Corrugated Industry 2022 Data
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Get the latest data on the corrugated packaging industry from the Corrugated Packaging Alliance here.
• The recycling rate for old corrugated containers (OCC) was 91.4% in 2021, and the three-year average was 90.5%.
• In 2021, the corrugated industry manufactured a record 416 billion square feet of material used to make boxes, displays and other corrugated packaging. This equated to 40 billion packages that safely shipped and protected food, clothing and durable goods for delivery to millions of domestic and worldwide customers.
• There are 1,145 corrugated manufacturing facilities with approximately 100,000 employees in nearly 1,000 cities and towns throughout the U.S.
• The 2021 containerboard mill operating rate was 94.3 percent.
• The containerboard recycled fiber utilization rate was 52.1% in 2021.
• Corrugated packaging & displays is a $36 billion a year industry that is vital to U.S. distribution systems.
• The corrugated industry is constantly working to improve our environmental progress. The industry has released three life cycle assessment reports measuring and documenting the cradleto-cradle environmental impact of corrugated packaging.
• Forest products jobs create additional wealth in their communities. While employing nearly 950,000 in the industry, more than 2 million jobs are supported through the supply chain.
• Of the 39.9 million tons of containerboard produced in 2021, approximately 35.2 million tons were recycled. • 18.9 million tons were used to make new containerboard in the U.S. • 5.4 million tons were used to make other packaging products in the U.S. • 10.9 million tons were exported, primarily to Asia.
• 94% of Americans have access to community paper and paperboard recycling programs.
• More corrugated boxes are shipped with recyclable alternative coatings than are shipped using traditional wax coatings. The total waxed corrugated volume was only 2.14% of total corrugated volume produced in 2020.
• The paper and wood products industry has quantifiable sustainability goals. Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 showcases a commitment to manufacture sustainable products for a sustainable future.
• In 2021, the corrugated industry consumed 34 million tons of containerboard.
• It is estimated that 16-20% of box shipments are used in the e-commerce segment.
• The average basis weight of corrugated board shipped in 2020 was 123.4 pounds per thousand square feet.
