Sonoco
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Packaging, industrial goods, recycling |
| Predecessor | Southern Novelty Company |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Headquarters | Hartsville , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (customers in more than 85 countries) |
Key people | R. Howard Coker (President and CEO) |
| Products | Consumer packaging, industrial goods, protective packaging, packaging supply chain services, composite tubes, cores, cans |
Number of employees | 20000 |
| Website | www |
Sonoco Products Company stands as a prominent American supplier specializing in a broad range of consumer packaging, industrial goods, protective packaging solutions, and comprehensive packaging supply chain services. It holds the distinction of being the largest global manufacturer of composite tubes, cores, and cans. Originating in 1889 under the name Southern Novelty Company, Sonoco reported net sales close to $7.3 billion annually. The organization employs nearly 20,000 individuals across over 335 facilities located in 33 countries, catering to customers in more than 85 nations. Its corporate headquarters are based in Hartsville, South Carolina, where it ranks as the top company by revenue.
Sonoco is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker SON and is a constituent of the S&P 400 Index.
Operations
As the leading global producer under the Sonotube brand, Sonoco manufactures fiber concrete columns, tubes, and cores. The company is also a key player in producing blow-molded plastic containers, thermoformed plastic packaging for both consumer and industrial markets, engineered molded and extruded plastics, rigid paperboard containers, and convenience closures.
The company’s business segments include consumer packaging operations such as Global Rigid Paper and Closures, Global Flexibles, and Global Plastics. Its Global Services division provides retail display solutions alongside packaging supply chain management. Within its Industrial Converted Products segment, Sonoco produces tubes, cores, and reels utilized by wire and cable manufacturers; supplies uncoated recycled paperboard for fiber-based packaging and external converters; and runs Sonoco Recycling, recognized as one of the largest recycling enterprises worldwide. The Protective Packaging segment focuses on engineered protective systems, temperature-controlled packaging solutions, and retail security products.
In September 2023, Sonoco finalized a $330 million acquisition of RTS Packaging from WestRock in the United States, strengthening its position in the packaging solutions market.
In December 2024, Sonoco announced an agreement to divest its Thermoformed Flexible Packaging (TFP) division to TOPPAN Holdings for approximately $1.8 billion as part of a strategic portfolio adjustment.
Sustainability
Sonoco has earned accolades for its sustainability efforts, having been ranked as the leading global packaging firm on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index during 2011 and 2012. It received Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) Gold Class distinctions from 2011 through 2013 and was listed among Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s Top 100 Corporate Citizens in both 2011 and 2012. Furthermore, Sonoco appeared consecutively for three years in Newsweek’s "Green Rankings."
Annually, Sonoco Recycling collects roughly 3 million tons of materials including corrugated containers, various paper grades, metals, and plastics. It also oversees recycling initiatives for several major U.S.-based consumer product companies, underscoring its dedication to sustainable business practices.
Administration employees
- Major James Lide Coker, who founded Southern Novelty Company in 1899—the precursor to Sonoco established in 1923.
- Charles W. Coker, who served as President (1970–1990), CEO (1970–1998), and Chairman (1976–2005), steering critical growth periods with strategic vision.
- Harris E. DeLoach Jr., Executive Chairman and former CEO who played a key role in governance before M. Jack Sanders’s tenure.
- M. Jack Sanders, President and CEO from 2013 to 2018, prioritized global expansion and innovation in product development.
- Rob C. Tiede, who led as President and CEO between 2018 and 2020 with a focus on operational improvements and increasing market share.
- R. Howard Coker, serving as President and CEO since 2020, responsible for guiding business strategy and ensuring sustained financial success.
Additional resources
External links
- Articles with short description
- Companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange
- United States packaging firms
- Pulp and paper manufacturers in the United States
- Manufacturing firms founded in 1899
- Manufacturing enterprises headquartered in South Carolina
- American corporations established in 1899
- Hartsville, South Carolina
- Companies included in the S&P 400
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1899