Representatives from one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world visited Georgia Tech’s campus recently, meeting with lead faculty, staff and students at the Renewable Bioproducts Institute.

RBI Associate Director Chris Luettgen organized the visit by Smurfit Kappa.

“We are always looking for these types of opportunities, not only to showcase the latest trends in research being conducted by our faculty, but also to connect both our undergraduate and graduate students with a company of this stature,” he said. “In organizing the visit, they really wanted to work time into the schedule for a small session with our PSE (paper science and engineering) students. It’s really exciting to bring in companies like Smurfit Kappa, an organization with a tremendous number of mills that can offer students a glimpse into a possible career path in the industry.”

Presentations by several faculty members highlighted the various advances and new methods in materials and technology used for the development of new packaging, including smart and sustainable packaging.

“They were very impressed with the direction of our research and the creative approaches we are using to transform the packaging industry,” Luettgen said. “We are very hopeful Smurfit Kappa will not only make a return visit, but that they realize the potential of a true partnership with RBI and the wider Georgia Tech community. It’s a tremendous opportunity – for all of us.”

Smurfit Kappa designs, manufactures and supplies paper-based packaging and also manages nearly a quarter of a million acres of forest. The company is located in 21 countries in Europe and 13 in the Americas, employing about 45,000 worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website.