JPRI is one of the subordinate organizations of the Japan Packaging Institute (JPI) established in 1980. JPRI investigates and implements research across the boarders of companies and industries in the packaging technology field. JPRI itself is not a membership organization. About 1,300 companies are now registered as member in JPI, for whom JPRI is providing various services as a think tank.

There are six divisions in JPRI.

• 1) Transport Packaging Division
• 2) Consumer Packaging Division
• 3) Packaging System Division
• 4) Packaging Materials Division
• 5) International Packaging Division
• 6) Packaging Education Division

JPRI also serves as a secretariat of the Japanese National Committee for ISO/TC 122.

Here are some of the areas of activities covered by JPRI in recent years;

• Standardization work for both ISO/TC122 and JIS (Japan Industrial Standards)
• Compilation of statistics on product and shipment of Japanese packaging industry
• Research on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Research on environment and packaging including LCA, waste management and 3Rs
• Research on Universal Design (Accessible Design) for packaging
• Research on RFID
• Organization of the database for logistics
• Development of advanced packaging education
• Technical cooperation with developing countries through JICA and JETRO