# 357 - Dustin Steerman is putting Vert on the map and changing how packaging is bought

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2026-08-24
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert

## Summary

Dustin Steerman, founder and CEO of Vert, explains how his company is disrupting the flexible packaging industry by combining digital printing with a service-first model. He details Vert's expansion from a cannabis-focused startup into a broader supplier for sports nutrition and pet treats, supported by a new 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, Colorado. Steerman emphasizes that their competitive advantage lies in solving the friction of packaging procurement through 24-hour quote turnarounds and managing complex multi-state regulatory artwork versioning.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=0) Introduction and Dustin's Background
- [7:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=421) Origins in Paper and Digital Packaging
- [10:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=600) Vert's Launch and Cannabis Market Focus
- [13:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=830) Solving Multi-State Regulatory Complexity
- [18:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=1083) The Service Gap and Digital Mindset
- [25:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=1521) New Longmont Facility and Production Capacity
- [31:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-08-24-357-dustin-steerman-is-putting-vert-on-the-map-and-changing-how-packaging-is-bou#t=1894) Industry Consolidation and Future Growth

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Vert (company)
- Label King (company)
- Eagles (other)
- Tatani (tool)
- Longmont (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-01-founder-feature-lex-evan-of-lexington-bakes) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Ep. 8: Build a Food Business with Teeth - Chloe Sorvino, Forbes Magazine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-08-13-ep-8-build-a-food-business-with-teeth-chloe-sorvino-forbes-magazine) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [8: Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-01-28-8-packaging) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-10-09-reinventing-the-pizza-bagel-bagelverses-jacob-cooper-on-nostalgia-and-cpg) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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