DS Smith
DS Smith is a UK-founded fibre-based packaging, paper, and recycling company serving consumer goods, industrial, automotive, e-commerce, and waste management customers across 30 EMEA countries via 30+ plants and paper mills, now part of International Paper and slated for a 2026–2027 EMEA spin-off.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DS Smith does
DS Smith is a UK-based sustainable packaging company founded in 1940, headquartered in London, operating across 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with 10,000+ employees and 30+ manufacturing plants, paper mills, and recycling depots. The company operates three integrated divisions: Packaging Solutions (corrugated, retail, e-commerce, and industrial packaging plus packaging machinery), Paper Products (containerboard and speciality papers including coated papers, kraftliners, and fluting grades), and Recycling Services (cardboard, paper, and plastics collection plus closed-loop waste management). Its core technology centres on fibre-based sustainable packaging — 100% recyclable corrugated cardboard, fanfold designs, and fibre-based chassis packaging — underpinned by a circular model that converts recycled fibre into new paper and packaging in as few as 14 days.
The company monetises through direct B2B enterprise sales with quote-based, unit-priced contracts typically running on multi-year cadences, serving consumer goods, industrial, e-commerce, automotive, and waste management customers via dedicated packaging consultants and co-design partnerships. Notable enterprise customers include Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, Somfy, ELVIAL, Lalique Beauty, and Geefenboompje.nl. Sub-brands include Safe Sender, Tape Back, PACE, ParceLive, DISCS Testing, Fanfold, and Kaypalmr, alongside sustainability assets such as Circular Design Metrics, FSC-certified materials, and the Now & Next sustainability strategy. In January 2025, DS Smith was acquired by International Paper for approximately £5.8 billion, and in January 2026 International Paper announced plans to spin off its EMEA packaging business (to be named DS Smith) as a dual-listed standalone company on the LSE and NYSE within 12-15 months.
DS Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DS Smith
- Legal name
- DS Smith Plc
- Website
- https://dssmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- DS Smith is a UK-founded fibre-based packaging, paper, and recycling company serving consumer goods, industrial, automotive, e-commerce, and waste management customers across 30 EMEA countries via 30+ plants and paper mills, now part of International Paper and slated for a 2026–2027 EMEA spin-off.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DS Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Paperboard Mills (32213), Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paper Mills (2621), Paperboard Mills (2631)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fiber-Based Sustainable Packaging (Recycled Paper, Molded Fiber, Bagasse) (IMALAMAA), Recycled Paperboard & Containerboard (IMAMAKAG), Recycled Containerboard (Testliner) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAB), Fiber Recycling & Pulping (Paper, OCC, Mixed Paper) (BPALADAD)
Keywords
Where DS Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
DS Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Packaging Solutions: Design, manufacture and sale of corrugated packaging, transit packaging, retail packaging, industrial packaging, and e-commerce packaging solutions
- Paper Products: Production and sale of containerboard products including coated papers, dual-use grades, medium/fluting grades, kraftliners, white liners, and brown liners; also speciality papers
- Recycling Services: Waste management and recycling services for paper, cardboard, and plastics; total waste management solutions; closed-loop recycling; materials trading
- Point of Sale Displays: Design and manufacture of display and point of sale packaging solutions for retail environments
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | B2B direct sales with customized quotations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
DS Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DS Smith manufactures and supplies fibre-based sustainable packaging solutions including corrugated cardboard, retail and industrial packaging, containerboard, and speciality papers. The company also provides comprehensive recycling services for paper, cardboard, and plastics, operating an integrated circular economy model that spans from waste collection through paper production to packaging conversion. Its offerings serve consumer goods, e-commerce, industrial manufacturing, and automotive sectors across 30 countries in EMEA.
Product overview
DS Smith operates as a three-division fibre-based packaging and paper company. The Packaging Solutions division provides retail packaging (transport, shelf-ready, consumer), e-commerce packaging (Safe Sender, Tape Back, Protective Packaging, Traceability), industrial packaging (heavy duty, fibre-based pallets, automotive standard packaging, multi-material, dangerous goods), and associated services (DISCS testing, ParceLive, PACE, Supply Chain Analysis, Kaypalmr pooling). The Paper Products division manufactures containerboard (coated papers, dual-use grades, medium/fluting grades, kraftliners, white and brown liners) and speciality papers at DS Smith paper mills. The Recycling Services division offers cardboard recycling, paper recycling, plastics recycling, total waste management, and closed-loop recycling. Point of Sale Display Solutions and Packaging Machinery (case formers, tray formers, robotic solutions) complete the portfolio. The company also operates Tecnicarton, a brand focused on fibre-based chassis packaging for automotive. Together, these form a circular business model collecting waste paper, recycling it into new paper at DS Smith mills, and converting it into packaging — a cycle that can take as few as 14 days.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Safe Sender: E-commerce packaging solution
- Tape Back
- ParceLive
- PACE
- DISCS Testing
- Kaypalmr
- Fanfold
- Now & Next
Products and services
- Packaging Solutions
Quantifiable outcome
- Removed 1 billion pieces of plastic through plastic replacement initiatives
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DS Smith
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DS Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
DS Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Geefenboompje.nlcoreDS Smith collaborated with Dutch e-commerce company Geefenboompje.nl to develop 100% recyclable corrugated cardboard packaging for tree gift products. The partnership uses die-cut techniques with optimally positioned air holes for aeration, streamlining the customer's internal packing process, reducing storage, handling, and labour costs while supporting expansion across Benelux and into France and Denmark.
