La Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado

What La Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado does

AFCO (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado) is a Spanish professional trade association founded in 1977 and headquartered in Madrid (C/ Orense, 66, 1ºD, 28020). It represents approximately 200 members — corrugated cardboard manufacturers (socios) and industry supporters (simpatizantes) — and acts as the collective voice of an industry that in 2025 comprised 66 companies operating 89 factories, produced 5.941 billion m² of corrugated cardboard, generated €7.168 billion in combined direct and indirect revenue, and employed 26,875 people in Spain (12,775 direct and 14,100 indirect). Spain ranks as the third-largest corrugated cardboard producer in Europe, and AFCO is integrated into the principal European and global industry bodies (FEFCO, ICCA, CEPI, AICC).

AFCO's core offerings are sectoral quality certification seals — UNIQ for agricultural packaging, AVIAFCO for fresh poultry, AFCOFISH for fresh fish, and UNIPAL for corrugated cardboard pallets — alongside a technical publishing program (Cartonpedia as the reference manual, plus converting, structural design, flexographic printing, production management, and PRL guides), professional training courses delivered through the inscolearning.com platform, and regulatory and legal advisory services including participation in collective bargaining and operationalization of Royal Decree 1055/2022 via the Cartón Circular SCRAP. The association also publishes authoritative annual sector statistics and runs consumer-facing sustainability campaigns (#MuchoMasDeLoQueImaginas, #YoSoloCartón, #Cartón100%Circular).

AFCO generates revenue through three streams: recurring membership fees from socios and simpatizantes, one-time sales of training manuals and publications priced €15–€150 depending on format and member status, and professional training courses delivered online and in-person. Distribution is event-driven across Fruit Logistica, Fruit Attraction, FESPA Corrugated, Graphispag, AECOC congresses, and the annual Encuentro Empresarial AFCO, supplemented by digital channels (website, e-commerce store, inscolearning.com, X/LinkedIn/YouTube). AFCO is led by President Leopoldo Santorromán, operates as a Spanish nonprofit association (CIF G-28556538), and has no disclosed equity funding, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

La Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado

Legal name

Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado

Website

https://afco.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFCO is a Spanish trade association founded in 1977 representing approximately 200 corrugated cardboard packaging manufacturers and supporters, providing quality certification seals (UNIQ, AVIAFCO, AFCOFISH, UNIPAL), technical training, and industry advocacy for Spain's €7.2 billion corrugated sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association - Corrugated Cardboard Packaging

NAICS

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAFAI

Liquid Packaging Board (LPB) Manufacturing

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Paperboard & Containerboard Manufacturing

Keywords

• Corrugated cardboard packaging
• Trade association representation
• Sectoral quality certification
• Industrial packaging training
• Fresh produce logistics packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AFCO generates revenue through membership fees from associate companies (socios) and supporters (simpatizantes). Members include corrugated cardboard manufacturers and industry-related companies.
2. Training Materials and Manuals: Sale of training manuals and publications including Cartonpedia, dictionaries, quality manuals, converting manuals, structural design manuals, production management manuals, flexographic printing manuals, and PRL (Occupational Risk Prevention) guides. Prices range from €15 to €150 depending on format and type.
3. Professional Training Courses: Online and in-person professional training courses for the corrugated cardboard industry covering topics such as corrugating, converting, maintenance, direction/management, technical office, commercial, safety, human resources, warehouse, and new personnel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFCO is a Spanish trade association that represents corrugated cardboard packaging manufacturers by providing industry representation, sectoral quality certification seals (UNIQ, AVIAFCO, AFCOFISH, UNIPAL), professional training and technical publications (including CARTONPEDIA), and annual sector statistics and advocacy before public administrations. Its commercial offerings are member-fee subscriptions, paid training courses, and the sale of technical manuals to industry professionals and member companies.

Product overview

AFCO (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado) is a professional trade association representing corrugated cardboard packaging manufacturers in Spain. The organization does not offer a unified software product but provides sectoral quality certification seals for specific packaging applications (UNIQ for agriculture, AVIAFCO for poultry meat, AFCOFISH for fish, and UNIPAL for pallets) and publishes technical training manuals for the industry. The association focuses on promoting corrugated cardboard as a sustainable packaging solution and providing training resources for member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNIQ: Sectoral quality seal for agricultural packaging made of corrugated cardboard, promoted by AFCO. It classifies boxes into two structural families (tejadillo/colum) and three packaging classes (E, L, U) based on logistics circuit.
• AVIAFCO
• AFCOFISH
• UNIPAL
• Cartón 100% Circular
• #YoSoloCartón
• #MuchoMasDeLoQueImaginas

