The Niche Payoff

Finally, the Freedonia report cites mass retailers, warehouse club stores, and Internet-based shopping as supporting box demand, as well as boxmakers working to develop corrugated boxes that can serve as appealing product billboards.

Paper is good

One of the most important things concerning paperboard folding cartons is their sustainability properties, and Markens asserts that communicating the sustainable benefits of using paperboard is something the folding carton industry, as a whole, must do better. "When you talk to retailers or consumer product companies, they all know paper is a good thing," he remarks. "But, they need us to provide them with more things to hang their hats on so they also know some of the science and statistics. I think humans generally understand that paper is good—we grow trees as a crop. I think most people get it, especially people who are packaging professionals."