Clearwater Paper

Name

Clearwater Paper

Legal name

Clearwater Paper Corporation

Website

http://clearwaterpaper.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paperboard Manufacturing

NAICS

Paperboard Mills (32213), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221)

SIC

Paperboard Mills (2631)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) Paperboard Manufacturing (IMAMAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paperboard Sheet & Roll Converting (Slitting/Sheeting/Rewinding) (IMAMAFAM), Folding Cartons & Paperboard Packaging Converting (IMAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Bleached paperboard manufacturing
• SBS folding cartons
• Cupstock paperboard
• Sustainable paperboard packaging
• Paperboard sheeting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Paperboard Product Sales: Clearwater Paper generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of bleached paperboard packaging products. Revenue is derived from volume-based product sales to North American converters. The company experienced 2025 full year net sales of $1.6 billion, up 12% compared to 2024, with volumes up 14% primarily from operating the Augusta facility for the full year. Q1 2026 net sales were $360 million.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clearwater Paper manufactures and sells branded bleached paperboard products—premium solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard, recycled-content folding carton paperboard, lightweight folding carton paperboard, and cupstock—to North American converters serving folding carton, foodservice, and carded packaging end markets. After divesting its tissue business in November 2024, the company is now a focused independent supplier of paperboard packaging products operating approximately 1.4 million tons of production capacity across U.S. manufacturing facilities.

Product overview

Clearwater Paper is a premier independent supplier of paperboard packaging products to North American converters. The company's product portfolio includes multiple branded paperboard product lines: Velora™ (lightweight folding carton paperboard for everyday packaging), Candesce® (flagship premium SBS paperboard for high-performance applications), ReMagine® (SBS folding carton with 30% post-consumer recycled fiber), and NuVo® (cupstock with 35% post-consumer recycled fiber). These products serve food service, folding carton, and carded packaging applications. The company also provides converting solutions, sheeting, and regional sales services through Manchester Industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Candesce: Flagship brand of renewable SBS paperboard for premium, high-performance packaging applications with exceptional printability, strength, and consistency
• ReMagine
• NuVo
• Velora

Products and services

• Velora™ Lightweight Folding Carton Paperboard Lightweight folding carton paperboard engineered for everyday packaging applications, combining strength, versatility, and lower basis weights. Designed for converters and brand owners seeking reliable packaging performance without premium SBS grades; targets folding carton and foodservice applications and supports sustainability commitments through reduced fiber use.
• Candesce® Premium SBS Paperboard Flagship brand of renewable solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard designed for premium, high-performance packaging applications. Engineered for exceptional printability, strength, and consistency; ideal for high-end consumer goods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and premium product packaging. BPI certified compostable.
• ReMagine® Next-Generation SBS Folding Carton Next-generation SBS folding carton featuring 30% post-consumer recycled fiber, delivering circular packaging solutions without compromising quality. FDA-compliant for food contact, available in a range of grades combining sustainability with premium performance. Includes ReMagine Blister and ReMagine Value variants.
• NuVo® Cupstock Solution Cupstock solution combining 35% post-consumer recycled fiber with FSC chain-of-custody certification and a high-definition print surface. Offers exceptional print quality alongside a broad range of performance and environmental benefits for foodservice cup applications.
• Manchester Industries Paperboard Sheeting Services Paperboard sales, sheeting, slitting, and cutting services supplying the packaging and commercial print industries. Provided through wholly-owned subsidiary Manchester Industries (acquired 2016) to extend reach to small and mid-sized folding carton plants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces packaging weight by up to 20% compared to standard paperboard while maintaining strength and durability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paper Cup AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Clearwater Paper is a founding member of the Paper Cup Alliance, established in 2018. The Alliance has driven significant expansion of North American end markets for recycled paper cups from 4 in 2017 to 35 today, contributing to 20% of U.S. population now having access to recycling programs that accept paper cups.
• Neff Packaging SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Customer partnership where Neff Packaging Solutions transitioned to ReMagine® paperboard and received a sustainability award from Niterra recognizing efforts to improve packaging performance and reduce environmental impact.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership established in 2024 to support conservation near the Augusta, Georgia mill. Clearwater Paper's financial contribution helps advance Ducks Unlimited's work to place conservation easements on nearly 3,900 acres of high conservation value bottomland hardwoods and wetlands along the Savannah River corridor.
• Charter Next GenerationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration to include advanced recycled polyethylene in private label tissue packaging offerings. Both companies earned ISCC Plus certifications in 2023 to ensure proper chain of custody and tracking of material through the mass balance approach for circular packaging solutions.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearwater Paper is a proud member of SPC, which brings together businesses, educational institutions, organizations, and government agencies comprising the entire packaging lifecycle from sourcing to end-of-life considerations. SPC creates collaborative environment to introduce new product ideas and partnerships.
• Forest Stewards GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership dedicated to promoting responsible forestry management through education, training, policy analysis, research and advocacy. Clearwater Paper partners with the Guild to promote responsible forestry and achieve on-the-ground progress.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graphic Packaging Holding Company: Graphic Packaging is the largest producer of folding cartons and paperboard in North America, competing head-to-head with Clearwater in SBS and CRB grades sold to consumer-goods converters. Direct overlap in product mix, customer base, and converting-industry focus.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Pactiv Evergreen operates paperboard mills producing SBS and CRB (Everest™) grades alongside foodservice and carton converting. Closely comparable mill-level paperboard offering to Clearwater's Candesce and NuVo lines.
• Cascades Inc. Cascades produces specialty paperboard, tissue, and packaging products in North America, including folding carton board. Comparable product mix and North American converter customer base, with similar emphasis on recycled fiber and sustainability.

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Westrock: Post-merger global paper-based packaging leader with significant SBS, CRB and containerboard capacity, and integrated converting operations. Broader portfolio than Clearwater but directly competes in paperboard supply to converters.
• Sonoco Products Company: Sonoco operates paperboard mills (including recycled paperboard) plus an extensive global converting footprint serving consumer and industrial end markets. Competes with Clearwater for paperboard supply to converters and brand owners.
• Packaging Corporation of America: PCA is a major North American containerboard and corrugated packaging producer with adjacent uncoated free-sheet and paperboard operations. Overlaps with Clearwater in paper-based packaging substrate supply, though primarily containerboard-focused.

Regional players

• Mondi plc: Mondi is a European-based global packaging and paper group producing folding boxboard and kraft paper. Comparable SBS/folding boxboard product types, but primarily serves EMEA rather than directly competing in North America.
• Mayr-Melnhof Karton: Mayr-Melnhof is one of Europe's largest producers of folding boxboard with converting operations. Directly comparable in SBS/folding boxboard product lines, though European-focused and not a direct North American competitor.
• Stora Enso Oyj: Stora Enso is a European biomaterials and paperboard group with folding boxboard and food service board capacity. Comparable SBS and cupstock product lines to Clearwater, but primarily EMEA-geographic focus.
• Billerud AB: Billerud produces kraft and sack paper plus folding boxboard in Europe and North America (via acquired assets). Comparable paperboard product portfolio, though geographic focus is heavier in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clearwater Paper