Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) has donated $1.6 million to the University of Maine to establish the UMaine Sustainable Packaging Initiative. The UMaine Sustainable Packaging Initiative is a research-based public and private consortium that focuses on using forest-based materials to accelerate the transition to renewable and recyclable packaging made from forest fiber. “As a UMaine graduate, I am happy to be part of PCA’s involvement in the UMaine Process Development Center. This investment will enable the PDC to expand research and development activities and industry support to include packaging grades. Sustainable packaging represents a huge potential for the paper industry; it is exciting to be a part of this change both as a PCA employee and a UMaine advocate,” said Barbara Hamilton, senior director of process control technology at PCA.