Old Corrugated Container Market Size & CAGR: 4.9%

Old Corrugated Container Market Size, Share & Volume

The old corrugated container market size to rise from USD 49.52 bn in 2025 to USD 76.16 bn by 2034. Asia Pacific led the market with the largest share in 2023 while North America is observed to be the fastest growing region over the forecast period.

Executive Summary

  • Market Overview
  • Key Market Trends
  • Market Forecast and Growth Opportunities

Market Introduction

  • Definition of Old Corrugated Container (OCC)
  • Historical Overview and Development of the OCC Market
  • Key Benefits of OCC Recycling
  • Market Dynamics

Old Corrugated Container Market Segmentation

By Grade

  • OCC 11
  • OCC 12
  • WX-OCC

By Source

  • Retail
  • Household
  • Manufacturing Facilities

By End-use

  • Food & Beverage
  • Personal Care & Home Care
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Electrical & Electronics
  • Healthcare
  • Chemical & Fertilizer
  • Others
    • Agriculture
    • Automotive

By Region

  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Denmark
    • Norway
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • South Africa
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait

Competitive Landscape

  • Key Companies Overview
    • Smurfit Kappa Group
    • Kruger Inc.
    • International Paper
    • WestRock Company
    • DS Smith Plc
    • Sonoco Products Company
    • Cleanaway Waste Management Limited
    • Royal Oak Recycling
    • RecycleMax
    • Gabriel Container Co.
    • Green Recycling Ltd.
    • Allan Company
    • Miller Recycling Corporation
    • Berg Mill Supply Co.
    • Continental Paper Grading Limited
    • ALSECO S.r.l

Company Profiles

  • Overview of Operations
  • Key Products and Services
  • Revenue and Market Share Analysis
  • Key Strategic Initiatives

Market Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

  • Drivers
    • Increase in Global Packaging Demand
    • Rising Environmental Concerns and Sustainability
    • Government Initiatives on Recycling
  • Restraints
    • Availability of Alternative Packaging Materials
    • Challenges in the Recycling Process
  • Opportunities
    • Emerging Markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America
    • Technological Advancements in Recycling
    • Growth in E-commerce and Retail Packaging

Market Trends and Developments

  • Advancements in Recycling Technology
  • Sustainable Packaging Solutions
  • Circular Economy in Packaging
  • Industry Collaborations and Partnerships
  • Growing Consumer Awareness on Eco-friendly Packaging

Regional Market Analysis

  • Asia Pacific Market Overview
    • Market Size and Growth Forecast
    • Key Players and Trends
  • North America Market Overview
    • Market Size and Growth Forecast
    • Key Players and Trends
  • Europe Market Overview
    • Market Size and Growth Forecast
    • Key Players and Trends
  • Latin America Market Overview
    • Market Size and Growth Forecast
    • Key Players and Trends
  • Middle East and Africa Market Overview
    • Market Size and Growth Forecast
    • Key Players and Trends

Market Dynamics and Impact Analysis

  • Environmental Impact of OCC Recycling
  • Impact of Global Supply Chain Disruptions
  • Regulatory and Policy Impact on the OCC Market
  • Impact of COVID-19 on the OCC Market

Cross Segments Analysis

Grade x Source

  • OCC 11 x Retail
  • OCC 11 x Household
  • OCC 11 x Manufacturing Facilities
  • OCC 12 x Retail
  • OCC 12 x Household
  • OCC 12 x Manufacturing Facilities
  • WX-OCC x Retail
  • WX-OCC x Household
  • WX-OCC x Manufacturing Facilities

Grade x End-use

  • OCC 11 x Food & Beverage
  • OCC 11 x Personal Care & Home Care
  • OCC 11 x Logistics & Transportation
  • OCC 11 x Electrical & Electronics
  • OCC 11 x Healthcare
  • OCC 11 x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • OCC 11 x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)
  • OCC 12 x Food & Beverage
  • OCC 12 x Personal Care & Home Care
  • OCC 12 x Logistics & Transportation
  • OCC 12 x Electrical & Electronics
  • OCC 12 x Healthcare
  • OCC 12 x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • OCC 12 x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)
  • WX-OCC x Food & Beverage
  • WX-OCC x Personal Care & Home Care
  • WX-OCC x Logistics & Transportation
  • WX-OCC x Electrical & Electronics
  • WX-OCC x Healthcare
  • WX-OCC x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • WX-OCC x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)

