the european containerboard organisation

What the european containerboard organisation does

CCB (Cepi ContainerBoard Organisation / the European Containerboard Organisation) is a Brussels-based non-profit industry association representing European producers of corrugated case materials, also known as containerboard. The organisation coordinates a federation of more than 120 companies across 22 countries, primarily channelled through 11 National Associations, and states that its membership accounts for over 25 million tonnes of production capacity. Its operating base is at Avenue des Arts in Brussels, and its funding model is membership fees rather than commercial sales.

The association's product set consists of technical reference documents, standardised databases, and statistical frameworks used across the European containerboard value chain. Its flagship deliverable is the European Corrugated Base Papers List, originally launched in 1992 and most recently refreshed as Version 6 in October 2022. CCB also maintains the European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies (released in 2021), the Reel Identification Finishing Guidelines (updated in 2018), and a body of technical guidelines and test methods for the sector. Beyond standards, CCB operates the World Containerboard Organisation (WCO), which extends its coordination mandate outside Europe.

CCB's commercial footprint is built on partnership and statistical exchange rather than product sales. It maintains standing relationships with CEPI (the parent Confederation of European Paper Industries), FEFCO (the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), and the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (CPPA). Direct producer members include companies from Croatia, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey, with all other members routed through the national association network.

Name

the european containerboard organisation

Legal name

CCB - Cepi ContainerBoard Organisation

Website

https://cepi-containerboard.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CCB is a Brussels-based European industry association representing 120+ corrugated case material producers across 22 countries and 25+ million tonnes of capacity, coordinating technical standards, market statistics, and policy positions while managing the global World Containerboard Organisation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

CCB is a European industry association that represents producers of corrugated case materials (containerboard) such as kraftliner, semi-chemical fluting, and testliner. It coordinates industry positions on policy, regulation, and standards; maintains the European Corrugated Base Papers List defining paper grades and specifications; publishes life cycle assessment data; and provides market forecasts, statistical exchange, and advocacy services to its 120+ member companies across 22 European countries.

Product overview

CCB is a European industry association of corrugated case materials (containerboard) producers. Its core offerings include the European Corrugated Base Papers List (a standardized classification of paper grades), the European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies, and technical guidelines on moisture management and reel identification. CCB also manages the World Containerboard Organisation as a global industry body. The association provides industry statistics, market research, forecasts, and coordinates positions on technical-commercial issues including life cycle analysis, standardization, and packaging legislation. Available formats include PDFs in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European Corrugated Base Papers List (List of Grades) A standardized list of corrugated paper grades with specifications and classifications, produced for and used by European corrugated paper industry members in the manufacture of corrugated board. Available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.
• European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies A life cycle assessment database providing environmental impact data for corrugated board products, supporting sustainability analysis and LCA studies for the containerboard industry.
• Moisture Guidelines

Quantifiable outcome

• Members gain access to comprehensive European production capacity data exceeding 25 million tonnes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Containerboard OrganisationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB is responsible for managing the World Containerboard Organisation, a global industry organization with domicile in Brussels. The WCO has membership of leading producers in North and South America, South Africa, Oceania, and Japan, extending CCB's reach beyond Europe.
• CEPIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB maintains contacts and statistical exchange with CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), coordinating on technical-commercial issues such as life cycle analysis, standardisation, quality definitions, and food contact regulations.
• FEFCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB maintains ongoing coordination with FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers) on technical-commercial and policy matters relating to the corrugated industry.
• FAOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB maintains statistical exchange and contacts with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for industry data coordination.
• American Forest and Paper AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB maintains statistical exchange and coordination with AF&PA for international industry data sharing.
• Canadian Pulp and Paper AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB maintains statistical exchange and coordination with CPPA for international industry data sharing.
• National Member Associations (11 European associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCB is affiliated with 11 national associations: Austropapier (Austria), Cobelpa (Belgium), ACPP (Czech Republic), Copacel (France), Vereinigung Pack und Wellpappenpapiere (Germany), Assocarta (Italy), VNP (Netherlands), SPP (Poland), Rompap (Romania), Aspapel (Spain), Corrugated Case Materials Association (UK). These represent 120+ companies across 22 countries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries): European-level industry association for the broader paper industry. CCB maintains ongoing statistical exchange and policy coordination with CEPI on technical-commercial issues including life cycle analysis, standardisation, quality definitions, and food-contact regulation — making CEPI the closest direct peer.
• FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers): European trade association representing the downstream corrugated board manufacturers that consume CCB members' containerboard. CCB and FEFCO maintain mutual coordination on technical-commercial and policy matters relating to the corrugated value chain.
• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA): U.S. national trade association for the forest and paper products industry. CCB maintains statistical exchange and coordination with AF&PA, making it the principal transatlantic peer for industry data and standards alignment.
• Pro Carton: European association promoting cartonboard and folding cartons. Operates in a directly adjacent paperboard packaging category with comparable trade-association functions (advocacy, sustainability, communications) targeting similar downstream customers.
• Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC): North American association for paperboard packaging manufacturers. Mirrors CCB's role in representing paperboard-based packaging producers with comparable standards, advocacy, and sustainability programs.
• Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC): Canadian national industry association for forest products. CCB maintains statistical exchange with the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (a FPAC predecessor body), and FPAC represents the same producer constituency for containerboard on a country basis.

Regional players

• Japan Paper Association: Japanese national paper industry association. Comparable industry-association function but operating in a different geography; relevant as a WCO member and potential coordination counterpart for standards and statistics.
• Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA): Australian peak body for forest products manufacturers. Performs the same industry-association role as CCB in a different geography; potential peer for cross-jurisdictional statistical and policy coordination.
• Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá): Brazilian industry association representing the planted-tree products value chain, including pulp and paper. A regional equivalent that interacts with CCB through the World Containerboard Organisation.

Emerging players

• Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI): North American trade association for foodservice packaging manufacturers, including paper-based packaging producers. Adjacent category and similar association function (advocacy, recycling/sustainability), with overlap where members supply foodservice-grade containerboard.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cepi-containerboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 the european containerboard organisation