Packaging Corporation of America
Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a vertically integrated containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer operating 9 mills and 90+ box plants, serving enterprise customers in food & beverage, produce, e-commerce, and industrial end-markets across the United States.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersLake Forest, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Packaging Corporation of America does
Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a vertically integrated producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products, operating as the third-largest containerboard manufacturer in North America. The company runs 9 containerboard mills and 90+ converting box plants across the United States, producing kraft linerboard and corrugating semi-chemical medium at its mills for both internal converting operations and external sales. PCA serves enterprise and mid-market customers across four primary verticals — Food & Beverage, Produce/Agriculture, E-Commerce/Retail, and Manufacturing/Industrial — offering custom corrugated containers, protective packaging (Hexacomb, HexAir), rigid graphics boards (Falconboard), bulk bins (BulkMaster, ExportPack, Grid-Lok), and specialty coatings (GreenGuard).
The company's core technology centers on integrated mill-to-box manufacturing, supplemented by proprietary differentiated products (Hexacomb honeycomb, Falconboard rigid media, patented BulkMaster self-locking bins) and software tools (PCA Utility Suite for structural optimization, SKU Terminator for SKU consolidation, and the YourCorr procurement portal). PCA holds GFSI food safety certification across all full-line plants, SFI/PEFC/FSC chain-of-custody certifications, ISO 9001, and ISTA testing credentials, which collectively support premium positioning in regulated end-markets including food, hazmat, and Amazon SIOC e-commerce.
PCA's go-to-market is enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers and structural designers at each box plant, complemented by packaging and supply centers for stock products and the YourCorr online portal for mid-market and procurement integration. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of custom and stock corrugated packaging plus external mill-level containerboard sales. Recent strategic activity has centered on the $1.8 billion 2025 acquisition of Greif's containerboard business, containerboard price increases announced for 2026, and footprint rationalization (Richmond closure, Wallula restructuring) — together pointing to a strategy of consolidation-led scale expansion with margin discipline in a tightening North American containerboard market.
Packaging Corporation of America firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Packaging Corporation of America
- Legal name
- Packaging Corporation of America
- Website
- https://packagingcorp.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a vertically integrated containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer operating 9 mills and 90+ box plants, serving enterprise customers in food & beverage, produce, e-commerce, and industrial end-markets across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Packaging Corporation of America industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Paperboard Mills (32213)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paperboard Mills (2631)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virgin Containerboard (Kraft Linerboard) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solid Fiber & Chipboard Packaging (Set-Up/Rigid Paperboard Boxes) (IMALACAC), Recycled Containerboard (Testliner) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAB)
Keywords
Where Packaging Corporation of America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lake Forest
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Packaging Corporation of America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Corrugated Packaging Products: PCA converts containerboard into corrugated packaging products at its 90+ box plants. Revenue generated from custom corrugated containers, display solutions, protective packaging, and bulk bins for industrial and consumer goods sectors.
- Containerboard Sales: PCA sells containerboard (kraft linerboard and corrugating semi-chemical medium) produced at its mills to domestic and international customers. The company operates as an integrated supplier ensuring uninterrupted supply for internal converting operations.
- Packaging Supplies: Sale of packaging supplies including tape, void fill, polybags, stretch film, corner boards, bubble wrap, and stock agricultural packaging through packaging and supply centers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom corrugated packaging pricing based on specifications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Packaging Corporation of America product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an integrated producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging, manufacturing kraft linerboard and corrugating semi-chemical medium at its own mills and converting them into custom corrugated containers, display packaging, protective packaging (Hexacomb honeycomb, HexAir, Cushion-Comb), rigid graphics boards (Falconboard), heavy-duty bulk bins (BulkMaster, ExportPack, Grid-Lok), and specialty coatings (GreenGuard) at 90+ box plants across the United States. The company also sells containerboard to domestic and international customers through packaging and supply centers and provides proprietary design and engineering software (PCA Utility Suite, SKU Terminator) and a customer ordering portal (YourCorr).
