Sonoco is pleased to announce that it has become a member of The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN).

Established in 1993 and headquartered in Belgium, EUROPEN comprises and represents the voice of stakeholders in the packaging value chain. The European association aims to make the European market for packaging and packaged product more accessible and harmonised, while protecting products and the environment.

Key issues the association raises and develops – independent of any specific packaging material or system – include: packaging, packaging waste and the environment.

Skye Oudemans, Sustainability Manager Europe at Sonoco, comments: “EUROPEN allows key industry stakeholders,  to have a voice, bring ideas and issues to the table, and progress those matters – all while cooperating with other members and leaders of the organisation.

“As sustainability is a major focus for our company and the development of our packaging, Sonoco purposefully chose to join an association that places protection of products and the environment in such high regard.

“We are excited to be a part of EUROPEN and look forward to discussing industry issues with other members.”

Francesca Stevens, Managing Director at EUROPEN, added: “We are delighted to have Sonoco on board as its newest member. In the midst of the review of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), bringing the packaging value chain together and joining efforts is of utmost importance to achieve appropriate EU legislation for packaging. We look forward to working together with Sonoco to support the ambitious targets of the Green Deal and shape a circular packaging industry.”

Sonoco’s EUROPEN membership follows it boosting its sustainability credentials and becoming a member of the Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment (INCPEN) in May last year.