Packaging Unboxd with Evelio Mattos – Details, episodes & analysis

We're handing the reins to recent graduate Grace Lee, she's interviewing me to find out the answers to the questions every graduate is asking today. How to get hired, how to get noticed, can I even find a job today?

Need help with your packaging? https://www.linkedin.com/in/eveliomattos/ We get into it all. So if you've just graduated, are having a hard time finding a job, sit down, listen up, and let's get to it. Evelio Mattos is an established voice in the packaging design industry with an extensive background, having worked with high-profile brands like Lady Gaga, Barney's New York, Tesla, and Google. His expertise spans across various sectors including fashion, tech, and retail, emphasizing sustainability in packaging. Evelio's rich experience and innovative approach make him a significant figure in the packaging world. Grace Lee is a recent graduate from the prestigious Pratt Institute's Packaging Identities and Systems Design Graduate Program in Brooklyn. With a passion for creative and sustainable design, Grace represents a new wave of designers poised to make impactful contributions to the industry. Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Packaging Unboxed, host Grace Lee delves into the packaging design industry with the knowledgeable and seasoned Evelio Mattos. Grace, representing the fresh cohort of design graduates, brings forth pressing questions about the industry's dynamics, particularly concerning sustainability, innovation, and the integration of new technology such as AI. Evelio's extensive background and hands-on experience provide rich, practical insights that are invaluable for new designers entering the field. The conversation navigates through key projects and experiences that have shaped Evelio's career, including his initial foray into packaging design and notable collaborations with brands like Lady Gaga and Tesla. Through this episode, listeners gain an understanding of the evolution of packaging design and the critical role it plays in branding and consumer decision-making. Evelio emphasizes the importance of being client-facing and understanding different facets of the industry from procurement to distribution, underscoring the intrinsic relationship between design and business profitability. Key Takeaways: Client Interaction is Crucial: Being client-facing and understanding the nuances of finance, procurement, and distribution can significantly enhance a designer’s value. Importance of AI: Embrace AI as a tool to speed up concept iterations and improve the efficiency of the design workflow. Build a Strong Social Presence: Utilize LinkedIn and other social media platforms to showcase your work and build a professional network. Understanding Sustainability: Ensure your design solutions align with a brand's sustainability goals, recognizing that trade-offs are often necessary. Start Small to Climb Big: Entry-level positions, even those seen as mundane, provide foundational knowledge and opportunities for growth in the design industry. Notable Quotes: "Design is sales. And I think a lot of times designers are like, I'm not a salesperson, I'm a graphic designer, I'm a packaging designer, but your idea is not going to get made if you don't sell it." "You have to get the reps in. You've got to get the reps in for creating these terrible designs. You've got to get the reps in for expanding creative from one size to another size." "Today, people will decide whether they want to hire you or not based on your social. So even before you apply, what's your social tell, you know, what's that say about you?" "The idea of, I graduate now, I want to go work at Pentagram or Landor… you can just work for yourself and just grow your own business from day one." "LinkedIn is the key place. Anything that you have in your portfolio, tying it back to a brand or anybody that you're trying to target, then being able to tag them is what's going to give you the most visibility."

About the Guest(s):

Miguel Arevalo: Miguel Arevalo is a prominent figure in the packaging industry, currently working with Google's packaging team. He has made significant contributions to sustainable packaging solutions and is an advocate for plastic-free packaging. Miguel's work focuses on creating eco-friendly packaging designs that enhance the consumer experience while meeting environmental goals. He has shared his expertise at various industry events and is known for fostering innovation in sustainable materials and processes.

In this episode of Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors host a compelling discussion with Miguel Arevalo from Google's packaging team. As they dive into the world of sustainable packaging, the hosts explore Google's transition to plastic-free packaging, emphasizing eco-friendly practices and innovations. Miguel shares insights on the collaborative efforts that led to this achievement and the importance of making sustainable choices in packaging.

Throughout the episode, core themes such as sustainable packaging solutions, the role of Google Maps and its plastic-free packaging, and the challenges and triumphs of transitioning to eco-friendly materials are discussed. Miguel highlights the importance of creating a memorable unboxing experience while ensuring packaging is easily recyclable. He also discusses how Google leveraged partnerships and technological advancements to achieve their goals. The conversation touches on the broader implications of sustainable packaging for other brands and industries.

