Smurfit Westrock#Operations

{{Infobox company

| name = Smurfit Westrock plc

| logo = Smurfit WestRock logo.png

| logo_size = 250px

| type = Public

| traded_as ={{ubl|{{lse|SWR}}|{{NYSE|SW}}|S&P 500 component}}

| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|IE00028FXN24}}

| founded = {{Start date and age|1934}}

| hq_location = Dublin, Ireland{{cite web|url=https://www.smurfitwestrock.com/about|title=About|publisher=Smurfit Westrock|access-date=7 July 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.packagingdive.com/news/smurfit-kappa-westrock-acquisition-finalized-nyse/719878/|title=Smurfit Kappa completes acquisition of WestRock|website=www.packagingdive.com}}

| key_people = Anthony Smurfit (President and CEO)

| industry = Packaging

| products = Paper-based packing containers

| revenue = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|21.1|link=yes}} billion (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/2005951/000200595125000005/smur-20241231.htm|title=2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K)|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=8 March 2025|date=7 March 2025}}}}

| operating_income = {{decrease}} US$1.01 billion (2024)

| net_income = {{decrease}} US$319 million (2024)

| assets = {{increase}} US$43.8 billion (2024)

| equity = {{increase}} US$17.4 billion (2024)

| num_employees = 100,000 (2024)

| parent =

| subsid =

| website = {{nowrap|{{URL|https://www.smurfitwestrock.com}}}}

| footnotes =

}}

Smurfit Westrock plc is an Irish company based in Dublin, Ireland that manufactures corrugated and paper-based packaging. Its stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

History

The company was established as a box-maker in the Rathmines area of Dublin, Ireland in 1934 and was acquired by Mr Jefferson Smurfit in 1938, trading afterwards as Jefferson Smurfit.{{cite news |title= Highlights in the history of the Jefferson Smurfit Group |url= http://www.risiinfo.com/db_area/archive/ppi_mag/1996/9611/company1.htm |newspaper=Pulp & Paper International|date= November 1996 |access-date=21 December 2012}} It was listed on the Irish Stock Exchange in 1964 and acquired a partial interest in Time Industries, a Chicago-based paper and packaging company, in 1974.{{cite news |title= Boxing clever on the global market |url= http://www.risiinfo.com/db_area/archive/ppi_mag/1996/9611/company.htm|newspaper=Pulp & Paper International |date= November 1996 |access-date=21 December 2012}} Jefferson Smurfit grew under the leadership of the founder's son, Sir Michael Smurfit, who became Chief Executive in 1977.{{cite news |title= Ireland's Rich List: 21-30 |url= http://www.independent.ie/business/rich-list/irelands-rich-list-2130-2116346.html|newspaper= Irish Independent|date= 31 March 2010 |access-date=21 December 2012}}

It merged its 46%-owned US business with Chicago-based Stone Container Corporation to form Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/smurfit-plans-merger-with-stone-container-1159672.html|title=Smurfit plans merger with Stone Container |work=The Independent|date=12 May 1998|access-date=21 December 2012}}

Jefferson Smurfit was the subject of a management buyout financed by Madison Dearborn Partners, Cinven Limited and CVC Capital Partners in 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/06/18/chicago-investment-firm-to-buy-jefferson-smurfit/|title=Chicago investment firm to buy Jefferson Smurfit|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=18 June 2002|access-date=21 December 2012}} It merged with {{interlanguage link|Kappa Packaging|nl}} in 2005, changing its name to Smurfit Kappa,{{cite web|url=http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Smurfit-and-Kappa-close-to-merger-says-report|title=Smurfit and Kappa close to merger says report|publisher=Food Production|date=26 August 2005|access-date=21 December 2012}} and was the subject of an initial public offering in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/sppage023-l16579910-oisbi-idUKL1657991020070316|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004019/https://uk.reuters.com/article/sppage023-l16579910-oisbi-idUKL1657991020070316|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2019|title=Smurfit Kappa Sells More Shares After IPO|publisher=Reuters|date=16 March 2007| access-date=21 December 2012}}

In 2012 it bought Orange County Container, a US-based packaging company, for $340 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/smurfit-kappa-completes-deal-to-buy-orange-county-container/|title=Smurfit Kappa completes deal to buy Orange County Container|publisher=Packaging News|date=3 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}} In 2016 it acquired two Brazilian Companies for €186 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/manufacturing/smurfit-kappa-acquires-brazilian-companies-for-186m-1.2484229|title=Smurfit Kappa acquires Brazilian companies for €186m|first=Colin|last=Gleeson|newspaper=The Irish Times}}

In September 2023, it was announced that Smurfit Kappa and the Sandy Springs, Georgia-headquartered corrugated packaging company, WestRock had agreed to merge, to create one of the world's largest paper and packaging producers.{{Cite news |date=12 September 2023 |title=Smurfit Kappa, WestRock to combine to create $20 billion packaging giant |work=RTÉ News |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2023/0912/1404784-smurfit-kappa-westrock-to-merge/}} It was confirmed in the circular and prospectus that the transaction will be conducted by Smurfit Kappa acquiring WestRock and then changing its name to Smurfit Westrock, and that the Smurfit Kappa Group shareholders and board would represent the majority of the combined entity.{{cite web|url=https://research.ftserussell.com/products/index-notices/home/getnotice/?id=2612833|title=Smurfit Kappa Group (UK): Merger with WestRock Company (USA) – Informative Notice|date=21 June 2024|publisher=FTSE Russell|access-date=29 June 2024}} The transaction completed on 5 July 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1720189220216696500/in-brief-smurfit-kappa-westrock-deal-takes-effect.aspx|title=Smurfit Kappa-WestRock deal takes effect|newspaper=Morning Star|date=5 July 2024|access-date=7 July 2024}}

Operations

The company specialises in manufacturing paper-based packaging, with a network of paper, recycling and forestry operations. It is an integrated producer, with packaging plants sourcing the major part of their raw material requirements from the company's own paper mills. In turn, the sourcing of recovered fibre and wood for the mills is managed through a combination of reclamation and forestry operations and purchases from third parties. It operates across 35 countries – 22 in Europe, 13 in the Americas. Its global headquarters are in Dublin, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam and Miami.{{cite web|url=http://www.smurfitkappa.com/vHome/com/AboutUs/Pages/Default.aspx|title=About Us|publisher=Smurfit Kappa Group|access-date=21 December 2012}}

The company also operates a publishing division aimed at the educational sector in Ireland through its subsidiary, the Educational Company of Ireland, more commonly known as Edco. It distributes textbooks for primary and post-primary education, exam papers, revision books and resources for the Irish Curriculum.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7Y1ZZ9m8K2gC&pg=PA630 |title=The Oxford History of the Irish Book; Volume5 The Irish Book in English, 1891–2000|first1=Clare|last1= Hutton|first2= Patrick|last2= Walsh |year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=630|isbn=978-0199249114}}