Clemson’s Sonoco FRESH initiative awards three research grants

The Sonoco FRESH initiative at Clemson University has awarded three research grants to faculty members who are addressing issues regarding the safety, security and sustainability of food throughout the value chain. With funding provided by Sonoco (a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services) and RXO (a leading provider of asset-light transportation solutions), the projects focus on how packaging can help achieve sustainability goals, such as the reduction of food waste. The Sonoco-funded projects explore modified starch-based barrier coating materials for paper/paperboard/corrugated fiberboard packaging and smart and sustainable manufacturing. The RXO-funded project will provide useful tools for understanding and quantifying distribution hazards to packaging during transportation.

The faculty members receiving the research grants are:

William Whiteside, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences

Sneh Bangar, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences

Zhaoxu Meng, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mark Johnson, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Gregory Batt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences Department
Director of the Sonoco Package Testing Laboratory

Brennan Lytle
Research Laboratory Manager, Sonoco Package Testing Laboratory

“Sonoco continues to sponsor the research funded through Sonoco FRESH as it provides valuable data and solutions that we incorporate into our business,” said Elizabeth Rhue, Vice President of Environmental, Sustainability and Technical Services at Sonoco and FRESH Industry Advisory Board Chair. “We encourage companies in every sector of the food value chain to support the FRESH research program.”

“It’s an honor to participate in the FRESH research program,” said Evan Laskaris, Vice President, Managed Transportation at RXO. “In the food supply chain, packaging is essential in ensuring the safe transportation of food across the country and world. RXO values a pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial mindset, which are key in this program. The ISTA-Certified Package Dynamics Lab delivers high-quality testing services for our company, while providing hands-on experience to Clemson students – the future of our industry.”

FRESH believes that Safe. Secure. Sustainable. innovations can occur in every vertical of the food value chain. With top academic experts involved in every step of the food value chain, Clemson is positioned to drive solutions. More information on Sonoco FRESH and its research program can be found at www.clemson.edu/SonocoFRESH.