International Paper Co

NYSE:IP

Business Description

Sector

Materials

Industry

Packaging

Headquarters

United States of America US

Employees

30 421

IPO date

Oct 6, 1941

International Paper makes corrugated packaging, boxes, containerboard, and other paper products used to ship, protect, and display goods. It also supplies pulp and fiber-based materials that go into tissue, hygiene, and industrial products. In simple terms, it turns wood fiber into everyday packaging and paper materials that businesses need to move products through the supply chain.

Its main customers are manufacturers, retailers, e-commerce sellers, distributors, and other companies that need cartons, shipping cases, and paper inputs. The company earns money by selling these products through long-term supply relationships and by charging for packaging materials that customers use repeatedly in their operations. Because packaging is tied to production and shipping, demand tends to follow the flow of goods in many industries rather than consumer brand loyalty.

What makes International Paper important in its industry is that it sits close to the center of physical commerce: it provides the boxes and fiber materials that let products travel safely from factories to stores and homes. Its business depends on managing forests, mills, and converting plants, then matching packaging design and supply to customer needs. That makes it both a materials producer and a key packaging partner for companies that need reliable, large-scale shipping and protective packaging.