• Google's transition to plastic-free packaging involved a collaborative effort and innovative solutions.

• The new packaging focuses on creating a memorable unboxing experience with textures and sounds that emphasize recyclability.

• Google has made their plastic-free packaging guide available for other brands to use, promoting widespread sustainability.

• Advanced sorting technologies and improved materials are crucial for enhancing recyclability and reducing contamination in recycling streams.

• Sustainable packaging requires continuous innovation and collaboration within the industry to achieve progress, not just perfection.

• "Our team does an amazing job to make that work. It takes a village and we have an amazing team." – Miguel Arevalo

• "Consumer convenience is key. Our main goal was to have packaging that can easily be recycled by anyone, anywhere." – Miguel Arevalo

• "We believe that we all are in this boat together. It's about what everyone can be able to do, not just Google." – Miguel Arevalo

• "We aim for progress, not perfection, in our sustainable packaging journey." – Miguel Arevalo

• Google Blog: Plastic-Free Packaging Guide
• Western Michigan University Recycling Testing Center

• Miguel Arevalo on LinkedIn

Get help creating your sustainable packaging: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eveliomat... About the Guest(s): Tim Silman is the Program Director at Lonely Whale, a renowned organization dedicated to preventing ocean plastic pollution. Co-founded by actor Adrian Grenier in 2015, Lonely Whale leverages storytelling, modern marketing techniques, and collaborative partnerships to tackle ocean plastic pollution. Tim, based in Charlottesville, Virginia, leads innovative projects and campaigns focused on sustainable solutions, such as the Plastic Innovation Prize. **Support the show sponsors: Download the how to design sustainable packaging guide: https://idpdirect.com/design_guides/ Learn how to manage your packaging specifications: https://specright.com Learn more about dissolvable packaging materials: https://smartsolve.com Episode Summary: Join Evelio Mattos in an insightful conversation with Tim Silman, Program Director at Lonely Whale. This episode dives deep into the issues of ocean plastic pollution, highlighting innovative initiatives and sustainable practices. Tim shares his journey, the mission of Lonely Whale, and how radical collaboration and modern marketing are creating new pathways toward a plastic-free ocean. Lonely Whale focuses on reducing ocean plastic, with campaigns like "Stop Sucking" and initiatives like Nextway Plastics and the Ocean Heroes program. Tim discusses the impact of thin film plastics, innovative solutions using seaweed-derived materials, and the importance of biodegradable plastics. Brands are encouraged to integrate these new materials into their supply chains, with complex challenges of scaling these solutions being addressed through collaborative efforts. Key Takeaways: Urgency of Ocean Plastic Pollution: An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans yearly, expected to triple by 2040. Lonely Whale's Strategic Approach: The organization uses storytelling, campaigns, and collaborations to drive change and innovate solutions for ocean plastics. Innovative Alternatives: The Plastic Innovation Prize highlights seaweed-based biodegradable alternatives to thin film plastic, showcasing winners such as Sway, Zero Circle, and Notpla. Role of Designers and Brands: Designers and brands play a crucial role in sustainability by integrating innovative materials and setting realistic yet ambitious goals. Future Steps: Loneliness is focused on educating and expanding their initiatives while seeking new problematic materials to tackle in the fight against plastic pollution. Notable Quotes: "Our center has really been around leveraging storytelling and modern marketing techniques and radical collaboration with brands and other partners to change the trajectory of ocean plastic pollution." — Tim Silman "It's a humongous problem. People may be familiar with the Pacific garbage patch, with the impact on marine life now emerging more on human health and climate." — Tim Silman "Biodegradable doesn't actually mean anything. It's kind of industry greenwashing, unfortunately. Biologically degradable is a term we use to demarcate that." — Tim Silman "Think about the consumer and their behavior, and how they interact with your product, to better incorporate sustainable design at the upfront." — Tim Silman "Brands have to consider their storytelling, setting realistic targets and, if necessary, adjusting goals while maintaining transparency and authenticity with their customers." — Tim Silman Resources: Lonely Whale: lonelywhale.org Unwrap the Future: unwrapthefuture.org Instagram: @lonelywhale Podcast: 52 Hz Podcast on Spotify For more captivating conversations and sustainability insights, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for more episodes from our series.

