About Our Industry
In 2018, our industry shipped 4.8 million tons of paperboard packaging with an average value per ton of $1,770. The chart below illustrates some basic industry statistics:
A steady and dependable industry, the paperboard packaging market is forecasted to remain stable over the next five years, with an average growth of 0.1% from 2019-2023. [1]
While sales data is not readily available per company, it is PPC’s best guess that the following companies represent the largest players in the market:
Americraft Carton
Clondalkin Group
Georgia Pacific (Color Box)
Graphic Packaging International
Greif
Huhtamaki
LBP Packaging
Malnove Incorporated
PaperWorks Industries
Southern Champion Tray
WestRock
Zumbiel Packaging
PPC for All: Independents and Integrated Companies
The industry generally consists of two types of packaging manufacturers: independently owned private companies that do not own their own mills and larger (sometimes publicly traded) integrated companies that have both mills and converting facilities. Independents, several of which are ranked in the top ten by volume, comprise about 20% of industry sales. Market share has declined from approximately 30% over the past fifteen years, due primarily to industry consolidation.
The Choice for Consumer Staples
Most paperboard packaging is used for consumer staples, and this means our industry enjoys steady growth and stable earnings. Almost 60% of all paperboard packaging is destined for food product segments including beverages and dairy products, candy and confections, dry foods, and frozen foods. The other 40% goes to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products, soaps and household maintenance products, toys, sporting goods, and most of the items found in grocery or club stores.
Sustainability
Paperboard is a renewable, sustainable resource. Unlike fossil-fuel based plastic packaging, recyclable paperboard is the best choice for today’s environmentally conscious consumer. Over 60% of all communities in the U.S. are collecting paperboard, exceeding the “recyclable” threshold established by the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides.
One look at the millions of plastic particles floating in our oceans should convince consumers that buying paperboard packaging whenever possible has the least impact on our planet’s health. American forests are growing; we plant more than three times more trees than we use, and every tree is taking carbon out of the atmosphere.
Since the late 1800s, our industry has been dedicated to meeting the needs of the public with beautiful, recyclable, and renewable packaging.
To learn more about our industry, see the Trends Report, an economic outlook created specifically for PPC.
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1 2019-20 Trends Report