# International Paper **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/international-paper **Vertical:** Manufacturing **Subcategory:** Enterprise **Tier:** Leader **Website:** internationalpaper.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Memphis corrugated packaging and containerboard (NYSE: IP) ~$23B combined revenue; DS Smith $7.2B acquisition creates 65,000+ employee global packaging leader with $514M+ synergies competing with Smurfit WestRock. ## Company Overview International Paper Company is a Memphis, Tennessee-based global packaging and pulp company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IP) as an S&P 500 Materials component — manufacturing corrugated packaging, containerboard, and fiber-based packaging solutions for industrial and consumer goods companies through approximately 65,000 employees in 30+ countries following the completion of its $7.2 billion acquisition of DS Smith plc (UK-listed packaging company) in 2024. The DS Smith acquisition — completed through an all-share transaction in which legacy International Paper shareholders own 65.9% and former DS Smith shareholders own 34.1% of the combined company — creates a global sustainable packaging leader with combined capacity to serve customer supply chains from North America to Europe to emerging markets, with expected synergies of at least $514 million from manufacturing network optimization, procurement consolidation, and shared commercial capabilities. CEO Andy Silvernail leads the combined company's integration. International Paper's portfolio is primarily containerboard (the linerboard and medium used to manufacture corrugated shipping boxes) and corrugated packaging — the industry's largest-volume product, required by every e-commerce, retail, food and beverage, and industrial goods company to ship and protect products through supply chains. DS Smith's complementary European containerboard and corrugated operations provide geographic diversification and serve European CPG, e-commerce, and manufacturing customers that could not be reached efficiently from IP's North American manufacturing network. International Paper's containerboard and packaging model creates value through the integration of paper mills (producing containerboard from wood fiber) and corrugated converting plants (cutting, scoring, and gluing containerboard into custom corrugated boxes) that serve packaging-intensive industries: a consumer goods company shipping shampoo bottles and personal care products needs custom-dimensioned corrugated cases that meet ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) drop test standards, are made from sustainably sourced fiber (FSC-certified), incorporate print-ready graphics for retail display, and are supplied on 24-hour delivery cycles to distribution centers — requirements that vertically integrated packaging companies like International Paper, with both mill and converting operations, can fulfill more reliably than multi-tier supply chains. The containerboard price cycle (linerboard and medium prices fluctuate with North American containerboard supply-demand balance, driven by capacity additions and demand from e-commerce) creates earnings volatility that IP manages through vertical integration and long-term contract structures. In 2025, International Paper competes in containerboard and corrugated packaging against Smurfit WestRock (NYSE: SW, formed from WestRock-Smurfit Kappa merger, $34B+ combined revenue), Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG, $8.4B revenue), and Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE, $5.5B revenue, specialty protective packaging) for corrugated packaging supply agreements, containerboard mill capacity utilization, and sustainability-certified packaging specifications. The DS Smith acquisition creates the global scale to serve multinational consumer goods companies (Unilever, P&G, Nestlé) with consistent packaging solutions across North American and European supply chains — a strategic capability that Smurfit WestRock's own transatlantic merger targets. The $514 million+ synergy program (mill rationalization, procurement scale, selling overhead reduction) provides the financial justification for the premium paid for DS Smith. The 2025 strategy focuses on DS Smith integration execution, synergy delivery timeline, and containerboard pricing management in both North American and European markets. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does International Paper do? International Paper is a leading global manufacturer of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products. The company produces containerboard, corrugated packaging, and recycling solutions serving customers in more than 30 countries. Following the 2025 DS Smith acquisition and cellulose fibers divestiture, International Paper operates as a pure-play packaging company focused on sustainable corrugated solutions. ### Who are International Paper's customers and target markets? International Paper serves diverse industries including food and beverage manufacturers, e-commerce companies, consumer packaged goods producers, industrial manufacturers, and retail businesses. Customers range from small regional companies to Fortune 500 corporations requiring sustainable packaging solutions for product protection, shipping, and branding. ### When was International Paper founded? International Paper was incorporated on January 31, 1898, through the merger of 17 pulp and paper mills in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The company was founded by William Augustus Russell and Hugh J. Chisholm, with Chisholm leading the company to become the first in the industry to establish an industrial laboratory. ### Where is International Paper headquartered and located? International Paper is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with a European headquarters established in London following the DS Smith acquisition. The combined company employs over 65,000 people with operations spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, and North Africa across 30+ countries worldwide. ### What is International Paper's revenue and market position? International Paper reported annual revenue of $18.6 billion in 2024 with approximately 37,000 employees. Following the January 2025 DS Smith acquisition, trailing twelve-month revenue reached $21.9 billion (18% increase year-over-year). The company is the largest containerboard producer in North America and second-largest in Europe. ### What makes International Paper different from competitors? International Paper differentiates through 126 years of industry leadership, comprehensive geographic reach across three continents, scale as the largest North American containerboard producer, and unwavering commitment to sustainability with 19 consecutive recognitions as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. The DS Smith acquisition created expected synergies of $514 million and enhanced European market presence. ### Who are International Paper's main competitors? International Paper competes with WestRock, Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Kappa, and Mondi in containerboard and corrugated packaging markets. Following the DS Smith acquisition, the company strengthened competitive position in Europe while maintaining North American leadership against regional and multinational packaging producers. ### What major acquisitions has International Paper completed? Key acquisitions include Union Camp Corporation (1999), Champion International (2000), Temple-Inland ($4.5 billion, 2012), and most recently DS Smith ($7.2 billion, 2025)—the largest transaction in company history. The company also completed the strategic spin-off of printing papers business Sylvamo in October 2021 and divested cellulose fibers to American Industrial Partners for $1.5 billion in 2025. ### How many employees does International Paper have? International Paper employed 37,000 people as of December 31, 2024, representing a 5.13% decrease from 39,000 in 2023. Following the completion of the DS Smith acquisition in January 2025, the combined company employs more than 65,000 team members globally across manufacturing, commercial, and corporate functions. ### Is International Paper hiring? Yes, International Paper regularly hires across manufacturing operations, engineering, sales, supply chain, sustainability, and corporate functions. Career opportunities can be found at www.internationalpaper.com/careers, with positions available across North America, Europe, Latin America, and other global locations. ### What's the latest news about International Paper? Recent developments include completing the $7.2 billion DS Smith acquisition on January 31, 2025, creating a global packaging leader with 65,000+ employees; announcing the $1.5 billion sale of the cellulose fibers business to American Industrial Partners; reporting 2024 revenue of $18.6 billion; and Andy Silvernail assuming CEO and Chairman roles. The company expects at least $514 million in synergies from the DS Smith combination. ### What are International Paper's future plans and strategic priorities? International Paper's strategy focuses on maximizing value from the DS Smith integration with $514 million+ in expected synergies, advancing Vision 2030 sustainability targets, investing in high-growth packaging markets driven by e-commerce and sustainability trends, optimizing the global manufacturing footprint, and maintaining leadership in renewable fiber-based packaging innovation. The cellulose fibers divestiture positions the company as a pure-play packaging enterprise. ## Tags b2b, manufacturing, public, global, enterprise --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*