The old corrugated container market is projected to grow from USD 45.9 billion in 2025 to USD 72.7 billion by 2035, registering a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. Sales in 2024 reached USD 43.8 billion, reflecting the sector’s resilience amid evolving global sustainability mandates and shifting packaging paradigms.
This growth is driven by the rising demand for sustainable fiber sourcing in emerging e-commerce and retail supply chains. As consumer preferences shift toward eco-friendly packaging, manufacturers are increasingly sourcing OCC to produce lightweight yet durable corrugated boxes. Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program has notably accelerated the adoption of recycled packaging materials across its global fulfillment centers, significantly boosting OCC demand.
Technological innovations in OCC recycling are reshaping the market’s economics. Advanced optical sorting systems combined with AI-powered contamination detection have increased recovered fiber purity, thereby enhancing downstream paper quality. The market faces supply-side volatility caused by fluctuating consumer waste generation patterns and seasonal packaging demand cycles.
Moreover, the increasing use of alternative packaging materials such as biodegradable plastics and molded fiber-is intensifying competition, compelling OCC stakeholders to diversify product offerings and improve process resilience. International Paper alone processes 7 million tons of old corrugated containers (OCC) annually, making it one of the largest users of recycled content in the USA.
TOMRA signs long-term recycling feedstock supply agreements with OMV and Borealis in April, 2024. The agreements establish the framework for TOMRA Feedstock to provide a consistent supply of high-quality raw materials for OMV Group's recycling operations. OMV will process feedstock supplied from TOMRA Feedstock plants in its ReOil® plants in Austria, while Borealis will process feedstock produced by TOMRA at its mechanical recycling operations in Europe.
“This agreement shows what’s possible when key players in the value chain come together to make a truly significant impact in the market. With our technology, we have the ability to recover post-consumer plastics that would have otherwise been lost to incineration. This is valuable material that should be given at least a second life. We look forward to working with OMV and Borealis in making a big contribution toward closing the circularity gap for plastics,” said Volker Rehrmann, Executive Vice President and Head of TOMRA Recycling.
In regulatory terms, the European Green Deal and the USA EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management strategy are key frameworks encouraging recycled content mandates. Companies investing in closed-loop recycling and sustainability certifications such as FSC Recycled certification are gaining preferential market access.
The OCC market is transitioning from volume-driven growth to value-centric sustainability leadership. Market leaders integrating advanced recycling technologies, aligning with global regulatory trends, and capitalizing on e-commerce growth will secure a competitive advantage through 2035.
The below table presents the expected CAGR for the global old corrugated container (OCC) market over several semi-annual periods spanning from 2025 to 2035. In the first half (H1) of the decade from 2024 to 2034, the business is predicted to surge at a CAGR of 4.6%, followed by a high growth rate of 4.8% in the second half (H2) of the same decade.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 | 4.6% (2024 to 2034) |
| H2 | 4.8% (2024 to 2034) |
| H1 | 3.7% (2025 to 2035) |
| H2 | 5.7% (2025 to 2035) |
Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2024 to H2 2035, the CAGR is projected to decrease to 3.7% in the first half and increase to 5.7% in the second half. In the first half (H1) the market witnessed a decrease of 90 BPS while in the second half (H2), the market witnessed an increase of 90 BPS.
Single wall corrugated board is expected to dominate the OCC market by board type accounts for 53.2% share in 2025, driven by its extensive application across packaging, shipping, and consumer goods sectors. Composed of one layer of fluting between two linerboards, single wall board offers an optimal balance of strength, lightness, and cost-efficiency, making it the standard choice for carton manufacturing across both industrial and retail domains. From electronics and clothing to personal care items, most e-commerce shipments rely on single wall boxes due to their stack ability and easy handling.
The widespread use of this board type ensures a high rate of return into the OCC stream, particularly from fulfillment centers, warehouses, and small businesses. Its relatively uniform construction simplifies baling and pulping at recycling facilities, and it yields high-quality fiber for the production of linerboard and recycled paper products.
Furthermore, single wall OCC benefits from faster breakdown times in mechanical processing, supporting throughput efficiencies in recycling plants. As online retail expands and urban packaging waste increases, single wall corrugated containers are expected to maintain their dominant role as the most recoverable and commercially viable board type in the global OCC supply chain.
Households are projected to contribute 43.3% of the OCC supply by 2025, becoming an increasingly important source as home deliveries and residential packaging waste surge. The rapid growth of e-commerce, especially in urban and suburban areas, has transformed the average home into a mini distribution hub generating daily volumes of corrugated boxes from groceries, apparel, electronics, and lifestyle products. These boxes are typically single wall constructions used in parcel shipments and have become a key recovery target for municipal solid waste (MSW) programs.