Grade x Region

  • OCC 11 x Asia Pacific
  • OCC 11 x North America
  • OCC 11 x Europe
  • OCC 11 x Latin America
  • OCC 11 x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • OCC 12 x Asia Pacific
  • OCC 12 x North America
  • OCC 12 x Europe
  • OCC 12 x Latin America
  • OCC 12 x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • WX-OCC x Asia Pacific
  • WX-OCC x North America
  • WX-OCC x Europe
  • WX-OCC x Latin America
  • WX-OCC x Middle East and Africa (MEA)

Source x End-use

  • Retail x Food & Beverage
  • Retail x Personal Care & Home Care
  • Retail x Logistics & Transportation
  • Retail x Electrical & Electronics
  • Retail x Healthcare
  • Retail x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • Retail x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)
  • Household x Food & Beverage
  • Household x Personal Care & Home Care
  • Household x Logistics & Transportation
  • Household x Electrical & Electronics
  • Household x Healthcare
  • Household x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • Household x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Food & Beverage
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Personal Care & Home Care
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Logistics & Transportation
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Electrical & Electronics
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Healthcare
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Chemical & Fertilizer
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Others (Agriculture, Automotive)

Source x Region

  • Retail x Asia Pacific
  • Retail x North America
  • Retail x Europe
  • Retail x Latin America
  • Retail x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Household x Asia Pacific
  • Household x North America
  • Household x Europe
  • Household x Latin America
  • Household x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Asia Pacific
  • Manufacturing Facilities x North America
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Europe
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Latin America
  • Manufacturing Facilities x Middle East and Africa (MEA)

End-use x Region

  • Food & Beverage x Asia Pacific
  • Food & Beverage x North America
  • Food & Beverage x Europe
  • Food & Beverage x Latin America
  • Food & Beverage x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Personal Care & Home Care x Asia Pacific
  • Personal Care & Home Care x North America
  • Personal Care & Home Care x Europe
  • Personal Care & Home Care x Latin America
  • Personal Care & Home Care x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Logistics & Transportation x Asia Pacific
  • Logistics & Transportation x North America
  • Logistics & Transportation x Europe
  • Logistics & Transportation x Latin America
  • Logistics & Transportation x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Electrical & Electronics x Asia Pacific
  • Electrical & Electronics x North America
  • Electrical & Electronics x Europe
  • Electrical & Electronics x Latin America
  • Electrical & Electronics x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Healthcare x Asia Pacific
  • Healthcare x North America
  • Healthcare x Europe
  • Healthcare x Latin America
  • Healthcare x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Chemical & Fertilizer x Asia Pacific
  • Chemical & Fertilizer x North America
  • Chemical & Fertilizer x Europe
  • Chemical & Fertilizer x Latin America
  • Chemical & Fertilizer x Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Others (Agriculture, Automotive) x Asia Pacific
  • Others (Agriculture, Automotive) x North America
  • Others (Agriculture, Automotive) x Europe
  • Others (Agriculture, Automotive) x Latin America
  • Others (Agriculture, Automotive) x Middle East and Africa (MEA)

Go-to-Market Strategies (Region Selection)

  • Europe
    • Regulatory framework for OCC recycling
    • Market entry barriers and opportunities
    • Distribution channels and partnerships
  • Asia Pacific
    • Dominant players and market share
    • Government incentives for OCC recycling
    • Consumer preferences and behavior
  • North America
    • Industry trends and consumer demand
    • Impact of e-commerce on OCC demand
    • Sustainability initiatives and packaging innovations
  • Latin America
    • Recycling infrastructure and policies
    • Economic challenges and opportunities
    • Trade relationships with North America
  • Middle East
    • Import/export regulations and trends
    • Packaging demand in emerging markets
    • Government support for recycling and sustainability

Import & Export Analysis

  • Global flow of OCC materials
  • Key importing/exporting countries
  • Trends in OCC pricing and demand
  • Regional trade balances for OCC

Country-Specific Trade Data

  • U.S. OCC export/import statistics
  • China’s demand for OCC materials
  • European Union’s OCC trade data
  • Trade regulations in India and South America
  • Key export destinations for OCC from Japan

Tariffs and Trade Barriers

  • Import/export tariffs on OCC
  • Non-tariff barriers affecting OCC trade
  • Compliance with international regulations
  • Impact of trade wars (e.g., U.S.-China) on OCC market

