Top 10 Packaging Companies in the US (2023 Revenue)
If you’re not directly involved in the packaging industry, you might not think about it often, but packaging is EVERYWHERE—and it’s one of the key sectors that keeps local and global economies afloat.
The global packaging industry is a trillion dollar industry, with Smithers stating the sector was worth 1.17 trillion USD in 2023. The same study notes the industry is expected to grow to ~1.42 trillion USD by 2028, with a 3.9% CAGR during the time period.
Looking at the United States (US) alone, a Mordor Intelligence study notes that in 2023, the packaging market in the US was estimated to be worth 193.3 billion USD (~12.8% of the global market's 2022 value). The same study highlights that by 2029 the US packaging industry is expected to be worth 244.1 billion USD, a CAGR of 3.97% (2024–2029).
1. WestRock
WestRock is a corrugated packaging and services company based out of Atlanta, Georgia. This year, WestRock merged with Smurfit Kappa, a leading corrugated packaging company in the United Kingdom (UK), to form Smurfit WestRock. As this index focuses on 2023 revenues, we will highlight WestRock separately. In the US and globally, WestRock is seen as a leader in sustainable paper packaging solutions; the merger with Smurfit Kappa is set to make Smurfit WestRock one of the largest and most sustainable packaging companies in the world. WestRock was founded in 2015, meaning it has become the highest earning packaging company (2023 revenues) in the US in less than 10 years.
WestRock’s Products and Services: paperboard containers, corrugated boxes, folding cartons, POP retail structures, packaging for consumer packaged goods (food, beverage, pharmaceutical, etc.), packaging design and distribution services, printing solutions, and recycling services.
2023 Revenue: $20.3 billion USD
2. International Paper
International Paper (IP) is a paper and packaging company based out of Memphis, Tennessee. IP specializes in manufacturing specialty paper products and packaging materials. Founded in 1898, IP is home to 39,000 employees, making it the largest paper and paper packaging company in the world. Similar to WestRock, IP has its eyes on a potential merger deal. Earlier this year, the company announced an agreement to acquire DS Smith, a leading UK-based paper packaging company, in an effort to rival the impact of Smurfit WestRock—expect more news on this deal in Q4 2024.
International Paper Products and Services: corrugated boxes and packaging, retail and display packaging, paper bags, paper packaging materials, recycling solutions, packaging design services, and pulp.
2023 Revenue: $18.9 billion USD
3. Ball Corporation
The Ball Corporation is a leading aluminum packaging company based out of Westminster, Colorado specializing in beverage (cans) and personal care packaging solutions. Ball Corporation was founded in 1880 in Buffalo, New York and today employs over 16,000 people around the world. In the aluminum packaging world, Ball is seen as a sustainability leader—they are the first aluminum packaging company to adopt science-based emissions, creators of an infinitely reusable aluminum cup, and more.
Ball Corporation’s Products and Services: beverage cans, aluminum bottles, aerosol cans, personal care bottles, packaging and graphic design services, marketing services, technical services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $14 billion USD
4. Berry Global
Berry Global is a plastic product manufacturing and plastics company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1967, Berry now employs more than 46,000 people worldwide and is seen as a sustainability leader in the plastic packaging space—serving as one of the founding members of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and focusing on developing a circular economy for polymers.
Berry Global’s Products and Services: plastic trays, tubes, medical devices, lids, jars, drinking cups, containers, apparel, plastic bags, bottles and vials, product development services, manufacturing services, technical and tooling services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $12.6 billion USD
5. Crown Holdings
Crown Holdings is a leading metal (aluminum) and speciality packaging company based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Crown Holdings was founded in 1892 and specializes in food and beverage, aerosol, and transit packaging. Today, Crown Holdings employs more than 25,000 people around the world.
Crown Holdings’ Products and Services: beverage cans, beverage can tabs, and design and support services, aerosol cans, food cans, technical services, transit packaging services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $12.01 billion USD
6. Graphic Packaging
Graphic Packaging International is a US-based fiber packaging company specializing in consumer goods packaging for food and beverage, personal care, health care, and more. Graphic Packaging is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia—a neighbor of WestRock—and is one of the largest fiber-based packaging companies in the world, employing more than 24,000 people globally.
Graphic Packaging’s Products and Services: paperboard cartons, gift boxes, produce packaging, multi-pack cartons, food service packaging, trays, flexible packaging, retail food containers, materials, packaging design and engineering services, packaging machinery services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $9.4 billion USD
7. Packaging Corporation of America
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois and is one of the US leaders in corrugated packaging solutions with a suite of packaging design, engineering, and testing services. PCA serves a number of industries including eCommerce, food and beverage, produce, and more. PCA is regarded as the third largest producer of containerboard in the US and employs over 14,000 employees.
Packaging Corporation of America’s Products and Services: corrugated shipping containers, heavy duty packaging, honeycomb packaging, point of purchase displays, retail packaging displays, design and branding services, testing and optimization services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $7.8 billion USD
8. Sonoco
Sonoco is a major player in the global packaging industry, specializing in food packaging, consumer packaging, industrial packaging, healthcare packaging, and more. Sonoco is headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina and has production plants in over 80 countries—employing 23,000 people around the world.
Sonoco’s Products and Services: flexible packaging and pouches, rigid paper containers, rigid plastic packaging, metal packaging, blister packaging, tubes and cores, adhesives, speciality plastics, uncoated recycled paperboard, protective packaging, medical device and consumer healthcare packaging, graphic management services, recycling services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $7.25 billion USD
9. Sealed Air
Sealed Air is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and specializes in protective packaging, food and beverage packaging, eCommerce paper packaging, and more. Sealed Air is credited with popularizing Bubble Wrap, which was invented in 1957 and became one of the most widely known packaging materials worldwide. Sealed Air has over 17,000 employees worldwide and was founded in 1960, with Bubble Wrap serving as its signature brand.
Sealed Air’s Products and Services: bulk liners, barrier bags, lid films, plastic bottles, films, bags, pouches, inflatable pillows, paper wrapping solutions, shrink films, medical films, bagging systems, cartoning systems, design services, digital printing services, technical services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $3.4 billion USD
10. Aptar
Aptar is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois and is a leading provider of consumer dispensing packaging and healthcare packaging and products. Aptar also creates packaging solutions for the beauty, home care, and food and beverage industries. Aptar was founded in 1992 and currently employs 13,000 people around the world.
Aptar’s Products and Services: dropper and applicators, closures, lotion pumps, valves, spray pumps, medical and drug dispensing systems, blister packaging, bag-on-valve technology, beauty packaging, research and development services, manufacturing services, technical and regulatory services, and more.
2023 Revenue: $3.4 billion USD
Stay tuned for more top 10 lists related to the packaging industry and a 2024 edition when numbers are released.
Interested in learning more about the global packaging industry? Check out our suite of online microlearning courses covering all things packaging here.
