Tree to Box: The Billion Dollar Cardboard Business

The world runs on cardboard. Produce, snacks, electronics, beverages, merchandise, household goods, everything is shipped in cardboard. Cardboard can be made into different properties, strengths, and shapes - everything from heavy-duty bins that can hold watermelons or merchandise, trays for fresh produce, food-safe boxes for pizzas, candy boxes that double as in-store displays, to Amazon boxes tough enough to survive the back of a Fedex truck.

International Paper and WestRock are two biggest players who have taken a lion’s share of the American cardboard market in the past decade. The next time you come across a cardboard box, take a second to flip it over and look for a logo at the bottom, and you’ll likely find that it came from 1 of these 2 companies.

International Paper and WestRock are massive business empires hidden in plain sight whose products not only enable American commerce, but also extend into the political landscape and shape foreign countries. In this episode, we’ll cover the business of cardboard, how it’s made, and the contrasting strategies of these 2 cardboard giants.

🎧 Audio Editing & Mixing: Sonalf

0:00 The World Runs on Cardboard Boxes
5:07 Forests as Natural Resources
8:05 How Cardboard is Sold
11:50 The Slow King
15:50 Shaping Brazil & Russia
18:02 The Nimble Heir

[ModernMBA]

0:00 The World Runs on Cardboard
1:36 The Science Behind the Material
3:40 How Cardboard is Engineered
5:07 Forests as Natural Resources
6:29 Supply Chain of Raw Materials to Finished Goods
8:05 How Cardboard is Sold
9:28 Tree to Box Vertical Integration
11:50 The Slow King
14:32 The Secrets of Recycling
15:50 Shaping Brazil & Russia
18:02 The Nimble Heir
20:02 Supply Chain & Product Differentiation

[MrPchoi]

This channel is arguably one of the most valuable gems on YT.

[divyaansharya]

Dunder Mifflin is also one of the paper industry giants. and their Scranton branch is exceptionally well managed under one Mr. Michael Scott.

[Smoke-qvmu]

40 years in this industry and this video was spot on! Great job!

[rubenwoelffer]

I work at Pratt Industries in Northwest Indiana by Chicago and this video was constructed PERFECTLY. From how a corrugated sheet is made into all the background nuances like sales and accounting and down to the recycling process was amazing to say the least 10/10.

[Jolly_Green]

I found this to be fascinating. I'm a truck driver, and back when I was "over the road", I frequently delivered to International Paper, WestRock, Kimberly-Clark, Georgia-Pacific, etc. I have opinions on the various companies based on their efficiency of shipping/receiving, but it's cool to learn more about the inner workings of the companies.

[ethangormong]

Don’t forget the tapes and adhesives used to close the boxes! You hardly notice them, but the science behind their formulation and application is fascinating.

[MS-]

It always blows me away at the amount of research that must have went into this. Interesting topic too

[TheJttv]

large warehouses, stores and packaging converters may be able to sell their used cardboard back to the recyclers as it is just that valuable. B2B paper tends to be cleaner and therefore slightly more valuable than post consumer paper.

I work in this industry and I have to say this was really well done. I will be passing this along

[spde]

I always click instantly when you post - your insights and the amount of value that I get from these videos... I can't believe this is even free!!

[jimmyhuesandthehouserocker]

I worked 14 years as an electrician/mechanic in a corrugated box plant, and let me tell you, I haven't a single regret about being retired today

[olagunjujoseph]

Please create a series of business empires hidden in plain sight

[MrElys]

Best business analysis on youtube by a long mile!! Well documented, presented and entertaining

[shipshapeow]

the fact that this guy can make a youtube video about cardboard boxes interesting is ASTONISHING.

[DuffyElmer]

given how invested everyone is in sourcing virgin wood pulp, how possible is disruption by replacing it with a cheaper or faster-growing source of virgin fiber? (grasses, bamboo, etc)

[ChrisSeltzer]

"In spite of the antiquated rail network of the US..."

I believe it's generally agreed that the US has the best rail network in the world for industrial purposes. Where the US is seen as lacking is its passenger rail network, which would not be relevant here.

[CAT-zcxs]

Man this has convinced me that when in the Simpsons Bart’s class goes to the box factory it was actually a really cool field trip that the kids didn’t appreciate.

[MegaJuniorJones]

Man these videos are so freaking good. I wouldn’t mind if you went into even a little more depth. If you felt like you were trimming some aspects, you could go longer/deeper.

The only other thing I would ask for is more content if possible, without losing quality!

Great stuff!

[millzzy]

do you have a team of people is is it just one person? because the quality is amazing

[thetragicallyripped]

Wow I feel like Martin and Principal Skinner at The Box Factory.

Excellent content and presentation as always