Green Bay Packaging

About Green Bay Packaging

In 1933, at a time when cumbersome and expensive wooden crates were the standard, George and Marguerite Kress founded Green Bay Packaging with a vision to create a better, more efficient alternative. They started with a single box plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, focusing on manufacturing corrugated shipping containers. This venture marked the beginning of a multi-generational, family-owned business that has remained privately held throughout its history. The company’s journey has been one of steady growth and vertical integration. A key moment was the establishment of the Green Bay Pulp and Paper Mill in 1948, which allowed the company to produce its own semi-chemical corrugated medium. This strategic move not only secured their supply chain but also set the stage for the company's long-standing commitment to sustainability. Demonstrating a forward-thinking approach, the company began using recycled materials decades before it became a widespread practice. Rather than a single, transformative IPO or acquisition, Green Bay Packaging's story is characterized by consistent, strategic expansion. The company has grown by acquiring other businesses and establishing new facilities across the country, now operating over 40 locations. A significant recent event was the investment of over $500 million to build a new, state-of-the-art paper mill in Green Bay, which opened in 2021. This major project underscores the Kress family's ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the future of the paper packaging industry, now under the leadership of the third generation.