Graphic Packaging International, a leader in sustainable consumer packaging, has opened a new recycled paperboard plant in Waco, Texas. The company calls it a major step forward, one that creates what it believes is the most advanced and efficient recycled paperboard production site in North America. The investment deepens Graphic Packaging’s footprint and boosts its ability to supply sustainable packaging on a larger scale.
The Waco recycled paperboard plant adds to the company’s recycled paperboard network. The operation is designed to boost production capacity, streamline efficiency, and accelerate innovation across core sectors such as food, beverage, foodservice, household goods, and health and beauty. “Our Waco facility produces the most efficient and highest quality recycled paperboard in the world,” said Mike Doss, president and chief executive officer of Graphic Packaging. “Together with our state-of-the-art Kalamazoo, Michigan facility, we now have — by a wide margin — the strongest packaging platform in North America.”
Graphic Packaging’s latest investment reflects the company’s long-term strategy to meet growing expectations for sustainable and responsible packaging. In 2024, the company swapped out about 1 billion plastic packages worldwide for paperboard alternatives designed to be more circular and practical. At the Waco site, recovered materials are turned into high-performance paperboard with a recycling rate far higher than plastic. The project helps the company meet the growing demand for packaging made from renewable and recycled materials.
Waco stands out for its ability to process a wide range of recovered materials. Its spot in the Texas Triangle, linking Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, gives it strong access to recycling streams from surrounding cities. With advanced recycling technology, the facility can process up to 15 million paper cups daily, turning them into packaging for major global brands. It also runs a closed-loop system that recycles clean scrap paperboard from its own sites. The approach cuts waste and boosts efficiency throughout the company’s operations.
The Waco project grew out of real-world experience and close collaboration with local partners. Key regional partners, including the City of Waco, the State of Texas, and Texas State Technical College (TSTC), also played critical roles. “At Texas State Technical College, we have trained employees of Graphic Packaging on specific technologies here at The WorkSITE that mimic the needs for Graphic Packaging’s paperboard manufacturing facility in Waco,” said Wendy Maler, Campus Operations Senior Coordinator, Student Learning, TSTC.
With the Waco facility now operational, Graphic Packaging is positioned to drive further progress in sustainable packaging. The site follows a forward-looking model that cuts waste and gives materials a second life. It also offers the scale needed to meet rising industry demand.