Product overview
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an integrated corrugated packaging company operating seven containerboard mills and over 90 box plants across the United States. The company's core product is custom corrugated packaging, which is manufactured from containerboard produced in-house at its own mills. The portfolio includes protective packaging solutions (Hexacomb honeycomb and HexAir airbag systems), rigid graphics boards (Falconboard for retail displays and signage), and heavy-duty bulk bins (BulkMaster, ExportPack, Grid-Lok). Supporting software tools include the proprietary PCA Utility Suite and SKU Terminator for package optimization, along with the YourCorr customer ordering portal. PCA serves diverse industries including food & beverage, produce, e-commerce, manufacturing, and automotive, offering design, testing, and project management services alongside its physical products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Boise Paper: Imaging papers for office and home, acquired with Boise Inc. in 2013.
- Hexacomb
- Falconboard
- ProjectUP
Products and services
- Corrugated Packaging Custom corrugated packaging solutions manufactured from containerboard produced in-house, serving containment, protection, and promotion needs across industries including food & beverage, produce, e-commerce, and manufacturing.
- Hexacomb Leading paper-based honeycomb protective packaging solution offering cushioning, rigidity, and superior protection for appliances, furniture, electronics, and automotive parts, including edge/corner protectors, customized pads, and specialty die-cut pieces.
- HexAir Pre-assembled bulkhead panel and airbag system for load securement in trailers, boxcars, and containers; designed to be lightweight, easy to install, and more economical than wood alternatives.
- Cushion-Comb Paper-based cushioning replacement for traditional foam that provides consistent product protection throughout the shipping cycle.
- Clear-View System Packaging system combining honeycomb packaging with stretch wrap to minimize materials and weight for shipping applications.
- Falconboard Fully recyclable rigid graphics media board made from renewable forest products, available in variants including Print, Mount, Build, Luminous, All White, and Black Series for retail displays, signage, exhibits, and POP applications.
- BulkMaster Triplewall bulk bin featuring a patented self-locking bottom that stabilizes loads during shipment and storage, with flanges that fasten to pallets; available in depths from 18 inches to 50 inches.
- ExportPack Preassembled, stackable triplewall container designed to maximize space utilization of standard high cube sea containers for international shipping environments.
- Grid-Lok Doublewall bulk container allowing quick, easy one-person setup and knockdown; designed for manufacturers who wish to return collapsed containers for reuse.
- Containerboard Kraft linerboard and corrugating semi-chemical medium produced at seven mills for internal converting facilities and domestic/international customers; all mills are SFI certified.
- GreenGuard Coatings Specialty coatings including GreenGuard Rain, 100, and 200 series providing superior moisture and water resistance for bakery, flash-frozen food, produce, proteins, and agricultural applications; recyclable and repulpable.
- Packaging and Supply Center Products Sale of packaging supplies including tape, void fill, polybags, stretch film, corner boards, bubble wrap, and stock agricultural packaging through packaging and supply centers.
Companies that use Packaging Corporation of America
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Packaging Corporation of America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Packaging Corporation of America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ardagh GroupminorDGeo's Dangerous Goods Solutions Division expanded its packaging portfolio with UN-certified kits featuring Ardagh Glass Packaging bottles paired with Hexacomb inner packaging from PCA and Menshen bottle caps. The combination provides certified dangerous goods packaging solutions.
- Arbor Day FoundationcorePartnership through ProjectUP initiative where PCA partners with Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in identified areas of need. Between 2025-2026, ProjectUP supported 14 reforestation projects, planted 368+ thousand trees, and restored 800+ acres of forestland. Projects include reforestation in areas affected by wildfires in California and Oregon, degraded ecosystems in the Southeastern U.S., and restoration across the Midwest region.
- University of MaineminorPCA donated $1.6 million to the University of Maine in Orono to benefit the Process Development Center (PDC). The PDC is a research facility offering technical services in traditional pulp and paper and emerging process technologies. Funds support infrastructure improvements and new equipment to expand capabilities in renewable packaging. PCA is a long-time supporter through the UMaine Pulp and Paper Foundation.
