What DS Smith - Plastics does

DS Smith - Plastics comprises the flexible plastics, rigid plastics, and foam products operations of DS Smith Plc, a UK-headquartered sustainable packaging group founded in the 1940s. The plastics division sits within a broader integrated value chain that spans recycling services (managing over 6 million tonnes of material annually), paper production (containerboard grades including coated, kraftliner, fluting, and liner products from mills such as Kemsley in the UK and Dueñas in Spain), and packaging manufacturing (15 billion boxes per year from recycled fibre). Customer-facing offerings include retail-ready and shelf-ready packaging, industrial packaging for automotive, pharmaceutical, and dangerous goods applications, e-commerce packaging solutions (Safe Sender, Tape Back, protective and tamper-proof formats), and packaging machinery. Technology differentiators include the PACE testing tool, DISCS supply-chain testing, the ParceLive multi-sensory tracker, and KAYPAL MR cardboard pallet pooling, supplemented by services such as supply chain analysis and Circular Design Metrics.

The business operates as a B2B enterprise with a direct field sales model, quote-based pricing, and multi-year contracts serving major brands, retailers, automotive manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, logistics providers, and public-sector customers. Distribution is via wholly-owned subsidiaries across 30+ EMEA countries plus the United States, supported by recycling, paper, and packaging facilities. The plastics division is a sub-segment within this portfolio, focused on plastic and foam-based packaging formats that complement the fibre-based offering. On 31 January 2025, DS Smith Plc combined with International Paper in a transaction valued at approximately $7.19 billion to form a global leader in sustainable packaging focused on North American and European markets; the combined group subsequently announced plans to create two independent public companies as part of an EMEA restructuring. ESG positioning is anchored by Strategic Partner status with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, commitment to the UN Race to Zero, and FSC-certified paper products.

The plastics division's strategic position is best understood within the context of the broader circular economy platform, where plastic and foam products serve customer needs that fibre-based packaging cannot fully address while remaining subject to the same regulatory pressures (notably the EU PPWR) that are reshaping demand for recyclable and recycled-content packaging across Europe.

Name

DS Smith - Plastics

Legal name

DS Smith Plc

Website

https://dssmith.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

DS Smith - Plastics comprises the flexible plastics, rigid plastics, and foam products operations of UK-based DS Smith Plc, serving enterprise customers across consumer goods, automotive, pharmaceutical, retail, and logistics with integrated plastic packaging solutions within a circular-economy-focused packaging, paper, and recycling group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Paperboard Mills (32213), Paper Manufacturing (322), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paper Mills (2621)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protective Paper Packaging (Honeycomb, Paper Cushioning, Paper Wrap) (IMALACAH), Solid Fiber & Chipboard Packaging (Set-Up/Rigid Paperboard Boxes) (IMALACAC)

Keywords

• Corrugated packaging
• Sustainable packaging
• Retail-ready packaging
• Industrial packaging
• Paper recycling

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Packaging Solutions: Design and manufacture of sustainable packaging solutions including retail packaging, industrial packaging, and e-commerce packaging. Revenue generated from custom packaging design, manufacturing, and supply to businesses across various industries.
2. Paper Products: Production and sale of containerboard products including coated papers, dual-use grades, medium/fluting grades, kraftliners, white liners, and brown liners from their paper mills
3. Recycling Services: Comprehensive recycling and waste management services managing over 6 million tonnes of material annually. Includes cardboard recycling, paper recycling, plastics recycling, and total waste management solutions for businesses
4. Supply Chain Analysis Services: Using Total Cost Ownership (TCO) methodology, delivering real benefits in End-to-End Value Chain optimisation for customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DS Smith manufactures and supplies sustainable fiber-based packaging products, including corrugated cases, retail-ready packaging, protective packaging, and plastic packaging, supported by integrated paper-making and recycling operations. The company provides customized packaging design, supply chain optimization services, and end-to-end packaging solutions to brand owners, retailers, and industrial customers worldwide.