While household OCC presents challenges such as food contamination, improper segregation, and collection inconsistencies, its volume potential is enormous. Curbside recycling initiatives, community drop-off centers, and incentivized collection programs are helping to improve recovery rates.
Households also represent a critical source of branded and clean OCC during festive shopping periods and promotional sales cycles. As circular economy strategies push for greater post-consumer recovery, municipalities and private recyclers are investing in public awareness campaigns and collection infrastructure to optimize household OCC capture. With rising consumerism, better packaging literacy, and improved collection ecosystems, households are set to become a vital and fast-expanding OCC source across developed and emerging regions alike.
Advanced Recycling Technologies Boost OCC Quality and Circular Economy Growth
Technological progress has also increased the quality and efficiency of recycling of old corrugated container (OCC) from industrial waste and municipal solid waste to a very high degree. Even more sophisticated technology in automated sorting plants in the form of hi-tech screeners as well as artificial intelligence-based optical sorters has also optimized OCC separation from low-contamination mixed mix wastes and back-detection of high-quality recycled fiber.
In addition, technology progress in pulping and deinking facilitates higher fiber retention, and thus the capability to create stronger and more durable recycled corrugated boards. This has contributed towards better supply of quality recycled OCC, driving higher demand for sustainable food & beverage, logistics, and e-commerce packaging solutions.
Closed-loop recycling loops have also achieved to a considerable extent to give greater material recycling, less landfilling, and less greenhouse gas emissions of packaging production. Hence, the contribution of ongoing technological innovation in recycling has aided a lot in advancing the OCC market and encouragement of circular economy practices.
Green Regulations and Consumer Demand Drive Surge in OCC Packaging
Increasing green consciousness, increasing government oversight, and evolving consumer attitudes toward green products are fueling the demand for green packaging. Food & beverage, cosmetics/personal care, and transportation segments alone are substituting plastic-based to recyclable paperboard corrugated packages, and those themselves are themselves creating market demand for Grades 11, 12, and WX-OCC OCC.
Government agencies around the world are adopting more strict waste management laws, including single-use plastic prohibition and extended producer responsibility (EPR), pushing companies further toward adopting recyclable substitutes. Online consumers and retail stores are also going green, generating more demand for transit protection packaging, retail-ready packaging, and corrugated boxes made from OCC.
The growing need for biodegradable and compostable packaging progressively widened the use of recycled corrugated material in supply chains. The more sustainability is an imperative for business and consumers, the stronger will be the need for OCC packaging applications.
Recycled OCC Faces Strength and Purity Challenges in Specialty Packaging
Quality issues with recycled old corrugated containers (OCC) arise because they get polluted and weakened through fiber deteriorations, especially in the case of low-grade materials like WX-OCC. Adhesives, food wastes, and non-paper impurities may weaken and compromise the strength and integrity of recovered fibers and render them unsuitable for stringent packaging uses.
With repeated recycling cycles, OCC fibers weaken and shorten, constraining their capability to contribute to durability and structural stability, which is essential in healthcare, chemicals, and fertilizer applications. Such industries demand packaging with high hygiene, moisture resistance, and chemical barrier specifications-characteristics that cannot be met by lower-grade OCC.
Variable quality of recycled OCC can also create production inefficiencies and added costs for manufacturers on the basis of consistent material properties. While process improvements mitigate some of these problems, the ability to maintain high-quality recovery of fiber is still problematic, affecting OCC use in high-end and specialty packaging applications.
| Key Investment Area | Why It’s Critical for Future Growth |
|---|---|
| Advanced Recycling Technologies | Enhances fiber recovery, reduces contamination, and improves the quality of recycled OCC for high-performance packaging applications. |
| Automation in Sorting & Processing | Increases efficiency in material recovery facilities (MRFs), reducing labor costs and improving the consistency of OCC supply. |
| High-Performance Coated OCC | Expands OCC applications in moisture-sensitive industries like food & beverage and healthcare by improving durability and barrier properties. |
| Closed-Loop Recycling Programs | Strengthens supply chain sustainability by integrating brand-led OCC collection and reuse initiatives, ensuring a steady flow of recycled material. |
| Lightweight & Strength-Optimized OCC | Supports e-commerce and logistics sectors by reducing material use while maintaining structural integrity for high-speed shipping and handling. |
The global old corrugated container (OCC) industry recorded a CAGR of 3.1% during the historical period between 2020 and 2024. The growth of the old corrugated container (OCC) industry was positive as it reached a value of USD 44,537.8 million in 2024 from USD 39,417.9 million in 2020.
