IP Eyes Salt Lake City to Build New Sustainable Packaging Facility

Core Insights - International Paper (IP) is planning to develop a new sustainable packaging facility in Salt Lake City, UT, as part of its strategy to expand its manufacturing footprint in the U.S. [1][9] - The new facility will utilize advanced technology to provide innovative and sustainable packaging solutions to customers in the western U.S. [2][9] - IP has recently initiated construction on a state-of-the-art sustainable packaging plant in Waterloo, IA, which is expected to be a key component of its North American operations [3][4] Facility Developments - The Waterloo plant is set to be the largest greenfield box plant for IP and will primarily serve the protein segment, focusing on high-quality sustainable packaging [4] - Operations at the Waterloo facility are anticipated to commence in late 2026 [4] Market Positioning - Following the acquisition of DS Smith in January 2025, IP has positioned itself as a global leader in sustainable packaging, enhancing its portfolio and geographic presence [5] - The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for North America is approximately $50 billion, while EMEA's TAM is around$40 billion, both with a long-term growth rate of 3-4% [6] Growth Drivers - IP aims to exceed market growth by leveraging trends such as the rise of e-commerce, increasing demand for sustainable packaging, and the transition from plastic to paper-based alternatives [7] - There is a growing need for cost-effective and reliable fresh food packaging, as well as innovative retail-ready packaging solutions, which are expected to support long-term growth [7] Stock Performance - Over the past year, IP's stock has declined by 12.1%, compared to a 10.8% decline in the industry [8]