Department of Sustainable Biomaterials
Jennifer Russell class project
Sustainable Biomaterials by the numbers
78k average starting salary
90% have jobs
30-35 students
57k scholarships
Salary and placement: Packaging Systems and Design graduates, SBIO graduate survey, class of [YEAR]. See career outcomes
CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR
Two majors. One mission: less waste, smarter systems.
PSD Students at 2026 PackExpo
Packaging Systems & Design
Design, test and engineer the packaging that protects food, medicine, electronics, e-commerce and everything in the marketplace that is shipped with the goal of making it more recyclable, cost-efficient or lighter.
Average Starting Salary
$78,000
Typical Roles
Packaging engineer, packaging designer, and R&D
S3 students in lab discussion
Sustainable Systems Science (S3)
Use data, systems thinking and policy to measure and shrink the footprint of products, supply chains and organizations, and help them meet the regulations that drive sustainability.
Average Starting Salary
$55K-$60K in VA
Typical Roles
Sustainability analyst or consultant, industrial ecologist
Want packaging or sustainability alongside another major? Add a minor in Packaging Systems and Design, Sustainable Biomaterials or Sustainability Analytics. Explore minors
Why Sustainable Biomaterials
Learn it in the lab, from people who know you
cushion tester in cpuld labs
Learn by doing
Crush-test packages in one of only four IKEA-certified labs in the world, or audit a real organization’s waste and model the fix. Projects start in your first year.
cold chain project in cpuld labs
Our professors know your name
Major classes average 30 to 35 students. Advisors know the industries you are aiming for, and many students earn money working in our labs.
chemistry sbio labs
Sustainability is at the core
Learn the science, data and regulations behind greener products and companies, from bioplastics made from food waste to the life cycle assessments that measure real impact.
Lab jobs, internships, study abroad, PACK EXPO and real company projects are built into both majors, from your first year to your senior capstone.
Graduate Stories
From Blacksburg to careers that matter
“Packaging Science at VT provided the foundational knowledge, experience and skills to be successful in this industry.”
Tyler Matusevich, B.S. ’13, M.S. ’15
Sustainability Director, Brook & Whittle.
Austin Byrd, PSD Alumni
“The classes in our SBIO department helped me to be more open-minded about potential solutions.”
Austin Byrd, B.S. ’25
Sales Coordinator, Dominion Packaging
Kevin Mikita, SBIO Alumni
“Studying Sustainable Biomaterials taught me the ability to think at a systems-level.”
Kevin Mikita, B.S. ’22
Sustainability Consultant, Schneider Electric
Companies that have hired PSD graduates:
vt library hall w students
Scholarships
More than $57K in department scholarships every year
Incoming first-year Packaging Systems and Design and Sustainable Systems Science students can apply. To be considered, complete the FAFSA and Virginia Tech’s General Scholarship Application by January 22, 2027.
Want to learn more about our programs?
Claim your role in a more sustainable future.
Get the program guide for your major, salary and employer data, and invitations to live info sessions. An advisor will follow up with answers to your questions.
Prefer to talk now? Call 540-231-8853 or email us directly.
Get information sent to you
Fill out Virginia Tech’s short inquiry form and choose Packaging Systems and Design or Sustainable Systems Science as your major of interest. You will get program information, admissions updates and invitations to our live info sessions.