Sonoco’s roots go back to 1899—125 years ago. As we celebrate this meaningful milestone, we’re reflecting on our history of people building businesses by doing the right thing.
Explore our story that spans from our global team of approximately 23,000 across more than 300 operations back to our founding team of 12 in a rented warehouse in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Building a Sustainable Future (2020-Beyond)
Share a Table: The Symbiosis of Sonoco and Partners
The Path to Waste-Free Packing
Do the Right Thing: A Timeless Mantra
A Global Pioneer for Responsible Packaging
Adapting to New Climates (2001-2019)
Sonoco Stewards: Longstanding Employees
Sonoco Sense: Always Two Steps Ahead
Sonoco Strong: Everyone Pitches In
Unpack the Impact Spotlighting Innovations
Growing from the Core (1970-2000)
People Build Businesses: The Fabric of Sonoco
The Cokers & Hartsville: Building for Each Other
Second Nature: Made to Recycle
Customer-First Patents: Packaging for People by People
Safety for All: A Global Sonoco Priority
A Day in Our Lives: The Scope of Sonoco
Planting Our Roots (1899-1969)
Steady as Southern Pine: The Origin Story
The Paper Cone: Peak of Innovation
Handshake Culture: Know Your Coworkers
A Novel Name: Becoming Sonoco and Entering the World Stage
World-Class Safety: Setting the Bar for Safety in Manufacturing
Suggestions System: Good Ideas from Anywhere
Bonded: Supporting the War Effort
Today, we serve some of the world’s best-known brands in consumer, industrial and other markets. With over 4,000 patents to date, we continue our commitment to innovative, sustainable packaging. Guided by our culture of respect, teamwork, service, integrity and accountability, we continue our pursuit of Better Packaging. Better Life.® 125 years later and beyond.