Product overview

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products, and recycling services. The company operates as a unified portfolio of interconnected offerings organized around the circular economy. The core product lines include: Packaging Solutions (encompassing Retail Packaging with Transport & Transit, Shelf Ready, and Consumer Packaging; Industrial Packaging with Fibre-Based Pallets, Heavy Duty, Automotive, Dangerous Goods, and Multi-Material solutions; E-commerce Packaging featuring Safe Sender, Tape Back, Paper Bags, Protective Packaging, Traceability, and Tamper Proof solutions; and Services including PACE testing tool, ParceLive sensor tracking, DISCS testing, KAYPAL MR pooling, Supply Chain Analysis, Customer Collaboration, and Circular Design Metrics), Paper Products (Containerboard including Coated Papers, Dual-Use Grades, Medium/Fluting Grades, Kraftliners, White Liners, Brown Liners, and Specialty Papers), Recycling Services (Paper and Cardboard Recycling, Closed Loop Recycling, Total Waste Management, Plastics Recycling, and Recyclability Evaluation), Retail Marketing Services (Point of Sale Display Solutions), and Packaging Machinery. These offerings are integrated through DS Smith's sustainability-focused approach, enabling closed-loop material cycles from recycling through paper production to packaging manufacture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PACE: Technologically advanced packaging testing tool delivering exceptional, consistent packaging performance based on customer needs.
• ParceLive
• DISCS
• KAYPAL MR
• Safe Sender
• Tape Back
• DS Smith Safe Tray
• DS Smith Centralisers
• SalesFront
• DS Smith Easy Grip
• DS Smith Round Wrap
• DS Smith Light Wrap
• PaPillOn pallets

Quantifiable outcome

• Diverting over 6 million tonnes of material from landfill annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• International PaperflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025International Paper and DS Smith combined on 31st January 2025 to create a truly global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, focused on attractive and growing North American and European regions. This is a major business combination creating significant scale.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDS Smith is one of only 19 Strategic Partners globally for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, demonstrating leadership commitment to circular economy principles. This partnership supports their sustainability strategy and circular economy innovation initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mondi Group: European integrated paper and packaging group producing containerboard, corrugated packaging, and uncoated fine paper with overlapping product categories and a similar focus on sustainable fibre-based packaging.
• International Paper: Parent company post-combination and the largest containerboard and corrugated producer in North America; directly comparable in scale, vertical integration, and sustainability positioning to DS Smith.
• Mayr-Melnhof Karton: European manufacturer of cartonboard and folding cartons with similar focus on recycled-fibre packaging for consumer goods, pharma, and confectionery end markets.
• Packaging Corporation of America: U.S.-based containerboard and corrugated products manufacturer with similar vertical integration from paper mills to boxes, comparable product portfolio, and shared blue-chip customer base.
• Smurfit Westrock: Formed by the combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, the world's largest paper-based packaging company with directly comparable corrugated, containerboard, and recycling operations across the same European and North American footprint as DS Smith.
• Huhtamäki: European-based food and consumer packaging specialist with comparable fibre-based packaging, foodservice, and retail-ready offerings serving similar FMCG and retail customers.
• Stora Enso: Nordic renewable packaging and biomaterials company with significant containerboard and corrugated packaging operations, overlapping DS Smith in fibre-based packaging for retail and industrial customers.
• Cascades: North American producer of recycled-fibre tissue, containerboard, and packaging products with overlapping commitment to circular economy and recycled content, serving similar retail and industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Global packaging incumbent with protective and food packaging solutions, partially overlapping with DS Smith's e-commerce protective packaging and industrial packaging portfolios.
• Sonoco Products: Diversified global packaging manufacturer serving consumer, industrial, and healthcare end markets with paper-based, rigid plastic, and protective packaging — overlapping with DS Smith's industrial and consumer packaging segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dssmithgroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DSSmithGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/dssmith.group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ds-smith
• Instagraminstagram.com/dssmithgroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries36 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 DS Smith - Plastics