The world old corrugated container (OCC) market has witnessed consistent growth in the last couple of years driven by growth in e-commerce, increased sustainability efforts, and the demand for eco-friendly, recyclable packaging options in food & beverages, personal care, and logistics industries.
Increased product consciousness towards circular economy drivers along with better regulations for waste management has triggered collection and processing of OCC, especially in developed economies. Nevertheless, volatilities of raw material prices, supply chain disruptions, and the quality of used OCC have been a nightmare to sustained market growth. In addition, volatilities of the economy and cross-border trade disruptions have affected the overall demand and supply situation, influencing OCC prices and availability.
| Market Aspect | 2020 to 2024 (Past Trends) |
|---|---|
| Demand Growth | Steady increase driven by e-commerce, retail, and food packaging. |
| Recycling Efficiency | Moderate efficiency with contamination challenges in collection. |
| Regulatory Landscape | Expansion of recycling mandates and packaging waste regulations. |
| End-Use Industry Adoption | High demand from e-commerce, logistics, and FMCG. |
| Supply Chain Dynamics | Fluctuations in OCC availability due to trade restrictions and pandemic disruptions. |
| Market Aspect | 2025 to 2035 (Future Projections) |
|---|---|
| Demand Growth | Accelerated demand due to stricter sustainability regulations and increased OCC adoption in emerging markets. |
| Recycling Efficiency | Advancements in AI-driven sorting and fiber recovery to enhance OCC quality and usability. |
| Regulatory Landscape | Stricter policies on post-consumer content and circular economy compliance. |
| End-Use Industry Adoption | Increased OCC usage in healthcare, electrical & electronics, and foodservice industries. |
| Supply Chain Dynamics | More localized OCC sourcing and investment in decentralized collection infrastructure. |
Demand for OCC in the next two years will grow at a higher rate, driven by mounting regulatory pressure on single-use plastics, growing adoption of sustainable packaging alternatives, and innovation in recycling. Developing markets will be at the forefront of driving OCC consumption as retail growth, industrialization, and urbanization fuel corrugated packaging demand.
Increasing pressure for carbon neutrality and corporate commitments toward sustainability will continue to encourage businesses to include recycled material in packaging material. Moreover, technological advancement in recovery of fibers and improved control of contamination will enable OCC to offer other products in high-performance grades, and its market trend during the next few years will be better and stronger.
Tier 1 company leaders are distinguished by their extensive portfolio and use of advanced production technology. These market leaders are stand out because of their extensive expertise in manufacturing and reconditioning across multiple packaging formats and a broad geographical reach, underpinned by a robust consumer base.
They offer a wide range of series including reconditioning, recycling, and manufacturing utilizing the latest technology and meeting the regulatory standards providing the highest quality. Prominent companies within Tier 1 include Smurfit Kappa Group, Kruger Inc, International Paper, WestRock Company, DS Smith Plc, and Sonoco Products Company.
Tier 2 companies are defined by a strong presence overseas and in-depth market knowledge. These market players have good technology and ensure regulatory compliance but may not have advanced technology and wide global reach. Prominent companies in Tier 2 include 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.
Tier 3 includes the majority of small-scale companies operating at the local presence and serving niche markets. These companies are notably oriented towards fulfilling local market demands and are consequently classified within the tier 3 share segment. They are small-scale players and have limited geographical reach. Tier 3, within this context, is recognized as an unorganized market, denoting a sector characterized by a lack of extensive structure and formalization when compared to organized competitors.
The section below covers the industry analysis for the old corrugated container (OCC) market for different countries. Market demand analysis on key countries in several regions of the globe, including North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and others, is provided. USA is anticipated to remain at the forefront in North America, with a CAGR of 4.8% through 2035. In South Asia & Pacific, India is projected to witness a CAGR of 6.7% by 2035.
| Countries | Value CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| USA | 4.8% |
| Canada | 4.0% |
| Brazil | 4.4% |
| Argentina | 4.2% |
| Germany | 3.0% |
| China | 5.3% |
| India | 6.7% |
Among the major drivers for United States old corrugated container (OCC) food & beverage industry is increasing need for cold chain fiber-based packaging. As the business of grocery stores and meal kit delivery increases, the demand is increasing for insulated corrugated packages capable of storing temperature-sensitive products such as fresh vegetables, milk items, and sea food during transit.
