"Let's move toward a balanced food industry with
less food waste & ​more sustainable packaging"

- DR. CLAIRE SAND

MEET THE TEAM

Dr Claire Sand

Dr. Swati Sood

Katie Mahoney

Founder, Owner & Global Food Packaging Expert
​Learn More

PTR Team Research
Consultant
​Learn More

PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate
​Learn More

 

Dr. Claire Sand

Claire Sand is a Global Packaging Leader with 30+ years of broad experience in the food science and packaging spectrum. She leads food packaging efforts involving packaging solutions to food waste and more sustainable packaging, as well as provides compelling technology business cases and implementation roadmaps to ease the path of innovative technologies. Dr. Sand is Owner and Founder of Packaging Technology and Research, LLC and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University and CalPoly as well as Food Technology’s monthly Packaging columnist.

She is an IFT Fellow, serves on numerous Editorial Boards, is the author of the Packaging Value Chain, and is cochair of pacfoodwaste. Claire has held previous positions in basic research, development market research, and marketing in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand and at Total Quality Marketing, Nestle, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Mariano's, and in academia. Sand is a seasoned expert witness who has supported food packaging-related legal cases with expert reports, declarations, and depositions.

Dr. Sand holds a doctorate degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan State University. 
 
Current Affiliations
Owner and Founder
Expert Witness

• Packaging Technology and Research, LLC .  Stillwater, Minnesota.  1996-​

Adjunct Professor

• University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Curriculum development and teaching, 2019-
• Michigan State University.  E. Lansing, Michigan MS/PhD program, 2007-
• California Polytechnic University (CalPoly), San Luis Obispo, California MS program, 2017-

Columnist

• Food Technology Packaging monthly column, 2015-          

Leadership and Service
Recent Awards

• Riester-Davis-Brody award for Lifetime achievement in food packaging, 2020
• Fellow, Institute of Food Technologists, 2017

Association Leadership

• pac, Co-Chair Food Waste, 2018-
• IUFoST, Chair of Global Food Packaging Curricula, 2016-
• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Higher Education Review Board (HERB), 2014-
• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Executive Board, Food Packaging Division, 1990-
• Lifetime member of Phi Tau Sigma
• Strategic Relations & Chapter Affairs committee Phi Tau Sigma (food science honorary society), 2014-
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association and CFANS, 1992-

​Editorial Boards

• Packaging Science and Technology, John Wiley and Sons, Editorial Board, 2004-
• Critical Review in Food Science and Technology, Editorial Board 2019-
• Journal of Food Science, Editorial Board, 2014-

Connect on LinkedIn 

Respectful leadership in packaging

To view Dr. Claire Sand's resume, click here
     

---

 

Dr. Swati Sood
PTR Team Research Consultant

Paper technology expert dedicated to sustainable packaging solutions. A dynamic and innovative team member with 7+ years of invaluable hands-on experience in handling projects, concept creation, and visual conceptualization. As a research associate, she is equipped with the ability to escalate awareness about the importance of sustainable packaging by using skills gained in the industry and research.
​​
Connect on LinkedIn > 

 

Katie Mahoney
PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate

Marketing expert and project manager focused on projects that impact the bottom line. A "roll up your sleeves and get it done" team player with vast experience in leveraging data for project success, as a consultant she helps ensure PTR deliverables are clear and concise.

Connect on LinkedIn > 

Let's Connect

Schedule a meeting today to discuss if we can bring value to your projects. 
We believe that building relationships builds our industry and our future.
If we can't help, we will connect you with someone who can.

Contact Us