- Leading school of packaging and leading packaging company
announcing a new partnership
- Investment of over $10m
furthers Amcor's long-term commitment to developing the next
generation of packaging professionals
- MSU's School of Packaging will use contribution to
establish an Endowed Chair of Packaging Sustainability and to fund
facility upgrades
CHICAGO, Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Amcor (NYSE: AMCR) (ASX: AMC) and Michigan State University's (MSU) School of
Packaging today announced a new partnership, reflecting the
parties' shared commitment towards future talent, greater
innovation and responsible packaging.
Amcor plans to invest over $10
million in MSU's School of Packaging – the largest
investment in the history of the university's College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), under which the School of
Packaging sits. The funding, which forms part of Amcor's commitment
to supporting the next generation of responsible packaging talent,
will be used to help the school further its high academic
standards and enable facility modernization upgrades that ensure
students have access to state-of-the-art technology.
The partnership between these two leading organizations will
also support the creation of an Endowed Chair of Packaging
Sustainability to drive forward further research and innovation in
the topic.
Ron Delia, Amcor CEO,
said,
"This is an important investment in the future of the packaging
industry, which will be defined by responsible, sustainable
packaging solutions. MSU already attracts the greatest talent in
the industry and Amcor is committed to fostering the boldest
thinkers as they make ground-breaking advancements in more
sustainable packaging solutions."
The breakout investment is the latest example of Amcor's
strategy to drive innovation and identify new avenues for growth as
it continues to advance responsible packaging. Amcor is partnering
with a range of organizations to create packaging that is designed
to be recycled or reused and implement new technologies that make
its manufacturing more efficient, which makes its employees more
productive and safer.
MSU President Samuel L. Stanley
Jr., M.D., said, "We are grateful to Amcor for its
recognition of MSU's leadership in packaging education and our
commitment to sustainable innovations. Together, we will ensure
that the industry remains well equipped with global talent and
leadership to meet the challenges of providing packaging that keeps
food and medicines safe while furthering the circular economy."
The School of Packaging was named by Universities.com as the top
packaging program in the nation and the school supports
industry-advancing research in sustainable polymers, packaging life
cycle analysis and fresh food packaging. For more information about
the partnership, visit https://www.amcor.com/media/news.
About Amcor
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible
packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and
personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading
companies around the world to protect their products and the people
who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains
through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons,
closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging
that uses less materials, is increasingly recyclable and reusable,
and is made with more recycled content. Around 47,000 Amcor people
generate $12.5 billion in annual
sales from operations that span about 230 locations in 40-plus
countries. NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC
About Michigan State
University
Michigan State University has been
working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than
165 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU
focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the
world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing
opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through
more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
About MSU School of Packaging
The MSU School of Packaging is the first school of packaging in
the United States and the largest
packaging program in the country, with nearly 700 undergraduate and
graduate students. It is the only school that offers a Ph.D.
program in packaging, boasting 10,000 alumni worldwide.
Additional quotes
Matt Daum, PhD., director of
the School of Packaging added, "Amcor has a reputation for
quality, excellence and innovation, and has best-in-class research
capability with sustainability experts around the globe. With
Amcor, we are excited to create a partnership that leverages and
enhances the School of Packaging's global reach and expertise in
packaging sustainability research. Our alumni can feel confident we
are poised to continue providing the packaging community with
thought leadership and best-in-class packaging education."
Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., MSU
Provost commented, "As the first program of its kind,
MSU's School of Packaging has a longstanding track record of
providing high-quality education for students in the discipline of
packaging and conducting research that advances the science and
technology of the packaging industry. This gift will help MSU
remain a leader in educating an innovative group of future
packaging industry professionals and entrepreneurs."