Clemson FRESH launches compostable-packaging research centre to drive sustainable innovation

Clemson FRESH has launched a new Compostable Packaging Research and Design Center to accelerate the development of sustainable, next-generation packaging. The facility was built with $690,000 in funding from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Clemson University.

The Center aims to attract industry investment, boost Clemson FRESH’s competitiveness for federal grants and cultivate talent in sustainable-packaging design to meet growing industry needs. This investment aligns with industry estimates projecting a 17 per cent annual growth in the compostable-packaging market.

“Clemson University’s new Compostable Packaging Research and Design Center will strengthen South Carolina’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and workforce development,” said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “We are proud to support this exciting project and its contributions to our state’s economic growth.”

The facility complements the University’s Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab, which collaborates with private industry and academic institutions to advance eco-friendly packaging solutions.

According to Andrew Hurley, Clemson FRESH’s research director and professor, “The Center will not only advance sustainable-packaging design, but also generate insights into recycled materials from design to implementation. Together with the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab, this initiative will help ensure U.S. specialty-crop exports meet international packaging standards.”

The new centre responds to emerging global regulations, including requirements for compostable produce labels, increased post-consumer recycled content in plastic packaging and reduced use of shrink wrap. These regulations, driven by United Nations efforts towards a Global Plastics Treaty, aim to eliminate single-use packaging and promote sustainability.

Equipped with advanced technology, including an in-vessel composter with automated controls and reverse aeration bays, the Center can evaluate packaging compostability in as little as 28 days — significantly faster than traditional testing methods. The facility also supports ASTM International testing standards and includes home-compostability research.

Clemson FRESH leverages the expertise of Clemson University’s Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Science faculty, whose specialties range from polymer recycling and life-cycle analysis to biodegradable films and post-harvest biology.

“These capabilities represent a unique opportunity for companies to address complex composting challenges,” said James Sternberg, Clemson University assistant professor of sustainable packaging. “We can evaluate biodegradability rates in the lab and conduct large-scale field tests to provide a complete picture of the composting process.”

For more information on partnering with this initiative, contact Andrew Hurley, Clemson FRESH’s research director.