This has resulted in greater use of OCC-based packaging items with moisture-resistant coatings and sophisticated barrier technologies to provide refrigerated and frozen supply chain integrity. Big-box USA food distributors are also focusing more on recycled-content packaging in an attempt to meet corporate sustainability objectives and retailer requirements for higher post-consumer fiber content.
As leading supermarket food retailers and foodservice businesses make the transition away from plastic and foam containers, OCC paves the way to address the new regulatory and environmental requirements for safe and sustainable food transportation and packaging in America.
One of the key drivers of the German old corrugated container (OCC) market in the electrical & electronics industry is the nation's high focus on green e-waste packaging solutions. As one of the largest manufacturers of electronic products in Europe and a forerunner in the circular economy, companies are now turning to recycled corrugated packaging for the shipping and protection of electronic components, consumer electronics, and industrial machinery components.
Tighter regulations on packaging waste by the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) and EU Circular Economy Action Plan have promoted the shift to OCC-based packaging protection against plastic foams and non-recyclable packaging.
High-recycled content packaging is also being requested by German retail outlets selling electronics and online retailers to meet eco-labeling standards as well as corporate sustainability goals. This transition is paving the way for OCC-based molded inserts, corrugated configurations with shock absorption, and supported multi-layer board solutions that meet sustainability and toughness requirements in packaging electronics.
Key players operating in the old corrugated container (OCC) market are investing in the development of innovative sustainable solutions and also entering into partnerships. Key old corrugated container (OCC) providers have also been acquiring smaller players to grow their presence to further penetrate the old corrugated container (OCC) market across multiple regions.
Recent Industry Developments in the Old Corrugated Container (OCC) Market
| Manufacturer | Vendor Insights |
|---|---|
| Smurfit Kappa Group | Leading in sustainable OCC packaging solutions, investing in high-performance recycled board and expanding closed-loop recycling programs. |
| Kruger Inc | Strong presence in North America with a focus on eco-friendly OCC-based packaging and advanced fiber recovery technologies. |
| International Paper | Major supplier of recycled OCC for corrugated packaging, emphasizing automation in material recovery and sustainability-driven innovation. |
| WestRock Company | Integrating OCC into high-strength, lightweight packaging solutions while enhancing collection and processing efficiencies. |
| DS Smith Plc | European leader in circular economy practices, investing in OCC-based e-commerce packaging and digital watermarked recycling technologies. |
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 45.9 billion |
| Projected Market Size (2035) | USD 72.7 billion |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 4.7% |
| Base Year for Estimation | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2020 to 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 to 2035 |
| Quantitative Units | Revenue in USD billion and Volume in kilotons |
| By Grade | OCC Grade 11, OCC Grade 12, WX-OCC |
| By Board Type | Single Face, Single Wall, Double Wall, Triple Wall |
| By Source | Household, Manufacturing Facilities, Retail |
| By End Use | Food & Beverage, Personal Care & Home Care, Logistics & Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Chemical & Fertilizer, Others (Agriculture, Automotive, etc.) |
| By Region | North America, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa |
| Key Players | 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. |
| Countries Covered | United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, China, India, Japan, South Korea, ANZ, GCC Countries, South Africa |
| Additional Attributes | Dollar sales by board type (single wall, double wall, triple wall), Dollar sales by end use (F&B, personal care, logistics, electronics), Dollar sales by OCC grade (Grade 11, 12, WX-OCC), Recovery and recycling efficiency metrics, Trends in circular economy packaging strategies, Regional collection rates and mill demand |
| Customization and Pricing | Customization and Pricing Available on Request |
In terms of grade, the industry is divided into occ grade 11, occ grade 12, wx-occ.
In terms of board type, the industry is segregated into single face, single wall, double wall, triple wall.
By source, the market is divided into household, manufacturing facilities, retail.
The market is classified by end use such as food & beverage, personal care & home care, logistics & transportation, electrical & electronics, healthcare, chemical & fertilizer, others (agriculture, automotive, etc.).
Key countries of North America, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East & Africa have been covered in the report.
The global old corrugated container (OCC) industry is projected to witness CAGR of 4.7% between 2025 and 2035.
The global old corrugated container (OCC) industry stood at USD 43.8 billion in 2024.
The global old corrugated container (OCC) industry is anticipated to reach USD 72.7 billion by 2035 end.
South Asia & Pacific region is set to record the highest CAGR of 6.3% in the assessment period.
The key players operating in the global old corrugated container (OCC) industry include Smurfit Kappa Group, Kruger Inc, International Paper, WestRock Company, DS Smith Plc, and Sonoco Products Company.
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Old Corrugated Container (OCC) Market
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