- North Carolina State UniversityminorPCA's containerboard mill in Counce, Tennessee donates annually to the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board at NC State's College of Natural Resources. Donations fund programming, renovations to study spaces and laboratories, and scholarships for tuition and books. The mill works with six local high schools to promote scholarship opportunities.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Packaging Corporation of America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pactiv Evergreen: North American food and beverage packaging producer with paper-based and molded-fiber products. Comparable to PCA in food-service and food manufacturer customer base and paper-based container substrate.
- Cascades: Canadian-based manufacturer of containerboard, tissue, and specialty packaging products. Comparable to PCA in containerboard production and converting, though smaller and primarily focused on the North American market.
- Graphic Packaging: US-focused paperboard packaging producer serving food, beverage, and consumer goods customers with folding cartons and food-service packaging. Comparable to PCA's paper-based packaging portfolio and overlapping food and beverage customer base.
- Pratt Industries: Privately held US corrugated packaging company that operates containerboard mills and converting plants, often cited as a co-defendant in the antitrust litigation. Directly comparable to PCA in corrugated products, integrated mill operations, and US geographic footprint.
- Smurfit Westrock: Formed by the 2024 combination of WestRock and Smurfit Kappa, the merged company is the largest global containerboard and corrugated packaging producer. Directly competes with PCA across all major US end markets and product lines.
- Greif: Global industrial packaging company that sold its containerboard business (CorrChoice and Box-Board Products) to PCA for $1.8B in 2025. Remaining steel, plastic, and fiber industrial packaging operations make Greif a direct peer in industrial packaging end markets.
- International Paper: Largest integrated pulp and paper company in the world and the largest containerboard producer in North America. Directly comparable to PCA as a mill-to-box integrated competitor with overlapping customers in food, industrial, and e-commerce packaging.
- Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging company with paperboard, rigid plastics, and protective packaging segments. Comparable to PCA in serving consumer staples and industrial customers with paper-based protective and transport packaging solutions.
Broad incumbents
- Mondi: European-headquartered global packaging and paper group with significant containerboard and corrugated operations. Comparable to PCA as a vertically integrated containerboard producer but with primary footprint in Europe rather than North America.
Emerging players
- Sealed Air: Protective and food packaging company best known for Bubble Wrap and Cryovac food packaging. Comparable to PCA's Hexacomb and HexAir protective packaging lines, though it competes primarily with plastic- and foam-based rather than fiber-based solutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Packaging Corporation of America social profiles
Digital presencePackaging Corporation of America compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Packaging Corporation of America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Packaging Corporation of America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Packaging Corporation of America subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Packaging Corporation of America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Packaging Corporation of America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A12 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Packaging Corporation of America
What does Packaging Corporation of America do?
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an integrated producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging, manufacturing kraft linerboard and corrugating semi-chemical medium at its own mills and converting them into custom corrugated containers, display packaging, protective packaging (Hexacomb honeycomb, HexAir, Cushion-Comb), rigid graphics boards (Falconboard), heavy-duty bulk bins (BulkMaster, ExportPack, Grid-Lok), and specialty coatings (GreenGuard) at 90+ box plants across the United States. The company also sells containerboard to domestic and international customers through packaging and supply centers and provides proprietary design and engineering software (PCA Utility Suite, SKU Terminator) and a customer ordering portal (YourCorr).
Is Packaging Corporation of America a public or private company?
Packaging Corporation of America is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Packaging Corporation of America founded?
Packaging Corporation of America was founded in 1959. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Packaging Corporation of America based?
Packaging Corporation of America is headquartered in Lake Forest, United States, in the North America region.
How does Packaging Corporation of America make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corrugated Packaging Products are the primary driver. The others are containerboard Sales and packaging Supplies.
Who are Packaging Corporation of America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pactiv Evergreen, Cascades, Graphic Packaging, Pratt Industries, Smurfit Westrock, Greif, International Paper and Sonoco Products. Mondi is listed as a broad incumbent. Sealed Air is listed as an emerging player.
Does Packaging Corporation of America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Packaging Corporation of America.
What industry is Packaging Corporation of America in?
Packaging Corporation of America's product category is Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAFAA, Virgin Containerboard (Kraft Linerboard) Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMALACAC, Solid Fiber & Chipboard Packaging (Set-Up/Rigid Paperboard Boxes). Its NAICS code is 322211 and its SIC code is 2650.