EXHIBIT 5.1

                          Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
                                Attorneys At Law
                          1426 Main Street, Suite 1200
                         Columbia, South Carolina 29201


                               September 13, 2001


Sonoco Products Company
Post Office Box 160
Hartsville, South Carolina 29551


Dear Sirs:

         In connection  with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933
(the  "Act")  of   $150,000,000   aggregate   amount  of  debt  securities  (the
"Securities")  of Sonoco Products  Company,  a South Carolina  corporation  (the
"Company"),   we,  as  your  counsel,  have  examined  such  corporate  records,
certificates  and  other  documents,  and  such  questions  of  law,  as we have
considered  necessary or appropriate  for the purposes of this opinion.  We have
also relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials,
officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible.

         Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion,
when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of
the  Securities  and of their  issuance and sale have been duly  established  in
conformity  with the  Indenture  between the Company and The Bank of New York as
successor trustee,  dated as of June 15, 1991 (the "Indenture")  relating to the
Securities so as not to violate any  applicable law or result in a default under
or breach of any agreement or  instrument  binding upon the Company and so as to
comply with any requirement or restriction  imposed by any court or governmental
body having  jurisdiction  over the Company,  and the Securities  have been duly
executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and issued, sold and
delivered as contemplated  in the  Registration  Statement,  the Securities will
constitute  valid and legally  binding  obligations  of the Company,  subject to
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles.


         We note that, as of the date of this  opinion,  a judgment for money in
an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit
in a Federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in
the United States only in United States dollars.  The date used to determine the
rate  of  conversion  of the  foreign  currency  or  currency  unit  in  which a
particular  Security is denominated  into United States dollars will depend upon
various factors, including which court renders the judgment.

         The  foregoing  opinion is limited  to the  Federal  laws of the United
States and the laws of the State of South  Carolina,  and we are  expressing  no
opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading "Validity of
Debt  Securities" in the Prospectus.  In giving such consent,  we do not thereby
admit that we are in the  category of persons  whose  consent is required  under
Section 7 of the Act.

                                                 Very truly yours,


                                                 Haynsworth Sinker Boyd, P. A.