What Pope Packaging does

Pope Packaging is a 70-year-old Australian family-owned industrial packaging manufacturer founded in 1956 by Des Pope in Adelaide, South Australia, originally as a textile bag trading business. The company manufactures and supplies paper sacks, flexible plastics, woven polypropylene products, FIBC bulk bags, and agricultural packaging across five countries (Australia, New Zealand, USA, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia). It is self-described as Australia's only manufacturer combining paper sacks, plastics, and textiles under one roof. Manufacturing operations are based in Adelaide (Wingfield and Woodville North) and Seeduwa, Sri Lanka (Plastipak Lanka), with sales and distribution offices across Australian states and international subsidiaries in NZ, USA, and Malaysia.

The product portfolio spans five core categories: paper sacks (including the patented world-first EnviroBarrier plastic-free liner and Pope Pinch technology), flexible plastics (printed rewind, stretch hood, tubular FFS film/PopeFlex, laminated products, stand-up pouches), woven products (woven PP bags, polymesh, hessian, container liners, Pope Pinch), bulk bags/FIBCs (industrial, food grade HACCP-certified, baffle, ventilated, lined, anti-static variants), and agricultural packaging (baler twine, bale netwrap, silage wrap, grain bags, woolpacks). Technology is anchored by Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) machinery capable of producing 400 bags per minute with automation and digital pasting. The customer base spans agriculture, animal nutrition, construction, fertilizers and chemicals, food, horticulture, manufacturing, and mining and minerals sectors.

Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales via a national field sales force and regional branch offices, with quote-based pricing and 30-day payment terms. Notable enterprise relationships include DuluxGroup (paper sacks division). The company markets through its website, LinkedIn, downloadable brochures, and industry events (e.g., 2025 European Paper Sack Summit). Ownership remains with the Pope family, with Craig Elkington serving as CEO since 2016 alongside a leadership team overseeing each division and geography. The company has invested continuously in capacity expansion, including new W&H lines (2012, 2023, 2025), 5-layer plastic extruders (2020), ERP rollout (2018), and solar adoption at Sri Lankan facilities, with no disclosed external equity or debt funding.

Name

Pope Packaging

Legal name

Pope Packaging

Website

https://popes.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pope Packaging is an Australian family-owned industrial packaging manufacturer founded in 1956, producing paper sacks, flexible plastics, woven polypropylene products, FIBC bulk bags, and agricultural packaging for industrial customers across Australia, New Zealand, USA, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673)

akta.pro primary industry

Paper Bags & Sacks (Multiwall, SOS, Grocery) (IMALACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Liners & Sacks (FFS, Heavy-Duty, Drum Liners) Manufacturing (IMANAEAH), Protective Paper Packaging (Honeycomb, Paper Cushioning, Paper Wrap) (IMALACAH)

Keywords

• Industrial packaging manufacturer
• Paper sacks production
• Flexible plastic packaging
• Woven polypropylene bags
• FIBC bulk bags supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

North Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packaging Product Sales: Manufacture and sale of industrial packaging products including paper sacks, flexible plastics, woven PP bags, bulk bags/FIBCs, and agricultural packaging. Products sold directly to customers across multiple industry sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pope Packaging is a manufacturer, printer, and supplier of industrial packaging products across five core categories: paper sacks (including the patented EnviroBarrier plastic-free liner), flexible plastics (printed rewind, stretch hood, tubular FFS film, laminated products, stand-up pouches), woven polypropylene products (woven PP bags, polymesh, container liners, geotextiles, Pope Pinch bags), FIBC bulk bags (industrial, food grade, baffle, anti-static, ventilated variants), and agricultural packaging (baler twine, bale netwrap, silage wrap, grain bags, woolpacks). Products are produced in-house at Australian and Sri Lankan facilities on advanced W&H machinery and sold directly to industrial customers across agriculture, construction, mining, food, fertilisers, and manufacturing sectors.

