The Containerboard Industry Will Boom Due to Innovative Materials

Increasing awareness of environmental safety has made companies focus their products on being eco-friendly, non-hazardous, recyclable, and sustainable for the environment. The focus on making packaging materials more sustainable is now sharper than ever. Enterprises of all sizes are demanding these innovative materials to not just improve the customer experience but also save the environment.

Considering the aforementioned factors, Fortune Business Insights estimates that the global market for containerboard could be worth USD 153.51 billion by 2029 with a CAGR 2.4%. The market stood at USD 126.66 billion in 2021 and USD 129.73 billion in 2022.

Key players in this market, such as 8x8, Inc., Mondi Group, International Paper Company, Smurfit Kappa, DS Smith, WestRock, and Rengo Co. Ltd., are innovating to roll out sustainable solutions. Citing one instance, in January 2021, SCGP acquired 75% of the shares of Intan Group. The acquisition broadens the full spectrum of the supply chain, manufacturing, and packaging development from upstream to downstream for a growing ASEAN market.

Fortune Business Insights Presents the World's Top 10 Containerboard Companies

1. Mondi Group

Mondi Group is one of the global leaders in top containerboard companies in the market for containerboard and paper businesses and is integrated across the value chain, from managing forests and producing paper, pulp, and films to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions.

May 2021: The company announced the supply of its innovative and sustainable container-board grade made from renewable materials to customers in Slovakia.

2. International Paper Company

International Paper is known to be one of the world's leading fiber-based packaging and pulp producers in the industry. The company creates packaging products that protect and promote goods, enabling worldwide commerce and keeping consumers safe.

January 2022: The company achieved a significant production milestone at its Madrid mill located in Fuenlabrada, Spain. It reached a total production volume of one million metric tonnes of high-performance, lightweight, and recycled container board since the completion of the conversion investment in August 2018.

3. Smurfit Kappa 

Smurfit Kappa offers an unrivaled portfolio of paper-packaging solutions, constantly updated with new, market-leading innovations in the market. The company is the sole manufacturer of corrugated packaging, containerboard, and "bag in box" in the Americas.

July 2021: The company declared the acquisition of a containerboard business, Verzuolo, based in Northern Italy, for USD 416 million. The acquisition also allows the utilization of the PM9 machine that was constructed in 2002 and converted into a 600,000-tonne recycled container board machine in 2019.

4. DS Smith 

DS Smith is a leading worldwide provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products, and recycling services in the containerboard industry. Recently, the business has experienced rapid growth and has acquired businesses across Europe and North America. This growth has resulted in one of the largest companies being listed on the London Stock Exchange.

September 2022: DS Smith installed a new recycled container-board machine at the Porcari mill, replacing its older machine, PM 1. The newly recycled machine creates demand for more than 500,000 tons per year of recovered paper.

5. WestRock 

Westrock is an American corrugated packaging company. It is a packaging designer, mechanical engineer, materials scientist, and manufacturing expert company that uses science and technology to drive innovation in packaging.

February 2022: Longview, Washington, will receive a new corrugated box manufacturing facility, according to WestRock Company. It is intended to satisfy the expanding demand from WestRock’s local clients. The new facility will expand the mill’s container board integration and be integrated with the operations of the Longview paper mill.

6. Rengo Co. Ltd.

Containers and stock made of corrugated and paperboard are produced by Rengo Co., Ltd. The business manufactures a variety of containers, including necessary corrugated boxes, ornamental gift boxes, and printed packaging for consumer items. Rengo also produces newsprint, tiny printing machines, cellophane, and chemicals.

September 2021: Rengo constructed a new container-board mill and expanded its production capacity in Vietnam. The newly constructed mill will establish its position as a market leader in the containerboard industry in Vietnam and further aim for sustainable development and growth.

7. Georgia-Pacific LLC 

Georgia-Pacific LLC is one of the largest producers of container-board and corrugated packaging. They manufacture standard corrugated containers, providing cost-effective corrugated solutions for virtually any product.

December 2022: Georgia-Pacific's Brewton Container-board mill announced its plans to invest USD 160 million in modernizing its operations. The project involves upgrades to the facility's pulp processing systems, which can reduce energy and chemical consumption and other environmental emissions and allow for more paper production.

8. SCG Packing Public Company Limited

SCGP is a leading global multinational consumer packaging solutions provider in the market for containerboard. The company offers performance and polymer packaging, fiber-based packaging, food service products, and many design and printing services.

September 2021: SCG Packaging invested $353 million to expand the packaging paper business in Vietnam. The company said it had expanded its businesses in Vietnam by investing in different packaging operations, such as fiber-based packaging, food service packaging, performance and polymer packaging, and packaging paper.

9. Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited ("Lee & Man Paper") was founded in 1994. It has grown from a small company to a leading container-board-based paper and pulp manufacturer. The group currently has five paper mills, three tissue mills, and one pulp factory in China.

July 2021: Valmet announced the supply of semi-chemical pulp (SCP) lines to Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. in Chongqing, China. The technology optimises pulp properties with low wood and energy consumption.

10. Stora Enso 

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Stora Enso Oyj develops and produces wood and biomass solutions for various global industries and applications. It is a leading company in the containerboard industry in the bioeconomy and supports its customers in meeting the demand for renewable, eco-friendly products.

December 2022: Stora Enso announced an investment of EUR 285 million to install a new container board machine at its Ostroleka Mill in Poland. The new machine will have a production capacity of 455,000 tonnes per annum of lightweight containerboard and use recycled fiber as a raw material.

Rising Innovation Will Lead the Market for Containerboard

The food and beverage, transportation, and storage industries have greatly benefited from these products.

In January 2021, for a total of USD 74.9 million, Mondi purchased from International Paper 90.38% of the outstanding shares of Olmuksan International Paper Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. By utilizing knowledge and experience in this market and a global portfolio of virgin recycled materials, the company is anticipated to produce considerable operational efficiencies and paper integration upside.