Rob Irwin, an industrial designer with 17 years of experience and work for Fortune 500 companies, recounts his journey from a high school shop teacher's mentorship to a crisis of conscience triggered by Victor Papanek's 'Designing for the Real World.' After leaving college to pursue personal enlightenment and minimalist living, an epiphany during a tribal gathering led him to return to school with a focus on sustainability, biomimicry, and circular economies. He details how reading authors like Daniel Quinn, Bill McDonough, and Janine Benyus reshaped his approach to design, moving away from planned obsolescence toward responsible creation.

  • How I Built This · 28m

    HIBT Lab! UNLESS Collective: Eric Liedtke

    Eric Liedtke, former Global Brand President at Adidas, explains his transition from revitalizing a major sportswear brand to founding UNLESS Collective, a startup creating 100% plant-based, biodegradable apparel. He details the environmental failures of the fashion industry, specifically the persistence of plastic waste and the limitations of recycling, which drove his decision to leave Adidas. Liedtke discusses the technical challenges of sourcing non-plastic materials, such as cellulose-based threads and water-based inks, and the supply chain complexities of manufacturing in the US and Portugal while maintaining a zero-waste ethos.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 11m

    Electronica 24: InCap's Otto Pukk Wants Manufacturing to be Thoughtful, Sustainable and Fun

    Otto Pukk, CEO of InCap, discusses the company's strategic focus on sustainability, ESG compliance, and regional supply chain shifts during his presentation at Electronica 2024. He explains how InCap utilizes data from EU regulations to improve efficiency and emphasizes the importance of industry-wide cooperation for scope three assessments. Pukk also details InCap's successful expansion into India and the US, highlighting their acquisition of Teletronics and the integration of acquired teams through a decentralized, employee-led culture.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.