Michigan State University’s School of Packaging (SoP) in the US has officially opened the newly named Plastipak Processing Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The unveiling of the lab comes after an investment from Plastipak was announced in March 2025 by the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR).
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The funding supports “Packaging 2.0,” an initiative aimed at doubling the size of the SoP facility and expanding its research capabilities.
CANR Dean and associate provost Matt Daum said: “As the home college of the nation’s best School of Packaging, CANR is proud to partner with Plastipak as we train the next-generation of packaging leaders.
“While the building renovation is important, it’s what happens inside the building that truly matters. I want to say thank you to Plastipak because we cannot do this without your support. Together, we are delivering a world-class experience for our students and moving the field of packaging boldly into the future.”
As an early partner of this initiative, Plastipak’s contribution is enabling increased faculty and graduate student capacity at the SoP.
In recognition of this support, room 164 in the current SoP building has been renamed as the Plastipak Processing Lab.
The lab provides enhanced facilities for research and teaching focused on plastic processing techniques, offering resources for students and faculty to investigate sustainable packaging solutions.
The opening event featured remarks from representatives of CANR, SoP, and Plastipak leadership.
Attendees included guests from Plastipak, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), and the Young Family Foundation.
Established in 1952 as the first school of packaging in the US, MSU’s SoP is now the largest packaging programme in the country, with more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students and a global alumni network spanning 10,000 people.
Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, Plastipak is a manufacturer specialising in rigid plastic containers for sectors, including aerosol, beverage, industrial, and food.
Established in 1967 by William C Young, the company now has 38 manufacturing sites globally and more than 6,000 employees.
The company’s investment in MSU’s School of Packaging is expected to further enable sustainability research and provide teaching spaces for future innovators in the field, noted MSU.
Plastipak president and CEO Ed Morgan commented: “Our partnership with Michigan State University’s School of Packaging reflects that commitment by expanding opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration and innovation.
“By supporting this expansion and the new Plastipak Processing Lab, we are helping equip the next generation of leaders to address real-world packaging and sustainability challenges and shape the future of our industry.”
