# Packaging Corporation of America **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/packaging-corporation-of-america **Vertical:** Manufacturing **Subcategory:** Enterprise **Tier:** Leader **Website:** packagingcorp.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Third-largest US containerboard/corrugated producer; $8.1B FY2024 revenue; 96%+ mill utilization; e-commerce packaging tailwind; NYSE: PKG amid industry mega-merger reshaping. ## Company Overview Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is the third-largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States, founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company trades on NYSE (PKG) and generated approximately $8.1 billion in net sales for FY2024, operating nine paper mills and 94 corrugated products manufacturing plants across North America. PCA produces containerboard—linerboard and medium—that it converts into corrugated boxes and displays serving e-commerce, food and beverage, retail, and industrial customers. CEO Mark Kowlzan, who has led the company since 2010, has emphasized operational excellence and vertical integration as core strategic pillars. PCA's vertically integrated model—owning both mills and box plants—provides cost control and supply security that pure converters cannot match. The company's mill system runs at over 96% utilization, one of the highest in the industry, reflecting operational discipline and tight capacity management. Unlike commodity producers, PCA focuses on value-added corrugated solutions including high-graphics printing, specialty coatings, and custom structural designs that command premium pricing. E-commerce growth remains a secular tailwind: Amazon, Walmart, and DTC brands require substantially more corrugated packaging per dollar of retail sales than brick-and-mortar channels. In 2025-2026, PCA competes in an industry reshaped by the Smurfit Kappa–WestRock merger (completed 2024, creating Smurfit WestRock) and International Paper's (IP) 2024 acquisition of DS Smith. These mega-mergers created two global packaging giants, leaving PCA as a predominantly North American pure-play with a premium positioning. Containerboard pricing cycles heavily with macroeconomic conditions, and the 2023-2024 period saw destocking pressure followed by pricing recovery. PCA's conservative balance sheet and strong free cash flow generation support regular dividend growth and opportunistic capital deployment, including its 2024 purchase of a Jackson, Alabama mill from IP. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does Packaging Corporation of America do? Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States. The company produces containerboard and corrugated packaging products for diverse industries including food, beverages, industrial products, and consumer goods. PCA manufactures over 4.5 million tons of containerboard annually and operates corrugated products plants, sheet feeder facilities, and containerboard mills across the United States. ### Who are PCA's customers and target market? PCA serves a wide range of customers across multiple industries including food and beverage companies, manufacturers of industrial and consumer products, processed food producers, fresh fruit and vegetable distributors, and packaged meat companies. The company differentiates itself by focusing on smaller customers while maintaining operational flexibility, serving businesses that need reliable, high-quality corrugated packaging solutions to transport and protect their manufactured goods and products. ### When was Packaging Corporation of America founded? PCA was founded in 1959 through the merger of three established packaging companies: Central Fiber Products Company, American Box Board Company, and Ohio Boxboard Company. However, the company's heritage extends back to 1867 when Henry Weis founded the North Star Mill in Quincy, Illinois. PCA went public in 1961, was acquired by Tenneco in 1965, and returned to the public markets in January 2000 when it listed on the NYSE under ticker symbol PKG. ### Where is Packaging Corporation of America based? PCA's corporate headquarters are located in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb approximately 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. The company operates containerboard mills, corrugated products plants, and sheet feeder facilities across the United States. Following the 2025 acquisition of Greif's containerboard business, PCA expanded its footprint with two additional containerboard mills and eight sheet feeder and corrugated plants located throughout the country. ### How much funding has Packaging Corporation of America raised? As a publicly traded company since 2000 (NYSE: PKG), PCA does not raise venture capital funding. The company generates capital through equity markets, debt financing, and operational cash flow. In 2025, PCA completed its largest acquisition to date, purchasing Greif's containerboard business for $1.8 billion in cash, which significantly expanded the company's manufacturing capacity and market presence. This acquisition is expected to generate approximately $60 million in pre-tax synergies within two years. ### What makes Packaging Corporation of America different from competitors? PCA differentiates itself through its focus on smaller customers and operational flexibility, holding approximately 10% of the domestic containerboard market as the third-largest manufacturer in the United States. The company's simple rule—'We do the hard to do. We do what's right for our customers, not what's easy'—reflects its commitment to customer service. PCA's strong operational performance is demonstrated by record-setting shipment volumes and production in 2024, combined with ambitious sustainability initiatives including carbon capture technology and net-zero emissions targets by 2050. ### Who are Packaging Corporation of America's main competitors? PCA's main competitors include International Paper Company (the largest pulp and paper company globally with $18.62 billion in 2024 revenue), WestRock Company, Smurfit Kappa Group, and Georgia-Pacific LLC. Other significant competitors include Crown Holdings, Amcor, Berry Global, and Sonoco. PCA ranks as the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States with $8.4 billion in 2024 sales. ### How can I contact Packaging Corporation of America? PCA can be contacted through its corporate website at www.packagingcorp.com, which provides contact information for the corporate office in Lake Forest, Illinois, investor relations, and customer service. For investor inquiries, visit ir.packagingcorp.com. For product and sales inquiries, customers can reach out through the website's contact forms or speak with local sales representatives at PCA's corrugated products plants and facilities across the United States. ### Is Packaging Corporation of America hiring? Yes, PCA actively recruits talent across its operations, with approximately 14,900 employees including 4,300 salaried and 10,600 hourly workers as of December 31, 2023. The company offers competitive benefits including health and wellness programs, insurance, 401K retirement plans, and flexible working conditions. Following the 2025 Greif acquisition, PCA expanded its workforce to support additional manufacturing facilities. Career opportunities can be explored through the company's website. ### What's the latest news about Packaging Corporation of America? PCA completed the $1.8 billion acquisition of Greif's containerboard business in September 2025, adding two containerboard mills with 800,000 tons of capacity and eight plants. The company achieved record operational performance in 2024 with revenues of $8.4 billion and all-time record shipments per day. PCA is advancing carbon capture and storage technology following a successful pilot project, with plans for the first operational facility by 2028. The company also announced leadership changes in 2025 with Thomas Hassfurther appointed President and Kent Pflederer becoming CFO. ### What is PCA's market position? PCA holds a strong position as the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States, with approximately 10% of the domestic containerboard market. The company produces over 4.5 million tons of containerboard annually and has a market capitalization of approximately $17 billion. With 2024 revenues of $8.4 billion and record production and shipment volumes, PCA maintains a significant market presence, though it is smaller than industry leader International Paper ($18.62 billion in 2024 revenue). ### What are Packaging Corporation of America's future plans? PCA's future strategy focuses on integrating the 2025 Greif acquisition to achieve $60 million in pre-tax synergies within two years, expanding carbon capture and storage technology with plans for the first operational facility by 2028 and multiple sites by 2040, and achieving ambitious sustainability targets including 35% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The company aims to capture and permanently store 1.75 million metric tons of biogenic CO2 per year by 2040 while maintaining operational excellence and customer service leadership in the corrugated packaging industry. ## Tags b2b, manufacturing, public, global, enterprise --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*