This week, graphicartsmag.com reported on Sonoco’s new research partnership with Clemson University (Clemson, SC). The Sonoco FRESH (Food Research Excellence for Safety and Health) initiative will develop new technologies and new forms of packaging to optimize the fresh food lifecycle.
Each year, the food industry loses 15.6 billion dollars due to food spoilage at retail. Modifying packaging design to extend shelf life -by even one day- can recover 1.8 billion of that loss. The same amount of food will feed more people and there will be much less waste.
To establish the multi-disciplinary hub for innovation and research to advance fresh food packaging and distribution, Sonoco will contribute US $1.725 million dollars over 5 years. Over that period, the company will also sponsor research projects totalling US $1 million.