Regional Trade Agreements

  • EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement and its impact on OCC
  • USMCA and the OCC trade flows
  • APAC Free Trade Agreements and OCC influence
  • Middle Eastern trade agreements affecting OCC exports

Packaging Material Demand & Supply Analysis

  • Global supply and demand for OCC
  • Regional analysis of supply chains for OCC
  • Role of recyclers and paper mills in the supply chain
  • Key factors driving demand (e.g., e-commerce, sustainability)

Demand-Supply Gap Analysis

  • Key regions with supply-demand imbalances
  • Impact of fluctuations in OCC pricing
  • The role of secondary markets in addressing gaps

Material Shortages

  • Impact of raw material shortages on OCC supply
  • Challenges faced by manufacturers due to material constraints
  • Forecasted shortages due to environmental or economic factors

Supply Chain & Logistics Data

  • Key logistics hubs for OCC globally
  • Supply chain optimization for OCC transport
  • Transportation costs and their impact on OCC pricing
  • Import/export lead times for OCC

Packaging Logistics for E-Commerce

  • OCC’s role in e-commerce packaging
  • Growing demand for corrugated packaging in last-mile delivery
  • Cost-effective and sustainable logistics solutions
  • Trends in packaging efficiency for e-commerce

Advanced Packaging Logistics & Distribution Solutions

  • Smart logistics and tracking technologies
  • Automation in corrugated packaging distribution
  • RFID and IoT integration in the OCC supply chain
  • Collaboration between logistics and OCC manufacturers

Packaging Demand in Emerging Industries

  • Growth of OCC demand in the food & beverage sector
  • Impact of subscription services on OCC packaging
  • Use of OCC in pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging
  • Emerging demand from the automotive and electronics sectors

Packaging Demand by End-Use Industry

  • OCC demand in the retail and consumer goods sector
  • E-commerce and its increasing reliance on corrugated packaging
  • Packaging for the agricultural and food industries
  • Growth in the pharmaceutical packaging sector

Growth Potential in New Packaging Areas

  • Increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions
  • Innovation in corrugated packaging materials
  • Adoption of digital printing on OCC
  • OCC in the expanding direct-to-consumer market

Sustainability & Circular Economy Data

  • Role of OCC in the circular economy
  • Recycling rates for corrugated packaging materials
  • Innovations to improve sustainability in OCC production
  • Circular business models utilizing OCC

Recycling Rates and Technologies

  • Global and regional OCC recycling rates
  • Advances in OCC recycling technologies
  • Challenges in recycling mixed or contaminated OCC
  • Initiatives for improving OCC recycling efficiency

Global Packaging Standards & Compliance

  • International standards for OCC packaging
  • Compliance with regional environmental regulations
  • Packaging design regulations in North America and Europe
  • Certification standards for sustainable OCC

Plastic Packaging Bans & Restrictions

  • Impact of plastic bans on the demand for corrugated packaging
  • How OCC benefits from increasing plastic packaging restrictions
  • Policy shifts promoting eco-friendly materials like OCC

Advanced Packaging Technologies & Innovations

  • Smart packaging solutions using OCC
  • Use of AI and automation in OCC production
  • New manufacturing techniques in corrugated packaging
  • Integration of nanotechnology in OCC

Packaging in E-Commerce & Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Models

  • Growing role of OCC in DTC packaging strategies
  • Packaging optimization for minimizing returns
  • Sustainable packaging for e-commerce growth
  • Role of OCC in e-commerce logistics and reverse logistics

Collaborative Partnerships for Innovation

  • Partnerships between corrugated packaging companies and e-commerce players
  • Collaborative innovation in packaging for sustainability
  • Joint ventures in the development of recyclable packaging solutions
  • Alliances between technology firms and OCC manufacturers

Integration of AI in OCC

  • AI in demand forecasting for OCC
  • Smart inventory management for corrugated packaging
  • AI-powered design tools for optimized packaging solutions
  • Predictive analytics for improving efficiency in OCC production

Smart Tracking and Inventory Management

  • RFID and IoT in OCC packaging logistics
  • Real-time inventory tracking for OCC producers
  • Automation and smart systems for managing OCC stock
  • Enhanced tracking for e-commerce packaging

