Inside 3M’s Innovation Machine with Amanda Yates
April 6, 2026
Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability.
In this episode, Amanda Yates of 3M takes us behind the scenes of one of the world’s most iconic innovation engines to explore how sustainability is embedded across every stage of product development, from materials science and R&D to commercialization and customer collaboration.
The information presented in this episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Welcome to the Sustainable Design Lab podcast by Veritiv. Hosted by Chris Bradley and Brodie Vander Dussen, this show is your go-to resource for cutting-edge insights into the world of sustainable packaging. Join us as we reimagine packaging innovation and turn every decision into a powerful act of sustainability.
In this episode, Amanda Yates of 3M takes us behind the scenes of one of the world’s most iconic innovation engines to explore how sustainability is embedded across every stage of product development, from materials science and R&D to commercialization and customer collaboration.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to implement a Sustainability Value Commitment framework
- Why collaborative systems unlock innovation faster
- The critical importance of mapping trade-offs before commercialization
- How to align sustainability messaging with different stakeholder motivations
- Why customer-centric sustainability strategies outperform design-for-sustainability approaches
Amanda Yates is the Senior Director of Global Sustainability at 3M, where she leads the integration of sustainability principles into the company's research, development, and innovation pipeline. With deep expertise in sustainable product development and corporate environmental strategy, Amanda has been instrumental in advancing 3M's Sustainability Value Commitment, a framework ensuring every new product incorporates sustainability considerations. Her work bridges innovation and impact, aligning 3M's 100+ year legacy of invention with contemporary climate and circular economy goals.
Download the full report here! to see how these ink innovations fit into the broader 2026 sustainability landscape.
The information presented in this episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Sustainable Design Lab is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
Previous guests include: Sam Boex & Bella Collins of Flexi-Hex, Nathan Pajka of Metsä Board, John Felts of Cruz Foam
Check out our three most downloaded episodes: