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Employee benefit plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee benefit plans Employee benefit plans
Retirement plans and retiree health and life insurance plans
The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for certain of its employees in the United States, Mexico, Belgium, Germany, France, and Turkey. The Company also sponsors contributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain of its employees in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands, and provides postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits to a limited number of its retirees and their dependents in the United States and Canada, based on certain age and/or service eligibility requirements. For further information regarding the Eviosys pension plan that was acquired in 2024, see the Eviosys acquisition section below.
The components of net periodic benefit cost/(income) include the following:
202420232022
Retirement Plans
Service cost$3,456 $2,878 $3,266 
Interest cost19,097 18,101 10,562 
Expected return on plan assets(11,133)(9,451)(10,302)
Amortization of prior service cost864 926 913 
Amortization of net actuarial loss4,472 4,300 6,240 
Effect of settlement loss530 1,010 479 
Effect of curtailment loss— — 43 
Net periodic benefit cost$17,286 $17,764 $11,201 
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
Service cost$178 $230 $320 
Interest cost919 507 258 
Expected return on plan assets(392)(313)(439)
Amortization of prior service credit385 — — 
Amortization of net actuarial gain(899)(768)(681)
Net periodic benefit cost/(income)$191 $(344)$(542)
The following tables set forth the Plans’ obligations and assets at December 31:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2024202320242023
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at January 1$413,340 $352,767 $22,571 $11,244 
Service cost3,456 2,878 178 230 
Interest cost19,097 18,101 919 507 
Plan participant contributions31 60 — — 
Plan amendments615 306 — 11,637 
Actuarial (gain)/loss(18,935)15,663 (2,389)(266)
Benefits paid(28,263)(26,703)(1,418)(788)
Impact of foreign exchange rates(8,926)8,707 (29)7 
Effect of settlements(2,218)(2,373)— — 
Effect of curtailments— — — — 
Acquisitions74,078 43,934 — — 
Benefit obligation at December 31$452,275 $413,340 $19,832 $22,571 
 
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2024202320242023
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at January 1$295,587 $253,125 $13,213 $12,750 
Actual return on plan assets(5,203)15,968 535 553 
Company contributions18,798 13,908 835 754 
Plan participant contributions77 60 — — 
Benefits paid(28,263)(26,703)(1,360)(788)
Impact of foreign exchange rates(7,200)10,388 — — 
Effect of settlements(2,218)(2,373)— — 
Expenses paid(1,976)(1,108)(48)(56)
Acquisitions21,223 32,322 — — 
Fair value of plan assets at December 31$290,825 $295,587 $13,175 $13,213 
Funded status of the Plans$(161,450)$(117,753)$(6,657)$(9,358)

 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2024202320242023
Total Recognized Amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Noncurrent assets $24,919 $26,599 $— $— 
Current liabilities(11,382)(9,797)(817)(1801)
Noncurrent liabilities(174,987)(134,555)(5,840)(7,557)
Net (liability)
$(161,450)$(117,753)$(6,657)$(9,358)
Items not yet recognized as a pre-tax component of net periodic benefit cost that are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, are as follows:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
2024202320242023
Net actuarial loss/(gain)$109,718 $114,957 $(7,706)$(6,120)
Prior service cost5,020 5,557 11,251 11,637 
 $114,738 $120,514 $3,545 $5,517 
The pre-tax amounts recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss/(Income) include the following:
 Retirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
  
202420232022202420232022
Adjustments arising during the period:
Net actuarial (gain)/loss$(238)$10,709 $4,839 $(2,485)$(451)$(761)
Prior service cost327 430 678 — 11,637 — 
Net settlements/curtailments(530)(1,010)(522)— — — 
Amortization recognized during the period:
Net actuarial (loss)/gain(4,472)(4,300)(6,240)899 768 681 
Prior service cost
(864)(926)(913)(385)— — 
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income)/loss$(5,777)$4,903 $(2,158)$(1,971)$11,954 $(80)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive loss/(income)$11,509 $22,707 $9,081 $(1,780)$11,610 $(622)
The accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) for all defined benefit plans was $440,126 and $404,648 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The projected benefit obligation (“PBO”), ABO and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with ABOs in excess of plan assets were, $279,472, $270,720 and $94,384, respectively, as of December 31, 2024, and $229,397, $224,045 and $84,929, respectively, as of December 31, 2023.
Eviosys acquisition
On December 4, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Eviosys, which included the assumption of several defined benefit plans (the “Eviosys Plans”), including non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for certain of its employees, primarily in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Ireland. The Company determined the acquisition-date fair values of the PBO and plan assets of the Eviosys Plans to be $74,051 and $21,223, respectively, resulting in a long-term and short-term unfunded pension obligations of $51,849 and $979, respectively. The net periodic benefit costs for the Eviosys Plans were not material to Sonoco for the year ended December 31, 2024.
RTS Packaging defined benefit plan
On September 8, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining 65% ownership interest of the RTS Packaging joint venture, which included the assumption of the RTS Packaging Pension Plan (the “RTS Plan”). At the time of the acquisition, the RTS Plan had a PBO of $43,934 and plan assets of $32,322, resulting in long-term and short term unfunded pension obligations of $11,529 and $83, respectively. Since the formation of the original joint venture, the Company had recognized its 35% share of actuarial gains and losses related to the RTS Plan in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss.” Upon the acquisition of the remaining 65% interest in RTS Packaging, a pre-tax loss of $4,756 ($3,543 after tax) was reclassified out of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into earnings. The pre-tax loss is reflected in “Other (expenses)/ income, net” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Plan termination, settlements, changes and amendments
The Company amended its U.S. Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plan in 2023 to expand the eligibility requirements for certain non-union hourly employees. The amendment resulted in an increase in both the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and prior service cost component of accumulated other comprehensive loss of $11,637. The service cost is being amortized over the average life expectancy of the plan participants beginning in 2024.
The Company recognized settlement charges totaling $530 and $1,010 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Settlements in both years resulted from payments made to certain participants in the Company’s non-union Canadian pension plan who elected a lump sum distribution option upon retirement. Settlements in 2023 also included payments associated with the termination of a pension plan in Taiwan.
Projected benefit payments
The following table sets forth the Company’s projected benefit payments for the next ten years:
YearRetirement Plans
Retiree Health and
Life Insurance Plans
2025$33,734 $1,642 
2026$34,132 $1,790 
2027$34,027 $1,709 
2028$35,391 $1,956 
2029$34,788 $1,829 
2030-2034$184,106 $8,773 
Assumptions
The following tables set forth the major actuarial assumptions used in determining the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost:
Weighted-average assumptions
used to determine benefit
obligations at December 31
U.S.
Retirement
Plans
U.S. Retiree
Health and
Life Insurance
Plans
Foreign Plans
Discount Rate
20245.52 %5.32 %6.52 %
20234.84 %4.68 %4.79 %
Rate of Compensation Increase
2024— %3.02 %3.59 %
2023— %3.03 %3.11 %
 
Weighted-average assumptions
used to determine net periodic benefit
cost for years ended December 31
U.S.
Retirement
Plans
U.S. Retiree
Health and
Life Insurance
Plans
Foreign
Plans
Discount Rate
20244.84 %4.68 %4.79 %
20235.01 %4.92 %4.97 %
20222.77 %2.48 %2.22 %
Expected Long-term Rate of Return
20243.08 %3.05 %4.36 %
20232.48 %2.45 %4.70 %
20223.27 %3.18 %3.00 %
Rate of Compensation Increase
2024— %3.03 %3.11 %
2023— %2.99 %3.29 %
2022— %3.01 %3.21 %
The Company adjusts its discount rates at the end of each fiscal year based on yield curves of high-quality debt instruments over durations that match the expected benefit payouts of each plan. The expected long-term rate of return assumption is based on the Company’s current and expected future portfolio mix by asset class, and expected nominal returns of these asset classes using an economic “building block” approach. Expectations for inflation and real interest rates are developed and various risk premiums are assigned to each asset class based primarily on
historical performance. The assumed rate of compensation increase reflects historical experience and management’s expectations regarding future salary and incentive increases.
Medical trends
The U.S. Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plan makes up approximately 90% of the Retiree Health liability. Therefore, the following information relates to the U.S. plan only.
Healthcare Cost Trend RatePre-age 65Post-age 65
20246.17 %7.28 %
20236.25 %7.25 %
Ultimate Trend RatePre-age 65Post-age 65
20244.50 %4.50 %
20234.50 %4.50 %
Year at which the Rate Reaches
the Ultimate Trend Rate
Pre-age 65Post-age 65
202420352035
202320332033

