Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend Clemson University’s FRESH Food, Packaging, and Sustainability Summit, and I left more inspired than ever about the potential we have to reshape the future of packaging.
The Summit, which brings together thought leaders across industry and academia, is more than just a conference. It’s a dynamic platform for exploring collaborative efforts, innovative solutions, and forward-thinking ideas that span the entire food and packaging value chain. For Verdeco, where our work lives at the intersection of material science and sustainability, this is exactly the kind of exchange that fuels meaningful progress.
Clemson University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering continues to be a leader in this space. With a proven track record in research and innovation, the department is developing the next generation of sustainable materials and applications that will define how we design, produce, and recycle packaging. Their work on advanced polymers, process optimization, and circular materials is a natural match for the type of innovation we drive at Verdeco every day.
Why does this matter? Because innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. The most meaningful breakthroughs — the ones that shift industries — come from ongoing collaboration between the academic world and the private sector. At Verdeco, we’ve built our entire business around that principle. Our Greenville-based Innovation Center exists not only to develop custom rPET products, but to serve as a conduit between research and reality.
We see our role as both translator and amplifier: helping bring academic insights into commercial-scale production and ensuring those efforts are tailored to the unique needs of the converters, manufacturers, and procurement teams we serve. Whether it’s designing pellets for hot-fill applications or ensuring clarity and consistency in food-grade containers, our products are backed by science and built through partnership.
These collaborations also play an essential role in attracting and developing talent — something we take seriously. Verdeco isn’t just a place to work; it’s a place to grow. We’re always looking for the next generation of curious, capable minds who want to make a difference and bring new ideas into the world. Our culture is built on creativity, integrity, and a relentless drive to improve — because building a more sustainable future takes all of us.
My time at Clemson’s FRESH Summit reminded me of what’s possible when great minds come together with a shared purpose. At Verdeco, we’re proud to be part of that movement — bridging knowledge with action and helping create packaging solutions that are as responsible as they are remarkable.
If you're passionate about sustainability, innovation, and impact — let's talk.
