Fostering Innovation Through Industry Partnerships: Our Collaboration with Peel Plastic Products

In an ever-changing landscape of education and industry, partnerships between universities and businesses have become the bedrock of innovation and problem-solving. At Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), working with industry partners is a core strength and we are proud to host any industry collaborations. Partnerships can take many forms; here is a look at the start of that journey with a new to TMU partner, Peel Plastic Products (external link) .
 

Planting the Seeds of Partnership

Our collaboration with Peel Plastic Products began with a shared commitment to sustainable packaging practices and mutual respect for each other's domains. One of the earliest milestones of our partnership was the introduction of our Sustainable Packaging Research Lab (external link, opens in new window)  to Peel Plastic Products followed by a plant tour, hosting student researchers and faculty. These tours allowed our TMU students to gain invaluable insights into the practical workings of a leading sustainable packaging manufacturer. The experience provided a real-world context for their academic learning and ignited their passion for sustainable packaging. It’s also created a bridge for students to interact with the company. For example, Packaging Concentration students and Environmental Science and Management graduate students visited the Peel Plastic Products booth during PACK EXPO in Las Vegas this September.

“It’s really exciting to meet industry partners and see how receptive they are to students. It helps us to build connections and professional networks while we are still studying, which is so valuable.” – Grace To, GCM Student

“At TMU, our partnerships are key to our success.  We know experiential learning opportunities made possible through these partnerships provide our students with relevant and career-ready skills,” said TMU president and vice-chancellor Mohamed Lachemi, who paid a visit to Peel Plastic Products himself in May. “Over the last number of years, the university’s partnership with Brampton has grown significantly, this is just another great example of the potential that exists in the region.”

Building up resources

Solidifying a commitment to collaboration, Peel Plastic Products generously donated state-of-the-art package testing equipment to the lab. The donated drop tester will not only enrich our research capabilities but it will also offer our students hands-on learning opportunities, closing the gap between theory and practice in our Packaging Distribution (opens in new window)  course hosted by the School of Graphic Communications Management.

“At Peel Plastic Products, we are happy to support the growth of the Creative School at TMU. Their focus on building a Sustainable Packaging Research Lab, which closes the gap between classroom instruction and real-world experience, will help TMU students become the future leaders in a vibrant Canadian packaging field.” – David Troost, General Manager at Peel Plastic Products Ltd.

“We are very grateful for all of the industry collaborations hosted by the Sustainable Packaging Lab. The equipment donation by Peel Plastic Products is a big step forward in teaching and research for the packaging industry in Canada.” – Dr. Jay Park, Associate Professor
 

Opening Doors to Student Opportunities

One of the most exciting facets of our partnership is the potential for student recruitment. Peel Plastic Products recognizes the wealth of talent at TMU and will offer several internship positions to students from our Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science. These internships not only provide students with invaluable industry exposure but also enable Peel Plastic Products to tap into fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

This recruitment initiative exemplifies Peel Plastic Products' dedication to nurturing emerging talent and underscores the advantages of collaborating with universities as a source of future professionals. It's a partnership where students gain practical experience while the industry gains access to a pool of enthusiastic and knowledgeable individuals.

“At TMU, we regard experiential learning opportunities, such as co-operative and internship placements, as a core aspect of our education. Through partnerships with industry partners like Peel Plastic Products, our students can apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges and gain new perspectives from professionals in the field. Most importantly, our students are able to see how engineers can make a positive impact on society.” – Dr. Medhat Shehata, Associate Dean, Teaching and Outreach, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Possible Next Steps

We are excited to continue to deepen our collaboration with Peel Plastic Products, and hope that sharing these beginnings serves as an inspiration to others.

The Chair of Graphic Communications Management at The Creative School, Natalia Lumby, shares that “the connection to industry is critical to ensuring meaningful and impactful research and teaching in sustainability. The most valuable part of having these partnerships is the ability to share perspectives and knowledge.”

One pathway is research collaborations, which is a powerful means of addressing pressing industry and societal issues. For us this is improving the sustainability in packaging. By securing research grants and involving students in these projects, both of our institutions are working in tandem to discover innovative solutions to these challenges. When education and industry join forces, the possibilities are boundless, and the future holds greater promise than ever before. Together, we are shaping a world where sustainability in packaging is not just a goal but a reality.

A big thank you to Peel Plastic Products for joining us on this journey!