What SAICA does

SAICA Group (S.A. Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa) is a privately held, family-controlled Spanish industrial company founded in 1943 in Zaragoza and now operating across 11 countries with more than 12,000 employees. It is structured into four core divisions that form a vertically integrated circular economy: SAICA Paper manufactures 100% recycled paper for corrugated cardboard using 10 paper machines across Spain, France, the UK, and Poland with 3.3 million tonnes of annual capacity (including the world's first 75g/m² lightweight paper machine, PM9, since 2000); SAICA Pack converts that paper into corrugated cardboard packaging for food and beverage, e-commerce, industrial, distribution, and fresh produce customers; SAICA Flex supplies sustainable flexible packaging and labelling (MONOFLEX, PAPERFLEX, GREENHEART, WASHFLEX) for confectionery, dairy, meat, fresh produce, and personal care markets; and SAICA Natur provides waste management, recycling, energy recovery (avoiding 450,000 tonnes of waste to landfill per year at El Burgo de Ebro), and the Natur Cycle Plus recycled LDPE/LLDPE granule business.

SAICA's business model is enterprise B2B sales-led with custom quotations, multi-year supply relationships (90% of suppliers retained for 20+ years), and dedicated B2B portals including the SAP Quality Award-winning Saica Connect, plus regional sales events such as the 650+ attendee European Customer Event. The company serves FMCG, industrial, retail, e-commerce, and public-sector waste management customers across Europe, Turkey, and the United States, and is actively expanding through acquisitions (LIC Packaging 80% stake 2024, Ecovidal 2023, FCC Ámbito partial 2025, Thimm Group 2026), a second U.S. corrugated plant (> $110M investment), and a multi-site decarbonization program supported by €32.7M and €14.6M of Spanish/EU grants. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but the combination of 12,000+ employees, 3.3M tonnes of paper capacity, and major-target acquisitions such as €120M-revenue LIC Packaging positions SAICA as a top-tier European recycled paper and packaging group.

Name

SAICA

Legal name

S.A. Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa (A50002567)

Website

http://www.saica.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

SAICA is a privately held Spanish industrial group operating 10 paper machines (3.3M tonnes/year) and serving FMCG, industrial, and waste-management customers across 11 countries via four divisions: SAICA Paper, SAICA Pack, SAICA Flex, and SAICA Natur.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper & Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Paperboard Mills (2631), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paper Mills (2621)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycled Containerboard (Testliner) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycled Corrugated Products (Boxes, Sheets) (IMAMAKAH), Industrial Packaging Waste Services (Pallets, Cardboard, Film, IBCs/Drums—Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAD), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Recycled paper manufacturing
• Corrugated packaging solutions
• Flexible packaging materials
• Waste management services
• Sustainable paper products

Headquarters

HQ city

Zaragoza

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SAICA Pack - Corrugated Packaging: Corrugated cardboard packaging solutions including Fast Moving, Spirits, Industry, Distribution, E-Commerce, Fresh Pack segments. Provides comprehensive services including inbound/outbound logistics, retailer logistics, marketing support, and recovery.
2. SAICA Flex - Flexible Packaging and Labels: Sustainable flexible packaging solutions including MONOFLEX, PAPERFLEX, GREENHEART products. Self-adhesive labels, wrap-around labels, IML labels, grouping bands, and specialty labels for food, beverage, personal care, and industrial applications.
3. SAICA Paper - Recycled Paper Manufacturing: 100% recycled paper for corrugated cardboard including brown liners (Nature Kraft, Duoplus, Duosaica), flutings (Hidroforce, Hidroplu Saica, Hidrosaica, Saica Medium), and white liners (Infinite Coated, Infinite Lithos, Infinite Innova, Infinite One, Saikraft Blanco, Blanco Liner Saica).
4. SAICA Natur - Environmental Services: Comprehensive waste management services focused on reducing and maximizing value of waste, aiming for zero waste to landfill. Includes Saica Natur Cycle Plus producing recycled LDPE/LLDPE granules, energy recovery plants, RSF plants, plastic sorting plants, organic waste unpacking plants, and paper sorting plants.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAICA manufactures 100% recycled paper and converts it into corrugated cardboard packaging, flexible packaging, and labels, while providing integrated waste management and recovery services. The company operates across four divisions: SAICA Paper (recycled paper manufacturing with 10 paper machines producing over 3.3 million tonnes annually), SAICA Pack (corrugated packaging), SAICA Flex (flexible packaging and labelling), and SAICA Natur (waste management and environmental services aimed at zero waste to landfill).

