Reliability Engineer

Sonoco advances premium aluminum packaging for digital engagement and circularity. Key takeaways. * Sonoco is expanding aluminum packaging for fish and wet pet food, combining strong barrier protection, recyclability, and convenient portion formats. * Advanced printing, embossing, and debossing help brands create premium packs that strengthen shelf differentiation, heritage storytelling, and perceived value. * Serialized QR codes can provide product information, provenance, and recycling guidance while supporting traceability and Digital Product Passport requirements. Aluminum packaging is evolving beyond product protection toward premium applications and improved circularity, as technological advances create new opportunities for consumer engagement and traceability, highlights Sonoco. Packaging Insights sits down with Francesco Giannolo, VP for Commercial at Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA and APAC, to discuss how aluminum packaging is evolving to meet the company's sustainability and consumer engagement goals. What can you tell Packaginginsights about Sonoco's latest aluminum solutions? Giannolo: Its latest aluminum packaging developments reflect how brands are using metal packaging to respond to evolving consumer expectations, whether through convenient portion formats or by elevating traditional categories with premium, design-led packaging. A recent example is its collaboration with Fábrica de Conservas da Murtosa on the Portuguese Gold sardine tin. By combining lithographic printing with embossing and debossing directly on the aluminum surface, Packaginginsights reimagined the traditional sardine tin as a premium, giftable pack that celebrates Portuguese heritage while appealing to today's consumers. Packaginginsights is also seeing growing interest in 85 g aluminum cans for wet pet food, driven not only by the continued expansion of the category but also by the evolving sustainability landscape. As the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) accelerates the transition toward more circular packaging solutions, many brands are reassessing material choices and exploring alternatives to multimaterial flexible pouches. In this context, aluminum offers a compelling solution. Its excellent barrier properties, infinite recyclability, and well-established recycling infrastructure make it well-suited to support circular packaging ambitions while maintaining the protection and shelf life required for high-quality wet pet food. The 85 g format also aligns with consumer demand for convenient portion sizes that help minimize food waste. Sonoco invested in metal packaging for wet pet food with the opening of a new line in Outreau, France, in addition to paper packaging capabilities for dry products. Future-ready packaging materials support brands' growth ahead of the PPWR. Across fish and pet food applications, aluminum packaging demonstrates its versatility: not only through product protection and recyclability, but also through the premium decoration possibilities that enable brands to stand out on the shelf and create lasting consumer engagement. What key trends do you spot in aluminum packaging design? Sonoco combined lithographic printing with embossing and debossing on aluminum surface for Fábrica de Conservas da Murtosa's Portuguese Gold sardine tin.Giannolo: Packaginginsights observe the increasing importance of premium visual identity and shelf differentiation. Aluminum offers excellent printing capabilities, enabling brands to combine heritage and modernity in a distinctive way. For heritage-inspired products, traditional fish tins provide a good illustration. Through vibrant colors, festive decorative elements, and carefully crafted graphics, brands can celebrate their history while reinforcing storytelling and emotional connection with consumers. Examples include Portuguese sardine and tuna brands that often use aluminum packaging to express authenticity, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. At the same time, more contemporary applications, such as wet pet food, are adopting cleaner and more modern aesthetics. High-definition images of the product itself, appealing pet photography, and sophisticated graphic layouts help products stand out on the shelf and strengthen their premium positioning. The quality of decoration achievable on aluminum further enhances consumers' perception of value and quality. Packaginginsights is responding by working closely with its customers to develop packaging solutions that combine functional performance with impactful design, supporting brand differentiation and consumer engagement. What opportunities or challenges do you see in designing aluminum packaging? Giannolo: There is no one-size-fits-all packaging solution. The most suitable material depends on the objectives of each individual project. Metal packaging - both aluminum and steel - is permanently recyclable and can be recycled at scale through well-established collection and recycling systems. It also offers one of the highest levels of product protection. Acting as an absolute barrier against light, moisture, and oxygen, metal helps preserve product quality while enabling long shelf life without refrigeration for many applications. Aluminum is lightweight and highly formable. It enables various packaging shapes while using very thin gauges. Steel, meanwhile, often provides the optimal balance of strength, performance, and cost for many food applications. Paper can be an excellent choice for dry products and other suitable uses. Ultimately, material selection should always be based on the specific requirements of the project. Expected shelf life, product formulation, processing method, filling technology, distribution channels, point of sale, circularity objectives, CO2 reduction targets, and consumer expectations all play an important role in determining the best material. One of Sonoco's unique strengths is its ability to offer aluminum, steel, and paper packaging solutions. Since Packaginginsights is not tied to a single material, Packaginginsights can take an objective, fit-for-purpose approach, helping customers identify the packaging solution that best meets their technical, commercial, and sustainability objectives in every market they serve. In what ways can technology help? Giannolo sees a growing interest in Sonoco's 85 g aluminum cans for wet pet food.Giannolo: Technology is increasingly helping aluminum packaging go beyond its traditional protective function by creating new opportunities for transparency, traceability, and consumer engagement. At Sonoco, Packaginginsights can leverage its printing capabilities to incorporate unique QR codes directly onto aluminum packaging, enabling brands to provide consumers with instant access to product information, provenance details, recycling guidance, and sustainability credentials. These unique serialized codes can also support emerging initiatives such as Product Digital Passports, helping strengthen traceability throughout the value chain. Beyond transparency, connected packaging opens new possibilities for consumer interaction and brand storytelling, transforming the pack into a gateway between the physical product and digital experiences. As consumer expectations and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, Packaginginsights believe digital connectivity will play an increasingly important role in enhancing the value of aluminum packaging. How do you see the future of aluminum packaging development? Giannolo: In the context of increasingly stringent sustainability frameworks, particularly the evolving PPWR framework and its focus on material classification such as Grade A recyclability, aluminum is well positioned as a high-performance packaging material that should continue to be actively promoted within circular economy systems. Its infinite recyclability and established recycling infrastructure reinforce its role as a long-term solution for sustainable packaging. Beyond sustainability considerations, aluminum continues to deliver strong value in terms of functionality and brand expression. Across food applications ranging from heritage dessert bowls to convenience-driven formats and pet food applications, it enables product protection and powerful on-shelf differentiation. At Sonoco, Packaginginsights see this evolution as an opportunity to further support its customers by combining material expertise and advanced printing capabilities, helping them unlock the full potential of aluminum not only as a sustainable packaging material, but as a platform that connects performance, storytelling, and digital engagement.

