Michigan State University launches national packaging innovation center

USA – With the United States generating around 40 million tonnes of plastic waste annually from packaging, Michigan State University (MSU) is stepping up with a bold response.

Backed by a five-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), MSU’s School of Packaging has launched the Center for Plastic, Paper and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions (C3PS) to tackle one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the environmental impact of packaging waste.

Only about 5% of U.S. plastic waste is recycled, and nearly 40% comes from packaging.

C3PS aims to reverse this trend through cutting-edge, pre-competitive research that enhances both sustainability and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

“MSU is the world’s leading school of packaging and has strong industry ties. This new center cements its role as the place to solve the packaging industry’s toughest problems,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz.

C3PS is the NSF’s first Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) focused on packaging.

It unites MSU and Western Michigan University with collaborators from six other U.S. universities, bringing together 24 faculty experts from materials science, biodegradation, AI, recycling systems, and regulatory science.

Led by Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz, associate professor at MSU, the center’s mission is rooted in circular packaging design, where packaging materials are engineered from the outset to be recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable.

“We envision a cradle-to-cradle model where packaging seamlessly integrates with disposal systems,” said Rabnawaz.

“By advancing both material development and end-of-life processing, C3PS will enable scalable, sustainable solutions.”

The center’s research will focus on two primary areas critical to advancing sustainable packaging: plastics, and paper and hybrid materials.

In the plastics category, the center aims to develop zero-waste packaging by designing recyclable and biodegradable materials.

Researchers will explore new polymer formulations and manufacturing processes that allow plastics to be effectively reintegrated into the value chain.

Additionally, the center will enhance existing recycling technologies to make them more efficient, scalable, and economically viable.

These efforts will contribute to reducing plastic waste and extending the life cycle of packaging materials.

The center will focus on creating innovative packaging solutions for paper and hybrid materials that are recyclable, compostable, and environmentally friendly.

This includes developing new additives that improve the recyclability and durability of paper-based products and engineering hybrid structures that combine the functionality of plastic with the sustainability of paper.

The goal is to design materials that can be easily recovered and reused, helping to increase the overall circularity of packaging systems.

Dr. Laura Bix, interim director of MSU’s School of Packaging, called the NSF-backed launch “a transformative moment” for the field. “Our history of interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement is being taken to the next level.”

Beyond research, C3PS will also serve as a talent incubator, training undergraduate and graduate students across the eight partner institutions and creating a pipeline of skilled professionals for the packaging industry.

“This center is a long-term investment in sustainable innovation and workforce development,” said Dr. Matt Daum, interim dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Over the coming years, MSU plans to grow the center’s faculty and expand industry partnerships, positioning C3PS as a national hub for packaging end-of-life innovation.

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