Can Science and Business Fix Food Packaging Together?

MSU partnerships aim to meet NSF’s new food safety standards with sustainable materials

24 Oct 2025

Universities and private companies across the US are stepping up collaboration to develop safer and more sustainable food packaging, as pressure mounts to replace harmful chemicals and reduce waste.

Michigan State University’s School of Packaging is at the centre of this effort, building partnerships that connect academic research with industrial application. Supported by federal funding, the programme seeks to position itself as a national leader in developing and commercialising new packaging materials that meet rising environmental and regulatory standards.

The packaging sector faces growing scrutiny over the use of toxic substances, including PFAS, as well as the need to improve recyclability and compostability. Michigan State’s model, linking laboratory research with market-oriented projects, is designed to accelerate progress toward safer materials.

Analysts say the trend could spark wider innovation across the materials industry. “This shift reflects a new model for innovation,” said a packaging strategist familiar with the programme. “It shows that science, policy, and business can align to build a circular economy.”

Momentum has grown ahead of the National Sanitation Foundation’s new P525 Safe Food Packaging certification, set to launch in September 2025. The standard introduces strict limits on substances such as PFAS and BPA, creating clear targets for companies developing compliant packaging. Universities are expected to play a key role in helping manufacturers test and validate new solutions under these rules.

While high production costs and scaling challenges remain, the movement toward sustainable packaging is gathering pace. For many brands, adopting safer materials has become essential to maintaining market access and consumer trust.

With academic research and corporate investment now more closely aligned, the US packaging industry is preparing for a transition that could redefine safety and sustainability standards across global supply chains.