Making Sustainability a Team Sport | Levi Wyatt

In this episode of Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors, Levi Wyatt, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Yakima Chief Hops, joins Cory for a conversation about agriculture, packaging, and the power of collaboration. Drawing on his Pacific Northwest roots and Yakima Chief Hops’ grower-owned heritage, Levi shares how sustainability has long been part of the company’s DNA, and how his role has helped connect that work, measure its impact, and tell its story. Levi explains how Yakima Chief Hops connects family hop farms with brewers around the world, and how product concentration, from whole hop cones to pellets and extracts can improve shipping efficiency, reduce waste, and support different brewing needs. The conversation also explores lessons from See Change Sessions and the PACKAGING MATTERS track, including why sustainability professionals benefit from learning beyond their own industries, engaging with policymakers, and sharing practical solutions. Levi discusses Yakima Chief Hops’ Chief Commitments, the importance of measuring progress, and why organizations don’t need a perfect strategy, a large budget, or a sustainability title to get started. Chapter List: 00:31 Introduction to Sustainable Packaging 00:59 Corporate Social Responsibility in the Packaging Industry 01:01 Growing Up in the Pacific Northwest 04:29 Yakima Chief Hops: A Sustainable Approach 13:22 Understanding Hop Products 18:26 Insights from Sea Change Sessions 23:39 The Spark for Sustainability at Yakima Chief Hops 27:01 Advice for Aspiring Sustainability Leaders 27:45 New chapter Resources Mentioned:  Yakima Chief Hops: https://www.yakimachief.com/ Yakima Chief Hops: Chief Commitments: https://www.yakimachief.com/resources/chief-commitments Yakima Chief Hops Impact Reports: https://www.yakimachief.com/about-us/what-we-believe See Change Sessions: https://www.seechangesessions.com/  The Recycling Partnership: https://recyclingpartnership.org/ New Earth Ventures: https://newearthventures.vc/  Atlantic Packaging: https://www.atlanticpkg.com/ Contact: Listeners interested in connecting with Levi Wyatt are encouraged to reach out via LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/leviwyatt/ Support our Sponsors: 3M: www.3m.com/3M/en_US/packaging-shipping-fulfillment-us/applications/sealing-recycled-corrugate Specright: www.specright.com FOREST-PKG: https://www.forest-pkg.com/ https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved Connect with Cory Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/ I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.  This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.