Key Players
Competitive Landscape
Four supplier types compete in paper-based can carriers: integrated beverage-packaging groups, specialist fiber-carrier companies, converted-board manufacturers and paperboard-backed design businesses.
Commercial development since 2025 has concentrated on printed carrier surfaces and application flexibility for beverage brands. In March 2026, Martec added full-color customization to its paper can carriers for breweries and beverage producers. Current portfolios from Graphic Packaging, Smurfit Westrock and Atlantic also place application machinery beside carrier design in the sourcing decision.
Company developments mapped to drivers, trends and opportunities (2026-2036)
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026: Martec added full-color customization to its paper can carriers. | Beverage brands want plastic replacement without losing visible multipack branding. | Printed fiber carriers are becoming part of shelf differentiation as well as can retention. | Custom print programs add recurring converted-packaging revenue without changing the carrier’s basic handling role. |
Graphic Packaging International, Smurfit Westrock, Atlantic Packaging, Promac, MM Packaging, Metsä Board and DS Smith compete with current product ranges and customer-specific designs.
Source: Future Market Insights, Paper-Based Can Carriers Market and Beverage Packaging Market Reports, 2026-2036.
Together these companies span clip-style rings, wrap formats, full carton multipacks, custom paperboard structures and application equipment for canned beverages.
Q1: Who leads the paper-based can carriers market?
Public evidence does not support one defensible market leader across the current paper-based can carrier field. Graphic Packaging and Smurfit Westrock document the broadest mix of carrier structures and dedicated application machinery among the companies reviewed.
Q2: Which suppliers have documented qualification or quality approvals?
Fresh public sources do not establish one directly comparable carrier-specific certification across the supplier set. Plant-level quality or fiber certificates should not be treated as carrier-level qualification without separate evidence.
Q3: Which companies provide beer and cider multipack products?
Graphic Packaging, Smurfit Westrock, Atlantic Packaging, Earthrings under Promac, Martec and MM Packaging publish current paper-based formats for canned beer or brewery programs.
Q4: Which suppliers serve North America and Europe?
Graphic Packaging and Smurfit Westrock market current can-carrier platforms across both regions for commercial beverage applications. Martec also states production in Europe and Chile with current customer activity in North America.
Representative Company Overview
| Company Positioning | Verified market-relevant capabilities |
|---|---|
| Graphic Packaging International - integrated carrier and machinery platform | ClipCombo combines multiple paperboard clip styles on one can-multipack machine and supports beer plus other canned beverage applications. |
| Smurfit Westrock - integrated paperboard carrier and automation platform | CanCollar Classic, Eco and Shield variants cover multiple can types and connect with dedicated automated application systems. |
| Atlantic Packaging - specialist carrier and service program | Fishbone combines paperboard carriers with manual-to-high-speed application equipment plus installation, training and maintenance support. |
| Promac, Inc. / Earthrings - specialist fiber-ring platform | Earthrings publishes 4-pack, 6-pack and 8-pack cardboard carriers with applicators ranging from tabletop equipment to higher-speed systems. |
| Martec Packaging Inc. - paper can-carrier specialist | Current offerings span standard, slim and sleek cans plus full-color customization and manual or automated application options. |
| MM Packaging - converted cartonboard multipack producer | MM publishes cartonboard beverage multipacks for cans and bottles with customized structures for beverage programs. |
| Metsä Board - paperboard-backed design participant | Current design guidance links paperboard selection with lightweighting and structure development rather than a dedicated carrier machinery platform. |
| DS Smith - converted corrugated design participant | Current Swedish packaging content identifies a Can Carrier developed for farm-brewery sales alongside broader beverage-packaging capability. |
Research Methodology
The company set describes current market structure and does not rank participants by revenue or reputation. Inclusion requires current public evidence of a paper can carrier, multipack structure, application system or design role for canned beverages. Developments are separated from current product capabilities so a launch or commercial action is not inferred from an undated product page.
