Our Legacy

Corrugated Box Manufacturer Since 1933

Green Bay Packaging started manufacturing corrugated boxes with one box plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Today, GBP has over 35 locations nationwide. We continue to be a family-owned, American-made manufacturer leading the way in award-winning sustainable, innovative manufacturing.

Green Bay Packaging employee standing next to a paper machine drying can.

Packaging Locations in North America

Green Bay Packaging map showing our 35 corrugated box manufacturing facilities around the U.S..

Green Bay Packaging has over 35 locations in North America consisting of corrugated box plants, folding cartons, recycled and virgin linerboard mills, pressure-sensitive label roll stock, specialty converting operations, timberlands, and a sawmill facility.

Green Bay Packaging has been leading the paper industry in innovation and sustainability since 1933.

Leading the Way

Green Bay Packaging has been innovating for the future since 1933. Learn how we are making history in the paper industry today!

A Legacy of Leadership

Founder of Green Bay Packaging, George Kress,

GEORGE F. KRESS

Founder

President
1933-1960

Chairman of the Board
1960-1995

James Kress, president and chairman of Green Bay Packaging.

JAMES F. KRESS

President & CEO
1960-1995

Chairman of the Board
1995-2019

Green Bay Packaging's CEO and chairman Will Kress.

WILLIAM F. KRESS

President
1995-2019

CEO & Chairman of the Board
2019-Current

Our Rich Heritage

Our founder, George Kress, believed in building a better box from the beginning. The motivation was the customer. The vision was corrugated shipping containers.

  • 1930
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  • 1933

    Green Bay Packaging was established in 1933 by George and Marguerite Kress, offering a superior alternative for customers using expensive, cumbersome wooden boxes. Today, Green Bay Packaging is a third-generation family-owned business with over 35 locations throughout the country, each dedicated to developing innovative products and forestry resources, focusing on safety, sustainability, quality, service, and continuous improvement.

  • 1936

    Green Bay Box Company purchased its first corrugator to produce corrugated shipping containers in Green Bay, WI, later known as the Green Bay Shipping Container Division.

  • 1940
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  • 1942

    The Folding Carton Division was established in Green Bay, WI.

  • 1948

    Green Bay Pulp and Paper was built to produce semi-chemical corrugated medium for Green Bay Box Company. The new paper mill, today known as the Green Bay Mill Division, led industry-shaping technology and environmental innovation.

    George Kress named his first paper machine, later called Paper Machine 3 (PM3), after his wife, Marguerite. PM4, built in 2020 to replace PM3, is still called the “Marguerite K.”

  • 1950
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  • 1953

    The Kalamazoo Division was established in Kalamazoo, MI.

  • 1957

    Green Bay Box Company started collecting and processing old corrugated containers (OCC) to produce medium, twenty years before the concept of recycling began.

  • 1959

    The Twin Town Division was established in St. Paul, MN, and later moved into a new facility in Coon Rapids, MN, in 1996.

  • 1960
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  • 1960

    Jim Kress was elected President of Green Bay Box Company and Green Bay Pulp & Paper.

  • 1961

    Green Bay Box Company acquired Briggs Packaging, which later became the Chicago Distribution Center.

    Green Bay Box Company founded Diversified Products, which subsequently became the Coated Products Headquarters in Green Bay, WI.

  • 1963

    Green Bay Box Company merged with Green Bay Pulp and Paper to become Green Bay Packaging.

    The Wausau Division was acquired in Wausau, WI, and a new plant was constructed in 1969.

  • 1965

    Construction began on newly founded Arkansas Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill in Morrilton, AR. The first paper machine (PM1) would later be called “Captain George” after George Kress.

    The Fremont Division was established in Fremont, OH.

  • 1966

    Timberland purchases began with the establishment of the Fiber Resource Division, which today totals approximately 250,000 acres.

  • 1970
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  • 1971

    The Fort Worth Division was acquired in Fort Worth, TX.

  • 1972

    The Green Bay Mill is the first paper mill to develop and execute a closed-water process.

  • 1973

    The National Sports Foundation awarded Green Bay Packaging the National Gold Medal for efforts in water pollution abatement.

  • 1974

    The Pinecrest Lumber Division was constructed in Plumerville, AR.

  • 1977

    The Arkansas Mill Division expanded, adding a second paper machine (PM2). During the 50th anniversary celebration of the Arkansas Kraft Division in 2015, this paper machine was named “Jim Dandy” after Jim Kress.