Products and services

• UNIQ Quality Seal UNIQ is the only sectoral quality certification seal for agricultural packaging in corrugated cardboard, covering boxes for fresh produce with standardized dimensions following the CF (Common Footprint) international norm. Available in two box families (tejadillo and column) and three packaging classes (E, L, U) adapted to different logistics circuits based on transit time from packaging to destination.
• AVIAFCO AVIAFCO is the corrugated cardboard packaging solution endorsed by AFCO for transporting fresh poultry meat, with dimensions of 600x400x180 mm, 18 kg capacity, 100% recyclable composition, and a documented capability to reduce truck journeys by up to 40% in the logistics circuit.
• AFCOFISH AFCOFISH is the first AFCO-endorsed corrugated cardboard box for transporting fresh fish with ice in a 24-hour refrigerated logistics circuit, with dimensions of 400x400x130 mm and a capacity of 6 kg of fish plus 2 kg of ice.
• UNIPAL UNIPAL is a pallet made entirely from corrugated cardboard, promoted by AFCO as an alternative to traditional wooden pallets, available in four sizes (600x400, 600x800, 1200x800, and 1200x1000 mm) with weights ranging from 1.5 to 6 kg and load capacities of 500 to 800 kg.
• AFCO Training Manuals Technical training manuals for the corrugated cardboard industry covering quality, converting, structural and graphic design, corrugated cardboard manufacturing, production management, flexographic printing, occupational health and safety (PRL), and a dictionary of industry terminology.
• CARTONPEDIA CARTONPEDIA is the reference technical training manual for the corrugated cardboard sector, answering questions about all processes used in the industry, available in printed format and PDF at prices ranging from €60 to €120 (VAT included) depending on format and member status.
• AFCO Professional Training Courses Online and in-person professional training courses for the corrugated cardboard industry covering topics such as corrugating, converting, maintenance, direction and management, technical office, commercial, safety, human resources, warehouse, and onboarding of new personnel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces logistics costs by up to 40% (AVIAFCO poultry packaging)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AECOCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO maintains active participation with AECOC, a major Spanish retail and consumer goods association. The partnership includes joint events such as the AECOC Congress of Fruits and Vegetables, sustainability congresses, and industry collaboration initiatives.
• FEFCO (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Carton Ondulé)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO is an active member of FEFCO, the European Federation of Corrugated Cardboard Manufacturers. AFCO collaborates in FEFCO Summits, Technical Seminars, and international working groups. Madrid hosted the FEFCO Summit 2026.
• ICCA (International Corrugated Case Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO is integrated into ICCA, the international corrugated case association, for global industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• AENORmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO collaborates with AENOR, the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification, on industry standards and certification matters.
• ASPAPELmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO works with ASPAPEL, the Spanish Paper Association, on shared sustainability initiatives and industry representation.
• EcoembesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO partners with Ecoembes, the Spanish organization for packaging waste recovery and recycling, to promote cardboard recycling and circular economy principles.
• CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO is integrated into CEPI for European paper and cardboard industry collaboration and policy advocacy.
• 5 al díaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFCO supports the 5 al día association, which promotes daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, through participation in events and joint marketing initiatives.
• FIAB (Federación Española de Industrias de la Alimentación y Bebidas)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO collaborates with FIAB as Partner Global in sustainability congresses and industry events, particularly focused on packaging and food industry intersection.
• Cartón Circular (SCRAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCartón Circular is the Producer Extended Responsibility System (SCRAP) specialized in industrial packaging management, backed by the paper industry value chain. AFCO supports this initiative for compliance with Royal Decree 1055/2022 on packaging and packaging waste.
• AICC (Association of Independent Corrugated Converters)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO is integrated into AICC for international corrugated packaging industry collaboration.
• UNIQ (Grupo UNIQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIQ is the sectoral quality seal for agricultural packaging promoted by AFCO. AFCO actively promotes UNIQ at industry events including Fruit Logistica, Fruit Attraction, and AECOC congresses.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FEFCO (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Carton Ondulé): FEFCO is the European federation of corrugated cardboard manufacturers and the closest direct counterpart to AFCO at continental level. Both organizations promote corrugated standards, sustainability, and technical seminars; Madrid will host FEFCO Summit 2026, an event AFCO actively participates in.
• ASPAPEL (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Pasta, Papel y Cartón): ASPAPEL is the Spanish trade association for pulp, paper, and cardboard producers, covering the upstream value chain that supplies AFCO's corrugated converter members. AFCO and ASPAPEL already co-operate on shared sustainability initiatives within Spain.
• ICCA (International Corrugated Case Association): ICCA is the international umbrella for corrugated case associations including AFCO. It coordinates global knowledge sharing, awards, and industry data on the same product category AFCO represents nationally in Spain.
• AICC (Association of Independent Corrugated Converters): AICC is the US-based independent corrugated converters trade association providing training, advocacy, and standards. It mirrors AFCO's trade-association role in the world's largest corrugated market, making it a structurally similar peer despite geographic distance.

Broad incumbents

• CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries): CEPI is the pan-European paper industry confederation of which AFCO is a member. It operates one level up the value chain, covering pulp, paper, and downstream converters including corrugated, and shares sustainability and policy advocacy functions with AFCO.

Regional players

• Verband Deutscher Wellpappenhersteller (VDW): VDW is the German corrugated cardboard manufacturers' trade association, the closest German counterpart to AFCO. Both organizations focus on national industry representation, statistics, quality schemes, and engagement with European policy through FEFCO.
• GIFCO (Gruppo Italiano Fabbricanti Cartone Ondulato): GIFCO is the Italian corrugated cardboard manufacturers' association, performing the same national trade-association role for Italy that AFCO does for Spain. Comparable mandate, member services, and quality certification scope, but in a different national market.

Others

• Ecoembes: Ecoembes is the Spanish packaging waste recovery and recycling organization with which AFCO maintains a strategic partnership. It is not a corrugated trade association but operates an adjacent ecosystem role, providing collection/recycling infrastructure that underpins the 95% recycling rate AFCO promotes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFCOes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCulcluMgusLjIzGOny2vCaQ/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afco-es

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 La Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Envases y Embalajes de Cartón Ondulado