Based on amendments to the U.S. plan approved in 1999, which became effective in 2003, cost increases borne by the Company are limited to the Urban CPI, as defined.
Retirement plan assets
The assets of the U.S., RTS Plan, U.K., and Canadian defined benefit plans comprise approximately 82% of the total postretirement benefit plan assets. Therefore, the following disclosures relate only to the assets of these plans.
The following table sets forth the weighted-average asset allocations of the Company’s retirement plans at 2024 and 2023, by asset category.
Asset Category
  
U.S.RTSU.K.Canada
Equity securities202419.5 %22.2 %21.0 %31.4 %
202322.2 %18.6 %20.0 %29.4 %
Debt securities202478.0 %77.8 %77.1 %68.6 %
202376.6 %81.2 %79.1 %70.6 %
Cash and short-term investments20242.5 %— %1.9 %— %
20231.2 %0.2 %.9 %— %
Total2024100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
2023100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
The Company employs a total-return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a desired level of risk. Alternative assets such as real estate funds, private equity funds and hedge funds may also be used to enhance expected long-term returns while improving portfolio diversification. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through periodic investment portfolio reviews and periodic asset/liability studies.
U.S. defined benefit plans
The Company has adopted investment guidelines for the Active Plan based on asset/liability studies. These guidelines established a dynamic derisking framework for shifting the allocation of assets to long-duration domestic fixed income from equity and other asset categories, as the relative funding ratio of the plan increased over time. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the Active Plan investment portfolio is: Equity Securities - 20% and Debt Securities – 80%.
RTS defined benefit plan
The Company has adopted similar investment guidelines for the RTS Plan as it has for its U.S. Active Plan assets. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the RTS Plan investment portfolio is: Equity Securities – 20% and Debt Securities – 80%.
United Kingdom defined benefit plan
The equity investments consist of direct ownership and funds and are diversified among U.K. and international stocks of small and large capitalization. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the investment portfolio is: Equity Securities – 20% and Debt Securities – 80%.
Canada defined benefit plan
The equity investments consist of direct ownership and funds and are diversified among Canadian and international stocks of primarily large capitalizations and short to intermediate duration corporate and government bonds. The current target allocation (midpoint) for the investment portfolio is 30% Equity Securities and 70% Debt Securities.
Retiree health and life insurance plan assets
The following table sets forth the weighted-average asset allocations by asset category of the Company’s retiree health and life insurance plan.
Asset Category20242023
Equity securities—%—%
Debt securities100.0%100.0%
Cash—%—%
Total100.0%100.0%
Contributions
Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company anticipates that contributions to its defined benefit plans will be approximately $21,900 in 2025. No assurances can be made about funding requirements beyond 2025, however, as they will depend largely on actual investment returns and future actuarial assumptions, legislative actions, and changes to the Company’s benefit offerings.
Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan
The Sonoco Retirement and Savings Plan is a defined contribution retirement plan provided for certain of the Company’s U.S. employees. Through December 31, 2021, the plan was comprised of both an elective and non-elective component.
The elective component of the plan, which is designed to meet the requirements of section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, allows participants to set aside a portion of their wages and salaries for retirement and encourages saving by matching a portion of their contributions with contributions from the Company. The plan provides for participant contributions of 1% to 100% of gross pay. Effective December 31, 2021, the Company’s 401(k) matching contribution was increased to 100% of the first 6% of pretax and/or Roth compensation contributed by the participant. Prior to this, the Company had matched 50% on the first 4% of such participant contributions. Participants are immediately fully vested in these matching contributions. The Company’s expenses related to the plan for 2024, 2023, and 2022 were approximately $33,700, $30,684 and $29,347, respectively.
The non-elective component of the plan, the Sonoco Retirement Contribution (“SRC”), was eliminated effective December 31, 2021 and the benefit replaced by the higher 401(k) matching contribution discussed above. The final cash contribution to the SRC, totaling $21,948, was made in March 2022 for the preceding year.
Other plans
The Company also provides retirement and postretirement benefits to certain other non-U.S. employees through various Company-sponsored and local government sponsored defined contribution arrangements. For the most part, the liabilities related to these arrangements are funded in the period they arise. The Company’s expenses for these plans were not material for all years presented.