Product overview

Saica Group operates as a diversified packaging and paper manufacturing company with four core divisions. Saica Pack provides corrugated cardboard packaging solutions across sectors including food, beverages, spirits, industry, distribution, e-commerce, and fresh produce. Saica Flex offers sustainable flexible packaging and labelling solutions including monomaterial laminates, paper-based alternatives, and recycled content products. Saica Natur delivers environmental services and waste management with recycling facilities and the Saica Natur Cycle Plus program producing recycled LDPE granules. Saica Paper manufactures 100% recycled paper for corrugated cardboard including brown liners, flutings, and white liners. The company also operates B2B platforms including Saica Connect for customers. Saica's divisions work together to provide integrated sustainable packaging solutions aligned with circular economy principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saica Connect: Exclusive B2B platform for Saica Pack customers providing efficient and easy-to-use tool for accessing information, issuing orders, viewing and tracking stocks and deliveries, and downloading invoices and delivery notes.
• Saica Fresh
• Saica Creative
• Saica Display
• MONOFLEX
• PAPERFLEX
• GREENHEART
• SAICA SEAL
• SAICA SKIN
• LOCK FLAP
• NATURE KRAFT (NK)
• DUOPLUS SAICA (DPS)
• INFINITE COATED (IC)
• SAICA NATUR CYCLE PLUS

