Jones Family of Companies, ECO Fiber enter joint venture

Jones Family of Companies Inc., headquartered in Humboldt, Tenn., and ECO Fiber Inc., based in Charlotte, N.C., announced the formation of a joint venture to establish a new company, ECO Fiber Packaging. ECO Fiber Packaging will provide sustainable cold chain packaging solutions and operate as a new entity under its own brand.

This new venture combines the strengths of ECO Fiber’s expertise in packaging solutions with the Jones Family of Companies’ experience in textiles with its three divisions:  Jones Yarn, Jones Nonwovens; and Rontex America. As part of the venture, the Jones Family of Companies has acquired the textile assets of ECO Fiber Inc., and a joint venture agreement has been executed.

“We’re thrilled to see the possibilities this joint venture will bring,” says Ralph Jones III, CEO and chairman of the board of Jones Family of Companies. “The Schneider family and ECO Fiber team bring immense talent and dedication, which perfectly complements Jones’ legacy of quality and sustainable practices. Together, we’re poised to set a new standard in cold chain packaging.”

Jones Family of Companies is a part of the USDA BioPreferred Program. This federal program encourages using renewable agricultural resources in product manufacturing, reducing dependence on petroleum. Jones’ USDA-certified biobased insulation products, made from renewable materials like cotton and jute, meet standards for temperature-sensitive applications in industries such as frozen foods, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. With Jones’ manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Tennessee, New Hampshire and Indiana joining ECO Fiber Packaging locations in North Carolina and Texas, the new company now has expanded reach and capacity to serve customers nationwide.

Leaders from both companies will work under the new brand, including Kent Schneider, co-founder of ECO Fiber Inc., and Andrew Dailey, senior vice president of strategic accounts, and Bus Dev from Jones Family of Companies.

“It has been an incredible experience working alongside the Jones Family of Companies,” says Schneider. “We share a deep commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, and I look forward to furthering that collaboration with Andrew and the entire Jones team.”