The Plastilene Group, a global leader in development and production of high-quality, responsible packaging, is launching a $47-million research and development center in Washington Court House. The new Sustainable Food Packaging Innovation Center, which is also the company's first U.S. operation, will create 58 new jobs and $3.8 million in new payroll.
Company Profile
The Plastilene Group is a global enabler in the development and production of high-quality, sustainable packaging for a variety of foods, beverages, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, home and personal care products and more. With sustainability in mind, Plastilene helps food producers reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact. The Plastilene Group's four specialty focus areas include Packaging and Technical Film, Industrial Products, Film for Agro-Industry, and Film Products with Recycled Materials.
Business Need
The Plastilene Group has existing operations in Columbia, Ecuador, and Guatemala. This expansion to Ohio will help the Plastilene Group further develop its North American market. “We’re thrilled to welcome Plastilene to the Dayton Region and help them further develop their North American market,” said Julie Sullivan, the Dayton Development Coalition’s Executive Vice President for Regional Development. “Their new facility will leverage so many of our strengths, bringing together skilled manufacturing and R&D, to tackle important global issues in a meaningful way.”
The Sustainable Food Packaging R&D Innovation Center will focus on the development and high-volume commercialization of game-changing recyclable food packaging. The research will seek to increase circularity, capture after-use material value, reduce leakage into natural streams, reduce fossil feedstock usage, and enhance sustainable economics, carbon footprint reduction and performance targets for multiple Ohio and global food industry companies. “Plastilene’s business culture and philosophy is you invest for the long-term and seek to bring innovative solutions to your customers,” said Guillermo Umana, Plastilene’s General Manager. “We’re excited to work with leaders in our industry to help Ohio’s food producers deliver fresh products in a sustainable way.”
Ohio Solutions
Expanding operations in Ohio allows Plastilene to be in the center of the North American food and agribusiness industry. Food and agribusiness is the largest industry in Ohio. The state is home to hundreds of companies that cultivate, process, package, distribute and market food and drinks enjoyed by consumers around the world.
Washington Court House’s strong manufacturing community makes it the perfect location for Plastilene’s Sustainable Food Packaging Innovation Center. “Washington Court House is a natural fit for Plastilene,” said Joe Denen, City Manager. “Not only are they joining a community with a strong manufacturing tradition, but our companies represent the type of businesses that can benefit from the work of Plastilene’s Innovation Center. We’re excited to help them establish operations here in Ohio.”
“Plastilene’s R&D Center in Washington Court House will establish its first U.S. operations, combining Ohio’s leading role in advancing plastics technology with a global leader in sustainable packaging,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “With Ohio’s talent and collaborative innovation, Plastilene will continue to develop disruptive, sustainable packaging technology for foods, pharmaceuticals and other product sectors that positively impact our lives every day.”
Sustainable Food & Packaging Initiative
Sustainable Food Packaging R&D Innovation centers like Plastilene support the Sustainable Food & Packaging Initiative. This initiative’s mission is to drive sustainable packaging platforms that will fuel economic development, a competitive advantage for Ohio, establish market-driven partnerships, and design a system toward a circular economy. Through this mission, the Sustainable Food & Packaging Initiative hopes to develop Ohio as a world leader in innovative sustainable food packaging and circularity. “It is exciting to bring technology, industry, and auxiliary support together to assist the food industry in innovative solutions to packaging while enhancing our manufacturing capacity in a key industry and ultimately positioning Ohio as the center of it all,” added Rebecca Singer, President of Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT).
Video:
Learn more about the Sustainable Food & Packaging Initiative from founding collaborators. https://vimeo.com/637026881/3b0e7fc37f