Products and services

• SAICA Pack - Corrugated Cardboard Packaging Corrugated cardboard packaging solutions for food, beverages, spirits, industry, distribution, e-commerce, and fresh-produce sectors, including fast-moving, spirits, industry, distribution, e-commerce, and fresh-pack product lines, with complementary services spanning inbound/outbound logistics, retailer logistics, marketing support, and recovery.
• SAICA Flex - Flexible Packaging and Labels Sustainable flexible packaging and labelling solutions for confectionery, snacks, coffee, fresh produce, dairy, meat and fish, ready meals, home and personal care, and beverages sectors, including self-adhesive labels, wrap-around labels, IML labels, and grouping bands.
• SAICA Paper - 100% Recycled Paper Manufacturing Manufactures 100% recycled paper for corrugated cardboard, including brown liners, flutings, and white liners, operating 10 paper machines across Europe with total capacity over 3.3 million tonnes per year.
• SAICA Natur - Waste Management and Environmental Services Environmental services and waste management focused on reducing and maximizing the value of waste, with the goal of zero waste to landfill, including waste collection, sorting, recycling, energy recovery, and Saica Natur Cycle Plus producing recycled LDPE/LLDPE granules.
• SAICA Connect - B2B Customer Platform Exclusive B2B platform for SAICA Pack customers providing access to orders, stock tracking, delivery visibility, invoice management, and delivery notes download, available 24/7 in app and web versions. Won an SAP Quality Award for usability.
• LIC Packaging - Packaging and Display Solutions Packaging and display solutions provider operating from Brescia, Italy, serving as SAICA Group's Southern European corrugated board market entry, earned €120 million in sales in 2023.
• SAICA Flex Deeside Automated Coating Machine Fully automated coating machine at SAICA Flex Deeside site handling wider materials at faster speeds, providing four times previous capacity for linerless products that reduce material use and waste.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of suppliers have worked with SAICA for more than 20 years, guaranteeing stability of supply
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Thimm GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026SAICA Group acquired Thimm Group, a German packaging company, to expand its presence in the European corrugated board market.
• Polytag and Paragon InksstrategicTechnology or Integration · 16 February 2026Polytag, SAICA Flex, and Paragon Inks announced a strategic partnership to transform waste journey traceability using digital watermarking and tracking technologies.
• UnileverstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Unilever and SAICA Group collaborated to switch Axe promotional packaging from plastic to paper-based banding solution. SAICA delivered the end-to-end technical implementation. The new self-adhesive paper band replaces high-temperature shrink-wrapping with a low-energy banding process while maintaining packaging speed and quality. The transition was made in anticipation of the upcoming European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
• FCC ÁmbitocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2025SAICA Group expanded its recovery network in Spain with the acquisition of part of FCC Ámbito's business, strengthening its presence in Spanish waste management sector.
• LIC PackagingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2024SAICA Group increased its stake in Italian company LIC Packaging to 80 percent, becoming the majority shareholder. LIC Packaging operates one site in Brescia, Italy, offering packaging and display solutions, and earned €120 million in sales in 2023. The acquisition aligns with SAICA's 2025 strategic growth plan and continues a longstanding partnership, with LIC Packaging's management remaining in place.
• EcovidalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023SAICA Group acquired Ecovidal to strengthen its presence in the Madrid region, expanding waste management and recovery services.
• CEFLEXstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEFLEX brings the entire flexible packaging value chain together to tackle complex technical and business barriers to a circular economy. SAICA Flex participates as a member.
• Flexible Packaging EuropestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPE's main objective is to promote the flexible packaging industry and represents the interests of the sector at the highest levels in Europe. SAICA Flex is a member.
• Holy Grail 2.0strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Grail 2.0 aims to prove the viability of digital watermarking technologies for accurate sorting and the business case at large scale. SAICA Flex participates.
• VoithstrategicTechnology or IntegrationSAICA and Voith have collaborated for 25 years on paper production standards, notably with PM9 machine that set world records in paper production.
• Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (ITAINNOVA)strategicTechnology or IntegrationMultiple collaborative R&D projects including IDIMPREC (intelligent identification system), ECOSAICA (e-commerce packaging), EMBAGRA (functional packaging), and CirPapFlex (recycled paper in flexible packaging).
• EurecatstrategicTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated on ECOFIBRA project for circular economy use of recovered fibers from paper manufacturing.
• SAP AribacoreTechnology or IntegrationSAICA works with SAP Ariba for supplier portal management, sourcing, contracts, and digital signature to optimize information management of procurement processes.
• SEDEXstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAICA Pack is registered on SEDEX platform for stakeholders to verify implementation and compliance with sustainability standards in occupational safety, environment, and business ethics.
• EcoVadisstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcoVadis provides sustainability ratings to suppliers to ensure supply chain development while maintaining levels of quality and integrity. SAICA participates in ratings.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDP requests information on management of risks and opportunities that climate change and water represent. SAICA participates in CDP Supply Chain Programme.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mondi plc: UK-listed European paper and packaging group with containerboard, corrugated, and flexible packaging operations. Direct overlap with SAICA's recycled containerboard, corrugated, and flexible packaging portfolios.
• Smurfit Westrock: Formed by the 2024 merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, Smurfit Westrock is the world's largest containerboard and corrugated packaging producer, directly comparable to SAICA's Paper and Pack divisions in Europe and increasingly in the U.S.
• Heinzel Group: Austrian family-owned pulp, paper, and packaging group with recycled containerboard and corrugated operations. Closely matches SAICA's vertical integration model and European recycled paperboard focus.
• Mayr-Melnhof Karton: Austrian paperboard and folding cartons manufacturer with strong European footprint. Direct competitor to SAICA Paper in cartonboard and to SAICA Pack in converted folding cartons for FMCG end markets.
• ProGroup: Privately held German corrugated packaging and recycled paperboard manufacturer. Direct competitor in central European containerboard, fluting, and corrugated sheet/box markets.
• DS Smith (International Paper): Major European corrugated and recycled paper producer, now part of International Paper following the 2025 acquisition. Closely matches SAICA's corrugated packaging and recycled paperboard scale in the UK, France, and Iberia.
• Billerud: Swedish paperboard and packaging paper producer with growing U.S. presence post the Verso acquisition. Comparable to SAICA Paper in virgin and recycled paperboard grades serving packaging converters.

Regional players

• Sappi: South Africa-headquartered coated and specialty paper producer with European mills. Adjacent competitor in specialty paper grades and packaging boards, primarily in European and African markets.
• Palm Group: Privately held German paper, corrugated, and packaging group. Comparable to SAICA in recycled containerboard production and corrugated converting with a DACH-centric footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Stora Enso: Finnish-Swedish forest products major with significant containerboard, packaging, and biomaterials operations across Europe. Broad incumbent overlap with SAICA's recycled paper and packaging businesses plus broader forest products exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saica-group

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A4 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SAICA