Meet the Founder

If you’d told me years ago that I’d end up running a packaging company, I probably would have laughed. From studying geology in the deserts of California to exploring the early days of the internet and developing products for Patagonia, my career has been anything but a straight line. But looking back, all those experiences, interests, and passions came together in ways I never could have imagined, leading me to this adventure in packaging.

Love for the Natural World

I’ve always had a strong connection to the natural world, long before I thought of it as environmentalism. I grew up in Ojai, CA exploring the hills of Los Padres National Forest and the wild, ungroomed beaches of Santa Barbara. Being outdoors was simply a way of life. Art and creativity were always important to me, too, but in school I gravitated toward the sciences.

I studied Geology at UC Santa Barbara and later earned my master’s degree in North Carolina. I don’t think I was ever destined to be a geologist, but I loved the fieldwork, getting my boots dirty, and learning to approach problems with curiosity and an open mind. Looking back, I have always been more of an entrepreneur than a scientist.

Transforming Ideas to Products

I love taking an idea and figuring out how to turn it into something real and tangible. This curiosity led me through an unconventional mix of jobs in technology, startups, product development, and manufacturing. During the dot-com boom, I worked at a small Silicon Valley startup, exploring the emerging world of the internet and entrepreneurship. Later, at Patagonia and Toad&Co, I discovered the satisfaction of turning creative concepts into physical products and learned the complexities of manufacturing and supply chains.

At the time, these experiences seemed unrelated, but each taught me something valuable. Together, they turned out to be a pretty good foundation for starting a packaging company.

Finding Creativity in Molded Pulp Packaging

When I was introduced to molded pulp at Be Green Packaging, something clicked. I loved both the sustainability of the material and its creative possibilities. Unlike traditional folded boxes, molded pulp has curves, textures, and organic shapes that feel almost sculptural. It brought together my interests in the natural world, design, manufacturing, and creative problem-solving.

In 2010, I founded Sustainable Packaging Industries (SPI) with the idea of taking an old technology and using it in new and creative ways. Sixteen years later, I’m still inspired by our customers and the challenge of turning their ideas into packaging that’s beautiful, functional, and sustainable.

Relationships & Teamwork

One of the most rewarding parts of building SPI has been the relationships we’ve developed with our team, customers, and manufacturing partners. I’ve learned that collaboration, flexibility, and good communication are just as important as having a great product. Some of our best ideas come from working together and bringing different perspectives to the table.

In 2025, SPI became a Certified B Corporation, reflecting our belief that sustainability extends beyond the products we make to how we operate as a business. Being part of the B Corp community gives us a framework to keep learning, improving, and making thoughtful decisions.

SPI brings together so many things I care about—creativity, sustainability, problem-solving, and working with good people. As a small, family-run business, we’ve built something I’m truly proud of, with strong relationships among our team, manufacturing partners, and customers. The past 16 years have been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to see where the next chapter takes us!

– Allison Reed, Founder & CEO