Hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, the event showcased Michigan’s leadership in advanced packaging and brought together regional partners to explore innovation, public-private collaboration, and the future of materials recovery and reuse.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 15, 2025) — The inaugural Packaging Symposium, hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, took place on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Technology Innovation Center in East Lansing. The half-day event brought together leaders from research, industry, and government to focus on strategies for advanced packaging in the Great Lakes region.
The symposium is part of the Solutions Hub for an Alternative Packaging Ecosystem (SHAPE) Engine initiative, supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines Development Award (Award ID 2314459). The SHAPE Engine is working to build an advanced packaging ecosystem across Michigan, Ohio, and the Great Lakes region through partnerships focused on innovation in packaging design, materials recovery, and workforce development.
MEDC Highlights Potential for Job Creation and Economic Growth
Dr. Nadia Abunasser, Federal Opportunities Director at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), opened the event with remarks emphasizing the industry’s economic and environmental potential.
“Michigan’s reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing industries already support more than 72,000 jobs,” she said. “By increasing our statewide recycling rate, we could support over 130,000 jobs and add more than $33 billion in economic output—while also advancing our goals.”
MSU School of Packaging Outlines Research Priorities
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Laurent Matuana, Professor and Associate Director of the Michigan State University School of Packaging—the nation’s top packaging school, it is the first program of its kind and the only one in the U.S. to offer a Ph.D. in packaging. Dr. Matuana outlined Michigan’s track record of innovation and highlighted current research in recyclable materials, compostable coatings, and packaging solutions derived from agricultural byproducts.
“From lab-scale research to real-world adoption, we are working with partners across sectors to improve packaging performance and resource management,” Matuana said. “This type of regional collaboration is essential to making advanced solutions scalable.”
Panel Discussion Examines Challenges and Opportunities Across the Value Chain
A panel discussion moderated by Brad Fingland, PhD, Director of Venture Creation at the MSU Research Foundation and Principal Investigator for the SHAPE Engine initiative, brought together leaders from across the packaging value chain:
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Tim Colonnese, former CEO of KTM Industries
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Kara Stoney, Key Brand Manager of Sustainable Packaging at Dow
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Hal Howell, Global Commercial Excellence Lead at Amcor
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JD Lindeberg, President of Resource Recycling Systems (RRS)
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Dr. Laurent Matuana, MSU School of Packaging
The conversation explored trends in materials innovation, corporate sustainability goals, and the role of domestic feedstocks in strengthening economic resilience. Panelists also discussed national security risks linked to food packaging in supply chains and emphasized the need for state-level support to help new technologies reach market readiness. They agreed that long-term progress will require practical investment, strong policy frameworks, and alignment among manufacturers, researchers, and local communities.
“There’s no single solution, but there is a clear path forward if we stay focused on partnership and measurable impact,” said Stoney, who leads brand sustainability strategy at Dow. “We need to design for recyclability from the start and continue to improve infrastructure and collaboration at every stage of the value chain.”
SHAPE Accelerator Supports Early-Stage Packaging Ventures
The symposium also highlighted the SHAPE Engine’s Sustainable Packaging Accelerator, which will support early-stage ventures focused on packaging alternatives through mentorship, research partnerships, and access to capital. Applications for the inaugural cohort closed in March, with selection and onboarding set for later in the spring.
Momentum from the Packaging Symposium will continue through the SHAPE Engine’s next phase, as it supports venture development and helps regional partners align resources around scalable solutions. To learn more about SHAPE and sustainable packaging initiatives, visit msufoundation.org.
The Packaging Symposium was part of 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week (March 31–April 4, 2025), a collaborative series highlighting entrepreneurship across Michigan State University and the Greater Lansing region. Powered by LEAP and the Lansing Regional SmartZone, in partnership with the MSU Research Foundation, MSU Innovation Center, and the MSU Burgess Institute, the week connects all innovators, students, and industry partners to spark economic growth.
This story was originally featured by the MSU Research Foundation.
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About the MSU Innovation Center:
The MSU Innovation Center combines research partnerships, technology transfer, and startup support for MSU faculty who aim to see their research applied to make the world a better place.
Composed of Business Connect, MSU Technologies, and Spartan Innovations, the MSU Innovation Center aims to amplify the impact of faculty research and drive economic growth while positively impacting society to solve real-world challenges with cutting-edge ideas.
Through mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with the private sector, we connect MSU faculty with companies for corporate-sponsored research collaborations. We also play a key role in facilitating the commercialization and public use of technologies and copyrightable materials, moving MSU’s innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Importantly, we provide significant support for faculty entrepreneurs in establishing startup companies based on technologies developed at MSU.