Packaging firm Sonoco has entered into a research partnership with Clemson University to develop advanced packaging solutions for the fresh food products.
As part of the Sonoco Food Research Excellence for Safety and Health (FRESH), the partnership will engage in the development of new technologies and various types of packaging to enhance the fresh food lifecycle.
Sonoco will provide $1.7m in the next five years to create a multi-disciplinary hub for innovation and research related to fresh food packaging and distribution.
The company will also provide $1m for the business-driven research projects during the same period.
Sonoco FRESH is said to be an extension of the partnership, which created the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson.
Sonoco president and CEO Jack Sanders said: “Sonoco is committed to serving fresh brands, using packaging to tackle the challenges they face.
“Optimizing fresh food packaging to extend shelf life and maintain quality makes fresh produce more accessible to communities, and helps brands and retailers extend sales opportunities and eliminate food waste.”
Clemson University president James Clements said: “Working with outstanding industry partners like Sonoco allows us to do more to develop solutions for the grand challenges facing the world, and it helps us to prepare our students to become future leaders.”
Sonoco offers various consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and displays, as well as packaging supply chain services to the customers.
With around 20,000 employees and annualized net sales of about $4.8bn, the company offers its products and services to the brands in around 85 nations.