  • 1978

    The Packaging Systems Division was established in Green Bay, WI.

  • 1980
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  • 1985

    The Cincinnati Division was established in Cincinnati, OH.

  • 1987

    The Tulsa Division was acquired in Tulsa, OK.

  • 1989

    The Paper Slitting Division was established in Plumerville, AR.

    Green Bay Packaging established the De Pere Shipping Container Division in De Pere, WI.

  • 1990
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  • 1991

    The Green Bay paper mill was redesigned to produce high-performance containerboard using 100% recycled fiber, discontinuing the use of virgin pulp in the mill.

    Green Bay Packaging received the President’s Environmental and Conservation Challenge Award from George H.W. Bush for excellence in developing innovative solutions to the nation’s environmental challenges.

  • 1992

    Green Bay Packaging established the Winchester Division in Winchester, VA.

    The Green Bay paper mill became one of the first paper mills in the world to be totally effluent free (zero discharge of wastewater).

  • 1995

    Will Kress was elected President of Green Bay Packaging.

    Jim Kress was named chairman of the board of Green Bay Packaging.

  • 1996

    George Kress was inducted into the International Paper Industry Hall of Fame.

  • 1998

    The Valley Packaging Division was acquired in Pulaski, TN.

    The Chickasha Division was acquired in Chickasha, OK.

  • 1999

    ISO 9001 registration awarded.

  • 2000
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  • 2001

    The El Paso Division was acquired in El Paso, TX.

    Will Kress took on the additional role of CEO of Green Bay Packaging.

  • 2003

    Green Bay Packaging entered into a joint venture establishing the GBP Mexico Division.

  • 2005

    Jim Kress was inducted into the International Paper Industry Hall of Fame.

    The Archbold Division was acquired in Archbold, OH.

    The Baltimore Division was acquired in Baltimore, MD.

  • 2008

    The Green Bay paper mill was one of the first mills to become Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified (FSC-C021629).

  • 2010
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  • 2010

    Green Bay Packaging was one of the first in the state of Wisconsin to be recognized as a Green Masters Company. This award was presented by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and was the first for a corrugated box company.

  • 2014

    The Midland Packaging Division was acquired in Franksville, WI.

    The Great Lakes Packaging Division was acquired in Germantown, WI.

  • 2015

    The San Antonio Division was established in San Antonio, TX.

    The Baird Display Division was acquired in Waukesha, WI.

  • 2016

    Green Bay Packaging established In-Store Innovation, a retail packaging sales division.

  • 2018

    Green Bay Packaging broke ground on Project WolfPack, replacing the existing, 70-year-old paper mill in Green Bay with a new, state-of-the-art facility at the same location.

    Wisconsin Packaging Corporation was acquired in Fort Atkinson, WI.

    Grand Traverse Container was acquired in Traverse City, MI.

    Citadel Division was acquired in Aurora, IL.

  • 2019

    Green Bay Packaging received the AF&PA (American Forest and Paper Association) Sustainability Award for water reduction achievements at the Green Bay Mill.

    Green Bay Packaging entered into a joint venture with CompanyBox located in Charlotte, NC.

    Will Kress was named chairman of the board of Green Bay Packaging.

  • 2020
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  • 2021

    GBP was the first in the paper industry to achieve the SFI® Small Lands Group Certificate Module recognized for ongoing environmental stewardship.

    The new Green Bay Packaging paper mill was the first new paper mill in Wisconsin in over 35 years, bringing new technology that resulted in cutting-edge performance in safety, environmental innovation, quality, energy efficiency, and production.

    GBP’s 100% Recycled Paper Mill is the first paper mill in the world to achieve Net-Zero Water UL environmental validation.

  • 2022

    GBP is the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award in the Mega Category recipient for extraordinary performance, strength, and vibrancy in the manufacturing industry.

    Interstate Packaging Corporation was acquired in Albert Lea, MN.

  • 2023

    Tulsa invested in a new greenfield facility expanding market capabilities in Tulsa, OK.

    Fort Worth replaces the 50-year-old plant with a new 600,000-square-foot corrugator plant in Fort Worth, TX.

Community Leadership

Green Bay Packaging is a committed partner to the communities in which we live and work. We contribute to hundreds of charitable and non-profit organizations through time and investment as a reflection of our values and commitment to stewardship.