Our Legacy

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.

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

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.”

The Kalamazoo Division was established in Kalamazoo, MI.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

The Pinecrest Lumber Division was constructed in Plumerville, AR.

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.

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

The Cincinnati Division was established in Cincinnati, OH.

The Tulsa Division was acquired in Tulsa, OK.

The Paper Slitting Division was established in Plumerville, AR.

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

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.

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).

Will Kress was elected President of Green Bay Packaging.

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

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

The Valley Packaging Division was acquired in Pulaski, TN.

The Chickasha Division was acquired in Chickasha, OK.

ISO 9001 registration awarded.

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

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

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

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.

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).

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.

The Midland Packaging Division was acquired in Franksville, WI.

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

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

The Baird Display Division was acquired in Waukesha, WI.

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

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.

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.

Third Dimension, Inc. was acquired in Geneva, OH.

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.

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.

Tulsa invested in a new 550,000-square-foot 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.

Folding Carton Division completed its expansion to increase production and storage capacity.

SMC Packaging Group was acquired in Springfield, MO.