Sonoco to close facilities in Washington and Tennessee, affecting 117 workers

The decisions will shutter an uncoated paperboard mill, part of Sonoco’s “ongoing strategy to optimize our mill network and lower operating costs,” as well as an ends and closures facility.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal • Feb. 5, 2024

Packaging manufacturers’ sales results in 2023

See how major packaging companies, including Ardagh, Ball, Crown, O-I Glass, Sonoco, Smurfit Kappa and others, closed out the year, with more earnings reports to come.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated March 1, 2024

Ball looks to put Bud Light disruption behind it in 2024

The company is also focused on optimizing its production capacity, as well as opportunities following the pending sale of its aerospace business, which will make it a pure-play aluminum packaging company.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 2, 2024

Stora Enso to lay off up to 1,000 employees under profit improvement program

The company is launching the plan following “a historical low fourth quarter in 2023” and dim hopes for significant recovery in Q1. It recently completed a previous restructuring effort that resulted in 1,150 layoffs.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 1, 2024

Smurfit Kappa-WestRock deal timing slightly delayed

WestRock shared the update on the pending transaction in its fiscal Q1 financial release. During the quarter, paperboard market demand decreased, but external containerboard shipments grew, the company said.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 1, 2024

International Paper prioritizes ‘value over volume’ in profitability strategy

Executives on an earnings call discussed new price increases and expectations for improved demand over 2023's challenging environment.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 1, 2024

Lingering destocking trends affect Silgan sales, but CEO projects 2024 recovery

CEO Adam Greenlee also said during a Wednesday earnings call that consolidation of five manufacturing facilities will support a $50 million cost savings plan, 40% of which will be realized by the end of this year.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 1, 2024

Graphic Packaging, WestRock, Crown announced layoffs in January

More than 700 jobs are expected to be impacted following multiple closure announcements this month, with North Carolina workers particularly affected.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 31, 2024

Sonoco to divest protective solutions packaging business

The company says the cash sale to an alternative asset management firm is part of its “portfolio optimization strategy.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 30, 2024

Increasing demand buoys PCA’s earnings, but pricing questions distract from progress

Packaging Corp. of America experienced demand that was “stronger than our expectations” in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to CEO Mark Kowlzan, which could signal longer-term recovery.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 25, 2024

The packaging industry outlook for 2024

Packaging Dive takes a closer look at what’s in store for policymaking, producer responsibility, plastics and more.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Jan. 23, 2024

Will fiber price hikes stick in 2024? Early signs are questionable.

Fiber packaging companies including Greif, Sonoco and WestRock announced price increases, largely citing higher production costs. But multiple observers believe the hikes are ill-timed and could be reversed.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 23, 2024

Graphic Packaging discloses closures and layoffs in Michigan, Massachusetts

The packaging company also said this month it will close a converting facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 18, 2024

WestRock to close plants in Seattle and North Carolina, affecting more than 240 jobs

Production volumes from the Seattle box plant and North Carolina healthcare packaging plant will shift to other WestRock facilities. Laid-off employees can apply for open positions at other locations.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 18, 2024

Graphic Packaging to close paperboard converting facility, affecting 112 jobs

A Graphic Packaging International spokesperson provided details about the company’s decision to consolidate production at the Charlotte, North Carolina, plant into the company’s “broader network of plants.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 17, 2024

Sustana rebrand unifies distinct fiber businesses

The rebrand lets the company “talk about the whole story,” from material sourcing to recycling, including efforts like its paper cup recycling pilot program with Starbucks.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 17, 2024

2023: A year of packaging leadership changes

International Paper, Berry Global, DS Smith, Stora Enso, SEE and Billerud all announced changes for key leadership roles.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Dec. 26, 2023

2023 packaging trends by the numbers

These are some of the stats that defined policymaking, e-commerce, sustainability, dealmaking and more for the packaging industry across varied substrates and markets.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

2023 saw thousands of packaging layoffs amid manufacturing shutdowns

Packaging Dive tracked at least 9,000 packaging-related jobs affected by manufacturing closures and layoffs this year, according to state notices, company disclosures and local news reports.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Dec. 21, 2023

Destocking, a pandemic hangover, lingered in 2023

Inventory imbalances persisted, affecting results at many of the packaging industry’s biggest companies quarter after quarter.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 20, 2023

After an uneven year, could packaging M&A be picking up speed?

The sector saw blockbuster transactions such as Smurfit Kappa’s pending acquisition of WestRock alongside smaller private equity deals. Experts from Deloitte, Truist and Triad Securities weigh in on what it all means.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 18, 2023

Greif details M&A strategy amid ongoing economic headwinds

Greif executives discussed an “extremely weak industrial sector,” downtime at paper mills and other challenges after ending the fiscal year with a nearly 18% decline in total sales. The company is optimistic about growth from acquisitions.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 8, 2023

DS Smith CEO of 13 years to retire

Miles Roberts' plan to depart follows packaging CEO transition announcements this year at multiple companies. The British paper packaging company also touted six-month results in a “challenging environment.”

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 7, 2023

Ardagh, Silgan closures add to November packaging layoff announcements

Hundreds more impending layoffs were announced this week. Ball, Hood, TC Transcontinental and others in packaging manufacturing also provided updates this month on closures and disruptions.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 30, 2023

Origin Materials laying off 30% of workforce, prioritizing ‘revenue-generating projects’

Approximately 60 positions will be affected as part of the company’s cost-cutting measures. Origin Materials aims to achieve positive earnings via the realignment.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 21, 2023