Sonoco, a global leader in sustainable packaging, has announced the integration of its metal packaging and rigid paper container businesses across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific into a single division — Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC.

The move aims to streamline operations and enhance support for FMCG brands by providing faster access to a broader range of packaging solutions under one organization. Sonoco says it is now the only global packaging supplier offering both rigid paper and metal packaging through a unified business structure.

The new division will serve as a single point of access for Sonoco’s full range of consumer packaging expertise, including food cans, ends, closures, aerosol packaging, and paper-based solutions. The company says the alignment will enable greater efficiency, consistency, and customer-focused innovation across regions.

Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco, called the reorganisation “an important step forward in how we serve our customers,” adding that combining two high-performing platforms will help deliver “relevant, responsible and innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of FMCG brands.”

As part of the restructuring, Seán Cairns has been appointed President of Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC. Cairns, who has more than 30 years of experience in metal and paper packaging, most recently led Sonoco’s rigid paper container business and has been with the company for 17 years.

Cairns said the unified structure creates “a stronger platform to support our customers with more agility, more solutions and more forward-thinking innovation,” positioning Sonoco as the only global supplier able to offer both rigid paper and metal packaging.

The combined business encompasses around 8,250 employees across 65 plants in 20 countries, bringing together some of the industry’s strongest sustainability credentials. Sonoco holds an EcoVadis Platinum rating and a 100/100 environmental score for its metal division, along with multiple sustainability awards for its rigid paper operations.

With the new structure, Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC will focus on circular design, recyclability, and continued investment in technology and innovation to deliver “future-ready” packaging solutions for global and regional brands.