U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market – By Product Type , By Flute Type , By Printing Technology , By Packaging Design , By Grammage , By Application , By End Use Industry - Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast, 2025-2031

U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market Overview:

The U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market size is estimated to reach $39 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period 2025-2031. The U.S. corrugated cardboard market is driven by the expansion of e commerce. Corrugated cardboard is a great choice as it offers recyclable and biodegradable nature and meets the rising environmental concerns. Customization and branding continue to drive the market as businesses seek adaptable packaging to enhance consumer engagement. In the processed food industry, corrugated cardboard remains essential for ensuring secure storage and efficient transportation. Furthermore, the growth is propelled by advances in digital printing and smart packaging technologies that provide better tracking, tracing and external consumer interaction.

The U.S. corrugated cardboard market is being reshaped by Fit-to-Product (FtP) technology and advances in digital printing that are driving efficiency and sustainability. FtP technology, exemplified by Amazon's AI-powered Package Decision Engine, optimizes packaging by selecting precise sizes and protective options tailored to each product. It minimizes material use, such as, cardboard and tape and increases product safety and reduces waste. This model operates on AWS, utilizing advanced AI capabilities to dynamically adapt to Amazon’s ever changing product catalog, establishing a best practice for sustainable packaging. Moreover, advanced digital printing technologies like HP’s Indigo digital presses are revolutionizing the packaging industry. These presses, have unparalleled versatility, automation, and productivity to help solve labor shortages and material scarcity. HP’s ability to combine high quality output with eco-friendly processes allows businesses to grow sustainably, and how FtP and digital printing trends are key in changing the corrugated cardboard industry. 

Market Snapshot:

U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market - Report Coverage:

The “U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market Report - Forecast (2025-2031)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market.

Key Takeaways:

Shipping and Transportation is the Largest Segment

The U.S. corrugated cardboard market by application is dominated by the Shipping and Transportation sector as the demand for robust and efficient packaging solutions continues to increase. The trend is illustrated by data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which shows that the total weight of shipments increased by 2.1% to 20,240 million tons in 2023 from 19,828 million tons in 2022. The bulk of the market is domestic shipments, which grew by 2.6% from 17,415 million tons to 17,867 million tons, during the same period. High demand is also sustained by international trade, with export shipments still exceeding 1,200 million tons and imports still around 1,150 million tons per year. The steady growth of the market is a result of the important role played by corrugated cardboard in protecting goods in various supply chains due to its lightweight, durable, and recyclable nature, which is in line with the shipping industry’s needs. For this reason, corrugated cardboard is still an indispensable packaging solution for this growing sector.

Single-Wall is the Largest Segment

The U.S. corrugated cardboard market, by product type, is dominated by the single wall corrugated boxes because of their wide usage across the shipping and e commerce sectors. According to Express Packaging, these boxes are highly preferred because of their cost effectiveness, which makes them an economical choice for packaging needs. Single wall corrugated cardboard have single layer of fluting between two liners and are designed to be rigid and cushioning to protect items being shipped. With this combination, goods are always kept safe from being damaged when shipping. Because of their versatility and affordability, they are a mainstay in industries that need a dependable, budget friendly packaging solution. Moreover, the rising demand of e-commerce has increased demand for single wall boxes due to frequent shipping and delivery, which requires businesses to source convenient packaging. Together, these factors make them the top segment in the U.S. corrugated cardboard market.

E-Commerce is the Largest Segment

The growing e-commerce industry is the largest end use industry in the U.S. corrugated cardboard market owing to the increasing demand for robust and eco-friendly packaging solutions. As online shopping increases, businesses are focusing on delivering goods to consumers with secure and ecofriendly materials. Lightweight and protective, corrugated cardboard is the packaging of choice for many e-commerce companies. The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for Q3 2024 was $300.1 billion, an increase of 2.6% from Q2 2024. As a result of this remarkable expansion, corrugated packaging is playing an increasingly important role in protecting product during transit and aligning with the sustainability goals of both businesses and consumers. With more dependence on efficient packaging solutions the corrugated cardboard market is expected to grow further.

Sustainability to Boost the Market

Growing regulatory pressures and consumer preference for eco-friendly packaging are the major driving factors in the U.S. corrugated cardboard market. For example, California’s Senate Bill 54 (SB 54) sets stringent packaging material requirements. Unprecedented mandates to reduce packaging weight and plastic content by 25% are to be implemented, and by 2032 non-recyclable or non-compostable packaging will be banned. Such regulations make it a good environment for corrugated cardboard which is inherently sustainable. As per the Fiber Box Association, corrugated cardboard is the most recycled packaging material in the U.S. with an average corrugated box containing 52% recycled content. Corrugated cardboard has a high recyclability in line with legislative goals and consumer demand for environmentally responsible products making it an important solution for sustainable packaging. As a result, these factors help improve the market growth because manufacturers and companies have started to consider adhering to environmental standards and a circular economy.

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Key Market Players: 

Product/Service launches, approvals, patents and events, acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations are key strategies adopted by players in the U.S Corrugated Cardboard Market. The top 10 companies in this industry are listed below:

1. International Paper
2. WestRock Company
3. Packaging Corporation of America (PCA)
4. Georgia-Pacific LLC
5. Pratt Industries
6. Smurfit Kappa Group
7. Acme Corrugated Box Co., Inc.
8. Graphic Packaging International
9. Menasha Packaging Company
10. Greif, Inc.

Scope of the Report: 

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