Cost Savings and Waste Reduction

  • Reducing excess material in OCC production
  • Energy-efficient manufacturing practices for corrugated boxes
  • Techniques for minimizing waste during transportation
  • Cost-benefit analysis of sustainable packaging initiatives

Production and Consumption Data

  • Global production volumes of OCC
  • Regional differences in production and consumption
  • Key production centers for corrugated packaging
  • Consumption trends in the U.S., Europe, and Asia

Opportunity Assessment

  • New growth areas for OCC in emerging industries
  • Opportunities in underdeveloped regions
  • Consumer trends driving OCC demand
  • Market penetration strategies for OCC manufacturers

New Product Development

  • Innovations in OCC for improved durability and strength
  • Developing eco-friendly and recyclable packaging options
  • Smart packaging concepts for the OCC market
  • Incorporating biodegradable or compostable materials

Cross-border Intelligence

  • Market intelligence on OCC trade across borders
  • Key competitors and their strategies in cross-border trade
  • Comparative analysis of OCC trade in major markets
  • Opportunities for international collaboration and trade partnerships

Business Model Innovation

  • New business models for OCC recycling and distribution
  • Subscription-based services for OCC packaging solutions
  • B2B and B2C models for the sale and distribution of OCC
  • Direct-to-consumer sales models for sustainable packaging

Blue Ocean vs. Red Ocean Strategies

  • Blue Ocean opportunities in OCC for packaging innovations
  • Competing in the Red Ocean: Key players and market share
  • Niche market strategies for small and medium-sized OCC firms
  • Differentiation through sustainable and smart packaging

Case Studies and Examples

  • Case study of successful OCC adoption in the retail industry
  • Innovation in OCC packaging for e-commerce companies
  • Example of a partnership between OCC manufacturers and logistics firms
  • Sustainable OCC solutions implemented by leading brands

Future Prospects and Innovations

  • Forecasting OCC demand in the next decade
  • Future innovations in corrugated packaging technologies
  • Trends in the global supply chain affecting OCC
  • Impact of new regulations on the OCC industry

Appendix and Data Sets

  • Key market data on OCC production, consumption, and trade
  • Vendor and supplier listings for OCC manufacturers and recyclers
  • Historical data on OCC pricing trends
  • Industry benchmarks for OCC packaging

Future Market Outlook and Trends

  • Market Growth Projections
  • Innovations in OCC Recycling Technology
  • Increasing Role of Digitalization in the Recycling Industry
  • Investment and Expansion Opportunities

Conclusion

  • Summary of Key Findings
  • Strategic Recommendations for Stakeholders
  • Insight Code: 5285
  • No. of Pages: 150+
  • Format: PDF/PPT/Excel
  • Published: January 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2022
  • Base Year: 2023
  • Estimated Years: 2024-2033

About The Author

Yogesh Kulkarni is an emerging expert in the agriculture packaging sector with over three years of experience in market research. With a keen focus on the unique challenges and opportunities within agricultural packaging, Yogesh has developed a comprehensive understanding of the industry's dynamics, including sustainability, material innovation, and supply chain optimization.

Throughout his career, Yogesh has worked with key players in agriculture and packaging, providing in-depth analysis of emerging trends and consumer demands. His expertise includes identifying innovative packaging solutions that enhance product shelf life, reduce waste, and improve transportation efficiency. He is particularly adept at researching sustainable packaging alternatives, including biodegradable and recyclable materials, which are becoming increasingly important as the industry moves towards more eco-friendly solutions.

Yogesh's ability to deliver actionable insights has helped businesses adapt to changing consumer expectations, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements. His detailed reports and research-driven strategies have supported companies in making informed decisions, optimizing packaging designs, and enhancing market positioning.

FAQ's

The global old corrugated container market size reached US$ 45.00 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around US$ 76.16 billion by 2034.

4.9% is the growth rate of the old corrugated container industry.

Smurfit Kappa Group, Kruger Inc., International Paper, WestRock Company, DS Smith Plc, Sonoco Products Company, Cleanaway Waste Management Limited, Royal Oak Recycling, RecycleMax, Gabriel Container Co., Green Recycling Ltd., Allan Company, Miller Recycling Corporation, Berg Mill Supply Co., Continental Paper Grading Limited, and ALSECO S.r.l are the prominent players operating in the old corrugated container market.

Asia Pacific region leads the global old corrugated container market.