Product overview

Pope Packaging offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial packaging solutions across five core product categories: Paper Sacks (valve and open mouth block bottom bags, including the patented award-winning EnviroBarrier™ plastic-free liner), Flexible Plastics (printed rewind, converted bags, stretch hood, Tubular FFS Film/PopeFlex®, laminated products, extruded films, stand-up pouches), Woven Products (woven PP bags, polymesh bags, hessian & jute, container liners, geotextiles & shade cloth, Pope Pinch® bags, calico bags), Bulk Bags/FIBCs (industrial, food grade, baffle, ventilated, lined, anti-static variants), and Agricultural Packaging (baler twine, bale netwrap, silage wrap, silage covers, grain bags, woolpacks). The company operates as a multi-category packaging manufacturer providing custom solutions across paper, flexible plastics, woven polypropylene, and agricultural sectors with both Australian manufacturing and global supply capabilities through its Plastipak Lanka subsidiary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PopeFlex®: Tubular film materials for moisture protection of powdery and flowable products, used in flexible packaging.
• Pope Pinch®
• EnviroBarrier™
• Plastipak Lanka

Products and services

• Paper Sacks Industrial paper sacks including valve block bottom bags and open mouth block bottom bags designed for fast-filling, automated packing, and reliable pallet stacking across food, mineral, and agricultural applications. Includes the patented EnviroBarrier plastic-free, recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable liner option.
• Flexible Plastics Flexible plastic packaging including printed rewind, converted bags, stretch hood pallet wrap, tubular FFS film with PopeFlex technology, laminated products, extruded films, and stand-up pouches for durability, compliance, and shelf appeal in retail, food, and industrial applications.
• Woven Products Durable woven polypropylene and textile solutions for industrial and agricultural use including woven PP bags, polymesh bags, hessian & jute, container liners, geotextiles & shade cloth, Pope Pinch pinch bottom bags, and calico bags for grain, fresh produce, and export applications.
• Bulk Bags / FIBCs

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 bags per minute production capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Pope Packaging participates in W&H summits and collaborates on smart paper sack solutions. CEO Craig Elkington and GM Matthew Sullivan joined the 2025 European Paper Sack Summit for live demonstrations and knowledge-sharing on advanced sack manufacturing.
• LC Packaging (Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlastipak Lanka works closely with LC Packaging (Europe) to meet global expectations. This international partnership has helped drive further improvement and enables Pope Packaging to deliver smarter supply outcomes worldwide with quality, consistency and sustainability.
• Horticulture Innovation AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPope Packaging supports Horticulture Innovation Australia with fast lead times, consistent supply and trusted results for horticulture packaging needs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves26 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mondi Group: Global paper and packaging manufacturer with a large industrial paper sacks business across Europe and emerging markets. Directly comparable to Pope's paper sacks and flexible packaging product lines; a much larger incumbent operating globally.
• Sealed Air: Protective and food packaging manufacturer operating globally with stretch film, shrink, and protective packaging products. Comparable to Pope's stretch hood, laminated films, and protective packaging for industrial palletizing.
• Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer producing industrial paper sacks, composite cans, and flexible packaging. Direct overlap with Pope's paper sacks and woven/industrial packaging serving similar end markets (cement, food, agriculture).
• Amcor: Global packaging giant offering flexible plastics, rigid containers, and specialty cartons across FMCG and industrial end-markets. Comparable to Pope's flexible plastics and paper-based packaging categories, but with substantially broader scale.

Direct peers

• LC Packaging: European-based FIBC, woven PP, and industrial bulk packaging supplier with global reach. Pope's strategic partner (per Plastipak Lanka partnership); directly comparable product portfolio in FIBCs and woven polypropylene bags.
• Knauf Industries: Producer of protective and industrial EPS/foamed plastic and paper-based packaging solutions. Comparable to Pope's geotextile, protective, and bulk packaging solutions across industrial and agricultural applications.
• Bischof + Klein: European manufacturer specializing in industrial paper sacks, flexible packaging, and technical films. Direct competitor in paper sacks and flexible packaging, serving similar industrial and agricultural end-markets.
• NNZ Group: European industrial packaging supplier specializing in paper sacks, woven PP bags, FIBCs, and agricultural packaging. Direct competitor with a comparable multi-material industrial packaging portfolio to Pope.

Emerging players

• PAPACKS: German manufacturer of sustainable, plastic-free paper-based packaging including paper sacks and pouches. An emerging competitor in the same sustainability niche as Pope's EnviroBarrier liner and paper-based packaging strategy.

Regional players

• Multi-Wall Packaging: Specialist manufacturer of multiwall paper sacks and kraft paper packaging for industrial and agricultural use. Regional competitor closely aligned with Pope's multiwall paper sack core product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pope-packaging
• Facebookfacebook.com/popepackaging

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pope Packaging