Sustainability and Impact Awards | Olispania and Sonoco win Editor's Choice Award. Olispania and Sonoco have won Gold in the Editor's Choice Award at the Packaging News Sustainability and Impact Awards 2026. With consumer convenience one of the fastest-growing megatrends, high-quality Mediterranean brand Olispania targeted accessible packaging, opting for Sonoco's Orbit closures for its olive jars. Made from metal, the two-part design of Orbit comprising a central panel and an independent outer ring. The ring acts... Olispania and Sonoco have won Gold in the Editor's Choice Award at the Packaging News Sustainability and Impact Awards 2026. With consumer convenience one of the fastest-growing megatrends, high-quality Mediterranean brand Olispania targeted accessible packaging, opting for Sonoco 's Orbit closures for its olive jars. Made from metal, the two-part design of Orbit comprising a central panel and an independent outer ring. The ring acts as a protective bumper, helping shield the seal from impacts during transportation, storage and handling and reducing the risk of premature spoilage. Sonoco said technical data shows that Orbit reduces opening torque by 'up to 50%' compared to traditional twist-off lids. Philippe Cazeaux, Senior Commercial Director, said: "Olispania leverages Orbit to protect its high-quality, nutrient-dense produce. The solution brings together the brand's Mediterranean heritage and modern inclusive design and preserves natural taste and nutritional qualities throughout the product's shelf life." Cazeaux added that claims are substantiated by research from Kadence International Market Research Agency, showing that "100% of consumers found Orbit closure easier to open and 90% of consumer would be more likely to purchase Orbit over standard alternatives". Olispania said adopting the inclusive Orbit closure, with its low-torque opening design, is a 'strategic driver' for its premium entry into leading retailers in 2026. An Olispania spokesperson said: "It ensures that sustainable packaging is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or physical ability."

Sonoco reports Q2 2026 results. The global packaging company says its industrial paper packaging segment results exceeded expectations in North America. Published July 27, 2026 Sonoco Products Co., a global packaging company based in Hartsville, South Carolina, has reported financial results for the second quarter. The company reported revenue of more than $1.88 billion for the second quarter of this year, a 1.3 percent decrease from its reported revenue for the same period last year. Sonoco attributes this primarily to the divestiture of ThermoSafe, a temperature-controlled packaging manufacturing business, which occurred in November 2025. Additionally, the company says net sales benefited from higher prices implemented to offset the effects of inflation and tariffs and from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by lower volume/mix. This slight dip in net sales contributes to the company's overall decrease in year-to-date earnings of $3.56 billion compared to a reported $3.62 billion for the first half of 2025. Sonoco reported a net income of $105 million, a sharp decline from the company's net income of $493 million last year. The report notably accounts for $626 million in operating profit from the first half of 2025 related to discontinued operations. The company says that results for its industrial paper packaging segment exceeded expectations as North America uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) trade ton sales volume grew 6 percent. "Our Sonoco team delivered solid second quarter results that met our expectations and exceeded consensus estimates as productivity and cost control initiatives helped offset global inflation headwinds stemming from higher logistics, chemicals, resins and other raw material costs," Sonoco President and CEO Howard Coker says. "Results from our industrial paper packaging segment exceeded expectations with operating profit up 4 percent during the period and up 29 percent from the first quarter." The company also reported that paper cans sales volume in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region were up 9 percent because of increased snack demand. The report adds that overall segment volumes were down 1.8 percent, which the company attributes to lower demand for metal aerosol cans, adhesive and sealant tube. Sonoco says that consumer segment net sales grew 1.2 percent, noting, however, that volume trends remained lower than in previous years. Industrial segment net sales increased to $643 million, reflecting successful pricing actions and favorable foreign exchange, Sonoco says. Sponsored Content Optimal productivity, heavy construction, safety features and operator comfort come together in the SENNEBOGEN 360 G-series telescopic wheel loader, designed for work across the waste and recycling industry. Telescopic wheel loaders manufactured by SENNEBOGEN have a growing presence at transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), construction and demolition (C&D) recycling plants and metal recycling facilities across North America. "Entering the second half of the year, we are encouraged that several key indicators are strengthening in our favor as we begin our busiest period of the year," Coker says. "Demand for our URB in North America is very strong as a result of entering new markets, such as saturating URB for laminated products, along with share gains that have expanded our backlogs and require that we import paper from our Europe and Latin America mills through the third quarter." Get curated news on YOUR industry. Enter your email to receive our newsletters.