About Sonoco
About Sonoco
Our integrated packaging solutions help define brand personalities, create unique customer experiences and enhance the quality of products and the quality of life for people around the world — all in the service of our purpose: Better Packaging. Better Life.®
We are a global leader in sustainable metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging, with 285 operations across 40 countries and 23,000+ employees.
Our Guiding Principles
People Build Businesses by Doing the Right Thing
Doing the right thing is more than what we do at Sonoco. It’s who we are. With humble beginnings in paper products 126 years ago, today we lead the packaging industry by not only meeting customers’ needs and making the right investments but also doing right by our employees and our partners.
Perspectives Makes Us Stronger
Listening to our team members’ voices, perspectives and ideas is essential to our Guiding Principle. At Sonoco, we've built a work environment where everyone is respected and included across our global operations.
Our Purpose
The Power of Purpose
For us, it’s not so much what we do, but why we do it. At Sonoco, our journey of discovery has evolved over a century, but our purpose can be found in the seeds of our yesterday. Our legacy as a world-class packaging company began with pine-tree roots in Hartsville, South Carolina and continues today around the globe.
Our Purpose
Since our founding in 1899, we’ve partnered with customers to provide dependable service and quality products. Today, our global enterprise continues serving customers with a sense of security, innovation and confidence. Unlike other packaging companies, we’re equipped to help customers meet both their sustainability goals and volume needs, providing them with the world-class packaging they deserve.
Committed to planet- and people-first packaging, we’re persistently pursuing our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life.
A Different Kind of Packaging Company
Our greatest resource is our people. At Sonoco, we believe that people build businesses. Our industry-leading team is committed to reaching our customers’ goals with the best packaging in the world.
History
Our Deep Roots
Go back 126 years and envision a small team of 12 working in a rented warehouse in the small town of Hartsville, South Carolina on the Southern Novelty Company’s first product: a cone-shaped paper yarn carrier used for winding and transporting yarn. Since textile cones at the time were typically wooden, these paper cones were indeed a novelty. This innovative product positioned what is now Sonoco as the leading producer of cones in the United States.
Fast forward almost 25 years and we continued to grow our product line and plant locations around the country. In 1923, the Southern Novelty Company name changed. Using the first two letters of this new company name (So-No-Co), we claimed the name Sonoco. In the years to follow, we expanded internationally across North America and into South America, Europe and beyond.
Today, our team includes approximately 23,400 employees working in 285 operations around the world. We serve some of the world’s best-known brands in consumer, industrial and other markets. Guided by our roots of respect, teamwork, service, integrity and accountability, we’re leading the way to innovative and responsible packaging.
History of Sonoco
- 1899
- 1908
- 1923
- 1958
- 1980
- 1999
- 2021
- 2024
- 2025
Southern Novelty Company is Born
Major James Lide Coker and his son, James Lide Coker Jr., co-founded the Southern Novelty Company with the goal of converting the bountiful pine trees of Hartsville into paper. In an unused tobacco warehouse, the first employees began producing paper cones using hand-operated, foot-powered machines, producing more than 7.5 million cones in just a year.
The Paper Cone Patent Arrives
We led paper cone production in the U.S., a revolutionary product replacing wooden cones, which were both cumbersome and expensive.
We Become Sonoco
Nearly five years removed from World War I, the world was dramatically more globalized, and we were pushing to diversify our product offerings. In a rebranding move that was ahead of its time, CEO Charles W. Coker made the decision to take the first two letters from Southern Novelty Company and merge them together, forming Sonoco. That year we also expanded outside of the U.S.
A Significant Investment
The four-phase, $10 million expansion in Hartsville kicks off. Phase 1 was a new paper machine that stretched almost the length of a football field. Named after a beloved long-time employee and director, Mr. Mac could make a sheet of paper 175 inches wide.
Fortune 500 Debut
Sonoco made its debut on the Fortune 500 list, becoming the only company in South Carolina to achieve this distinction.
People Build Businesses
We proudly revealed the “People Build Businesses” bronze sculpture at our Hartsville headquarters, marking our 100th anniversary by honoring the employees who support Sonoco’s mission.
Sustainable Packaging Solutions
We introduced our waste-free EnviroSense® packaging line offering a diverse array of more sustainable packaging solutions worldwide.
125 Years of Better Packaging. Better Life.®
The company celebrated its 125th anniversary, reflecting on its legacy and commitment to Better Packaging. Better Life.®
A Historical Acquisition
Sonoco acquired Eviosys, creating the Sonoco EMEA division and marking Sonoco as the leading global manufacturer of metal packaging.
2025 Accolades & Awards
Recognized by Newsweek as ‘Most Trustworthy Companies in America’ for 2025.
Named to USA TODAY's America's Climate Leaders 2025 list for our sustainable packaging effort.
Sonoco Europe secured three Bronze Awards by Packaging News:
- Sustainable Packaging Business of the Year
- Sustainable Brand of the Year
- Sustainable Investment Project of the Year
Media & Investors
Have a question for us? Sonoco's Investor Relations and Corporate Communications team is here to help with any requests you may have.
Roger Schrum
Head of Investor Relations
1 North 2nd St
Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
United States
P: +1-843-339-6018 (US)
Email: roger.schrum@sonoco.com
Sonoco
1 North 2nd St
Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
United States
P: +1-843-383-7000
F: +1-843-383-7008
Sonoco Suppliers
Supporting the Partners Who Help Us Build Our Business
At Sonoco, we’re proud to partner with thousands of suppliers who support our Better Packaging. Better Life® mission. Whether you provide essential raw materials or niche services, these contributions are vital to our success.
We work best with those committed to sustainability, quality, safety and ethical business practices, in-full compliance with Sonoco policies and procedures. This page serves as a go-to resource for our suppliers to find key information, documents, tools and support.
Visit Sonoco’s Suppliers page for more on current policies, documents, and portal access.