Packaging Systems and Design

Learn about the packaging industry

READ THE STORY

Collage of packaging images.

Check sheets and courses

Student Employment

Industry Resources

Packaging Faculty

Advising Center

Focus Areas:

The packaging field is a multidisciplinary field. Therefore, our packaging program was designed to be in the intersection of Engineering, Science, Business and Design. Our packaging students are gaining experience in a broad range of disciplines including product design and marketing, protective packaging and supply chain, food and pharmaceutical packaging, sustainable packaging and circular economy.

Packaging Engineering and Technology

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Our Program:

Small Class Sizes = Personal Connection

Our small class sizes provide an opportunity to our students to build more personal connections with our faculty. In addition, our unique mentoring program assigns a faculty member to every packaging student to provide industry connections and career guidance throughout their time at Virginia Tech.

Learn more about faculty mentors

Corrugated lab demonstration

Industrial Connections

Our close collaboration with industry allows our students to find internships, Co-ops, and employment after graduation. Our extensive network includes major packaging companies such as PCA, International Paper, Smurfit Kappa, Newell, and CHEP as well as packaging users such as Amazon, L'Oreal, Coca-Cola, and Tesla among many others.

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Logo images

Hands-On Experience

The best way to translate the knowledge obtained in the class to real life is to use them to solve real-life packaging problems. Thus, all of our packaging students have a chance to be involved in hands-on packaging projects even during Freshman year including working in our packaging research center, undergraduate research in our chemistry labs, internal summer internships, and industry sponsored senior design projects.

Learn more about our packaging projects

After Graduation:

Choosing to be part of the Packaging Systems and Design program is not only about the time here, but the opportunities that will be presented to you after graduation. There are abundant career opportunities in the packaging industry. Our program has a 90% employment rate, and our graduates earn on average between $65,000 and $85,000 per year upon graduation. Companies who hire our students cover a wide range of sectors from beauty products to defense companies including Amazon, International Paper, Packaging Corporations of America, HP, Northrop Grumman, L’Oreal, and many others.

Recent Employers:

Sealed Air
Tesla
Newell Brands
L’Oreal
Packaging Corporation of America
Pratt Industries
Georgia Pacific
Amazon
PTI
DHL

Recent Job Titles:

Plastic Packaging Engineer
Production Manager
Packaging Engineer
Packaging Designer
Structural Designer
Production Engineer
Packaging Sales Manager
Packaging Scientist

Our Alumni:

Sam Phanthanousy

Sam Phanthanousy (Amazon):

Our small class sizes provide extensive interaction between instructors and students. Collaborative team projects are a vital part of every course. Since communication skills are essential in every industry, the packaging science program provides numerous opportunities for every student to advance their presentation and public speaking skills

Learn More About Our Alumni