Apprehensive Optimism

Green qualities contribute to growth

Growth rates over the next few years are expected to be slow. According to Ben Markens, president of Converter's Resource, "Growth is slow and low. Projected growth is slow and low. And real growth is almost non-existent."

That's simply put, but in more specific terms, consumption of paperboard in folding paperboard boxes is expected to grow by 2.7 percent per year to 7.6 million tons in 2007, according to a study called "Corrugated & Paperboard Boxes" produced by The Freedonia Group, Inc. Of that increase, recycled board will remain the leader, volume-wise, due to consumer demand for environmentally-friendly packaging, the study reports.