- SomfycoreDS Smith collaborated with Somfy engineers to develop recyclable corrugated inserts replacing expanded polystyrene for Somfy roller shutter motors. The modular cardboard design accommodates 34 motor lengths and four box sizes, underwent multiple design stages and real-world transport testing.
- Lalique BeautyminorDS Smith designed and manufactured sustainable folding boxes and inserts for Lalique Beauty's Tales of Light home fragrance collection, marking the first product line to feature the brand's new visual identity. The packaging utilizes FSC-certified recyclable cardboard materials with anti-abrasion varnish and Art Deco-inspired design elements.
- Jaguar Land RovercoreDS Smith established strategic partnerships with major automotive manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, offering fibre-based packaging solutions that replace metal containers and deliver measurable cost and carbon savings. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation is accelerating adoption of DS Smith's recyclable packaging among OEMs.
- BoschcoreDS Smith partnered with Bosch to provide fibre-based packaging solutions for automotive supply chains, replacing metal containers with recyclable alternatives. EPR regulations are driving adoption of sustainable packaging among major automotive suppliers.
- ELVIALcoreDS Smith partnered with Greek aluminum manufacturer ELVIAL to develop Fanfold, a customized accordion-style corrugated cardboard packaging solution for heavy industrial products used in construction, automotive, and medical sectors. The partnership is part of DS Smith's €34 million investment to upgrade its three Greek packaging facilities and boost production capacity by 30%.
- International PapercoreInternational Paper acquired DS Smith for £5.8 billion in January 2025, creating a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. International Paper subsequently announced plans in January 2026 to spin off its EMEA operations (including DS Smith) into a separate company to be listed on both the London Stock Exchange and NYSE.
- Hold.EarthminorDS Smith Charitable Foundation funded Hold.Earth's tree planting initiative in Lithuania near Tauciuliai village, Sirvintos district. Hold.Earth helps companies implement projects that support biodiversity and reduce CO2 emissions while strengthening community spirit.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DS Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sealed Air: US-based protective and food packaging manufacturer with growing sustainable packaging and e-commerce offerings; competes with DS Smith's protective, e-commerce, and reusable packaging product lines such as Safe Sender and Tape Back.
- Mayr-Melnhof Karton: Austria-based Mayr-Melnhof is a leading European cartonboard and folding cartons producer with comparable recycled fibre sourcing, sustainability positioning, and FMCG/industrial customer base to DS Smith.
- Stora Enso: Nordic-based Stora Enso is a leading European producer of packaging materials, containerboard, and biomaterials with a renewable packaging division that directly overlaps DS Smith's fibre-based and recyclable packaging portfolio.
- Mondi: UK-listed Mondi operates integrated paper and packaging businesses with significant corrugated, containerboard, and specialty kraft paper exposure in Europe and emerging markets, competing head-to-head with DS Smith in fibre-based packaging.
- Smurfit Westrock: Formed by the 2024 merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, Smurfit Westrock is the world's largest paper-based packaging company and DS Smith's most direct competitor across corrugated packaging, containerboard, and recycling across Europe and the Americas.
- Billerud: Swedish packaging paper and board manufacturer focused on virgin and recycled fibre packaging materials; supplies similar converter and brand-owner customers as DS Smith's containerboard and specialty papers division.
Regional players
- Klabin: Brazil's largest paper packaging producer with integrated pulp, paper, and corrugated operations; comparable in integrated model and sustainability positioning but focused on South American markets with limited EMEA overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with industrial paper, rigid paper containers, and protective packaging divisions that overlap with DS Smith's heavy-duty and industrial packaging segments, though broader in scope.
- International Paper: US-based parent of DS Smith since January 2025 and one of the largest global containerboard and corrugated packaging producers; the planned EMEA spin-off will carve out DS Smith as a standalone competitor to International Paper's North American operations.
- Packaging Corporation of America: Large North American containerboard and corrugated packaging producer; overlaps with DS Smith in containerboard manufacturing and serves similar FMCG and industrial end-markets, though primarily US-focused.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DS Smith social profiles
Digital presenceDS Smith compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
DS Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DS Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
DS Smith subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DS Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DS Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A25 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DS Smith
What does DS Smith do?
DS Smith manufactures and supplies fibre-based sustainable packaging solutions including corrugated cardboard, retail and industrial packaging, containerboard, and speciality papers. The company also provides comprehensive recycling services for paper, cardboard, and plastics, operating an integrated circular economy model that spans from waste collection through paper production to packaging conversion. Its offerings serve consumer goods, e-commerce, industrial manufacturing, and automotive sectors across 30 countries in EMEA.
Is DS Smith a public or private company?
DS Smith is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DS Smith founded?
DS Smith was founded in 1940. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DS Smith based?
DS Smith is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does DS Smith make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Packaging Solutions are the primary driver. The others are paper Products, recycling Services and point of Sale Displays.
Who are DS Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sealed Air, Mayr-Melnhof Karton, Stora Enso, Mondi, Smurfit Westrock and Billerud. Klabin is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Sonoco Products, International Paper and Packaging Corporation of America.
Does DS Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for DS Smith.
What industry is DS Smith in?
DS Smith's product category is Sustainable Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAA, Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins), with a secondary code of IMALAMAA, Fiber-Based Sustainable Packaging (Recycled Paper, Molded Fiber, Bagasse). Its NAICS code is 322211 and its SIC code is 2650.