Sonoco Unites its Metal and Paper Packaging Divisions to Form Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC

Sonoco, one of the global leaders in sustainable packaging, announced that it is bringing together its metal packaging and rigid paper container businesses across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific into one unified division, Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC. This evolution strengthens Sonoco’s ability to support FMCG brands with a broader portfolio, faster access to solutions and a more seamless customer experience across markets.

With this move, Sonoco becomes the only global packaging partner offering both rigid paper container and metal packaging solutions under one organisation, providing brands with a single source for future-ready consumer packaging across materials. The unified business will offer one point of access to Sonoco’s full consumer packaging expertise, covering metal (food cans and ends, closures, aerosol cans, promotional packaging) and paper-based solutions.

This approach enables more consistent support for regional and global brands, a deeper understanding of customer needs across categories and fit-for-purpose guidance with no material bias. By aligning capabilities, Sonoco will provide enhanced service, greater efficiency and a more holistic approach to helping customers bring responsible and high-performing packaging to market.

Bringing our consumer packaging capabilities together marks an important step forward in how we serve our customers. By uniting two high-performing packaging platforms, we are strengthening our ability to deliver relevant, responsible and innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of FMCG brands. Guided by our purpose of ‘Better Packaging. Better Life.’, this evolution reinforces our commitment to customers, communities and the planet.

Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco

As part of this evolution, Seàn Cairns has been appointed President of Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC. Seàn brings more than 30 years of experience in metal and paper packaging, including 17 years at Sonoco. He has held multiple leadership roles, most recently serving as President of Rigid Paper Containers since 2022, and previously as Vice President and Managing Director for RPC Europe, where he drove significant growth and pioneered innovations such as all-paper cans and paper bottom-end technology.

Seàn began his career with Crown Metal Packaging EMEA (later Eviosys), progressing from factory management roles to business unit leadership positions. Commenting on his appointment, he said, “I’m honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal moment for Sonoco. Uniting our metal and rigid paper packaging businesses creates a stronger platform to support our customers with more agility, more solutions and more forward-thinking innovation. As the only global supplier offering both rigid paper and metal packaging, we are uniquely positioned to recommend the right solution for each product and market — helping our customers grow, so that we grow with them.”

By aligning its consumer packaging capabilities under one organisation, Sonoco Consumer Packaging brings together some of the strongest sustainability credentials in the industry within a single, customer-focused business. The company holds EcoVadis Platinum status and a 100/100 score for Environment for metal, and its rigid paper containers have earned awards including Sustainable Packaging Business of the Year and Sustainable Brand of the Year.

This strengthened platform enables brands to benefit from responsible, high-performing packaging solutions with a fit-for-purpose approach that maximises performance, consumer experience and environmental responsibility. The unified business brings together approximately 8,250 employees across 65 plants in 20 countries throughout EMEA and APAC, ensuring production close to customers wherever they operate.

Sonoco Consumer Packaging remains committed to circular design, recyclability and helping customers navigate regulatory evolution. The company will continue investing in technology and innovation to deliver future-ready packaging solutions.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is one of the global leaders in value-added, sustainable metal and fibre consumer and industrial packaging. The company has grown into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with approximately 22,500 employees working in 270 operations in 40 countries, serving many of the world’s best-known brands. Guided by its purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., Sonoco fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence to deliver solutions that serve stakeholders and support a more sustainable future. Sonoco has been named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek.