Sustainability is reshaping the future of industrial manufacturing. In today's market, especially in consumer goods, sustainable packaging solutions are no longer optional. They are essential. Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics leads with purpose by delivering innovative, environmentally responsible products and practices that help businesses move forward.
Building Sustainability into Every Stage of Plastic Manufacturing
Plastic manufacturing becomes more sustainable when it emphasizes circular practices, incorporates renewable materials like biobased plastics, and eliminates unnecessary packaging. We embed sustainability into every stage of the product life cycle, from responsible material sourcing to dedicated teams that ensure accountability and measurable progress.
We start with responsible sourcing, selecting resins and raw materials that support recyclability, reduce environmental impact or offer renewable alternatives. Our processes are energy efficient, designed to minimize waste and maximize output without sacrificing performance.
We also plan for what happens after a product's useful life with strategies like recyclability, reuse and recovery to keep valuable materials in use.
Our Sustainability Council, Public Responsibility Committee, and cross-functional teams focus on continuous improvement across the company. These groups keep us accountable, align our practices with environmental goals, and ensure sustainability remains at the center of everything we do.
Through this holistic approach, we deliver eco-friendly plastics that help our partners achieve their goals without sacrificing quality or reliability.
Reducing Plastic Waste Through Smarter Design and Process
Sonoco reduces plastic waste by rethinking how plastic parts are designed, sourced and produced. By using recycled and recyclable resins, we keep valuable materials in circulation.
Our teams engineer lighter components that require less material, while maintaining strength. Precision molding and extrusion reduce scrap and prevent overproduction.
Together, these efforts advance sustainable plastic manufacturing practices that minimize environmental impact while delivering dependable performance.
Real-World Applications of Sustainable Plastic Solutions
We offer a wide range of sustainable plastic products designed for longevity and efficiency:
- Plastic film winding cores are built for reusability and easy reclamation, offering a more sustainable alternative to single-use cores.
- Plastic endwalls are both reusable and recyclable, helping reduce material waste in packaging and shipping.
- Reel Tough® plastic spools and reels were designed for heavy reuse to provide a cost-effective, longer-lasting solution for transporting wire, cable, and other materials.
- Reusable food service plastic smallwares solutions are durable enough to last for years, helping Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) and foodservice operations cut down on single-use plastics.
- Open-end spinning cylinders are engineered for long life and frequent reuse. At end-of-life, they can be sent to a plastic recycling facility for reprocessing.
These solutions demonstrate how sustainable plastics align with performance, durability and circularity while helping businesses meet their environmental goals.
Innovation That Powers Long-Term Environmental Impact
At Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics, innovation is more than a mindset-it's a disciplined process that drives meaningful change. Through our i6 Innovation Process, we bring together market insight, technical expertise and material science to develop plastic solutions that perform better and last longer.
We continue to invest in material research and development, exploring next-generation resins and biobased options that support sustainable plastic manufacturing. We also partner directly with customers to co-develop lower-impact plastic components that align with their environmental objectives.
By focusing on solutions that scale, repeat and adapt, we help manufacturers take practical steps toward a more sustainable future, one product at a time.
Sustainable packaging solutions aren't a passing trend. They represent the future of plastics and responsible manufacturing. Sonoco is uniquely positioned to help B2B partners meet their environmental goals without compromising on quality, performance or innovation.
Ready to build smarter, more sustainable plastic products? Contact Sonoco Industrial & Specialty Plastics to explore how we can support your environmental and operational goals today and into the future.