What happens when you get 4 packaging nerds on stage at the largest Waste industry event in Vegas? Find out what we covered, what we learned, and how your packaging decisions are just the tip of the iceberg when we discuss every business built around recycling.

With Jonathan Quinn of Pregis, Cory Connors of Sustainable Packaging Podcast, Adam Peek of People of Packaging Podcast, Mikey Pasciuto founder of Scrapp, and myself Evelio Mattos.

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

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*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday and reposted to YouTube here.

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Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design and Front and Center Podcast Host Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Whoo! We hit nearly 100 episodes on the podcast, thank you so much for listening.

Today we are talking to Michael Napoli of Terracycle and wrapping up our 4 part series on designing sustainable packaging.

** Want to appear on the show and hit our 5k + audience? Just go to the website and let me know: packagedesignunboxd.com

Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's critical to stay informed and not fall behind.

Here's why you have to listen:

1) Because it's awesome!

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

Learn more about Terracycle here

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*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

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Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design and Front and Center Podcast Host Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging

Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's critical to stay informed and not fall behind.

Here's why you have to listen:

1) How does a brand or designer even begin to work with Terracycle?

2) How do you create truly reusable packaging?

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

---

Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

Learn more about Terracycle here

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*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

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Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design and Front and Center Podcast Host Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging

Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's critical to stay informed and not fall behind.

Now if you don't know Terracycle, they recycle the unrecyclable and work with some of the world's largest brands to put in place recycling schemes that reduce global waste. Here's why you have to listen:

1) The differences between practically recyclable and technically recyclable, and why this matters.

2) Learn how brands view Sustainability today

3) Different types of recycling processes 

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

---

Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

Learn more about Terracycle here

---

*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

---

Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design and Front and Center Podcast Host Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

---

Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging

Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's critical to stay informed and not fall behind.

Now if you don't know Terracycle, they recycle the unrecyclable and work with some of the world's largest brands to put in place recycling schemes that reduce global waste. Here's why you have to listen:

1) The differences between practically recyclable and technically recyclable, and why this matters.

2) Learn how brands view Sustainability today

3) Different types of recycling processes 

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

---

Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

Learn more about Terracycle here

---

*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

---

Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design and Front and Center Podcast Host Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging

En el episodio de hoy hablamos con Hernan Braberman Director de Diseño de Tridimage de Argentina. Trabajan con marcas de todo el mundo y tratan con productos de todos los sectores.

En este episodio, aprenderá sobre empaques inteligentes, marca global y sostenibilidad.

Pero, sobre todo, aprenderá qué se necesita para ganar en el concurso Pentawards. Diseño que sorprende y deleita y nos hace sentir un poco de envidia por no haberlo inventado nosotros.

Antes de comenzar, hazme un favor y suscríbete al podcast ahora mismo y asegúrate de dejar una reseña en español para saber que estás escuchando.

Comuníquese con nosotros si desea escuchar a más diseñadores en español en el podcast.

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Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Hernan on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

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*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

*Wanna enter Pentawards and join me as Pentawards Winner? Sign up here @ Pentawards

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Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging

Jennie Potts Design Director of B&B Studio shares how their work infuses emotion into packaging and why your brand needs a personality.

In today’s episode we discuss some of the work she’s done with B&B studio, one of my favorite chocolate packs for Raw Halo and the positive impact that design has had on the Raw Halo business.

You’ll also why including more content into your Pentawards submission is key to putting you in the running for an award.

If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here

Connect with Jennie on LinkedIn

Connect with Evelio on LinkedIn

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*Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on LinkedIn every Friday.

*Wanna enter Pentawards and join Jennie and I as Pentawards Winner? Sign up here @ Pentawards

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Past guests on Package Design Unboxd include: Former Creative Director of Packaging at Burberry Vincent Villeger, Founder of Terracycle and LOOP Tom Szaky, Head of Realization at Pearlfisher Brandi Parker, Head of Pentawards Adam Ryan, Cardboard Ninja at Think Packaging New Zealand Mat Bogust, Packaging Instructor at Art Center School of Design Gerardo Herrera, Founder of Center Design Alex Center, Head of sustainability at Interact Brands Valerie Hawks, Materials and sustainability at Nirvana CPH Katie Kubrak, Founder of Liquid Death Mountain Water Mike Cessario, and more.

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Support the best damn packaging podcast and our partners:

Order your packaging factory direct with IDPDirect.com

Or learn how Specright can manage your packaging