Plastics packaging company Amcor plc will spend tens of millions of dollars on two new innovation centers, one in Asia and one in Europe.
The new sites in Ghent, Belgium, and Jiangyin, China, are expected to open in about a year and be fully operational in about two years.
They join what the company calls existing flagship innovation centers in Neenah, Wis., and Manchester, Mich., and smaller locations throughout the world.
"Our innovation centers have already become trusted destinations for some of the world's biggest brands as they work to improve both the sustainability of their products and the overall consumer experience," Peter Konieczny, chief commercial officer at Amcor, said in a statement.
The innovation centers include analytical and material science laboratories, pilot manufacturing equipment and packaging machinery for trial runs.
The facilities provide an immersive atmosphere to provide consumer insights as well as rapid prototyping.
Customers also can learn about packaging recycling and composting opportunities involving multiple materials, the Melbourne, Australia-headquartered company said.
Amcor, which is pledging to make the company's portfolio 100 percent recyclable or reusable by 2025, spends more than $100 million per year on research and development.
"Our innovation and design centers offer customers a unique space to test new ideas and technologies across a variety of materials and formats without disrupting commercial operations," William Jackson, chief technology officer for Amcor's flexibles business, said in a statement.
"Our customers will be able to access our innovation capabilities wherever they are in the world and benefit from a seamless transfer of expertise and knowledge across the network."