- CEO
- Arsen S. Kitch
- Full Time Employees
- 2,200
- Sector
- Basic Materials
- Industry
- Paper, Lumber & Forest Products
- Address
- 601 West Riverside Spokane WA United States of America 99201
- IPO Date
- Dec 5, 2008
- Business
- Clearwater Paper Corporation is a premier independent supplier of bleached paperboard packaging products to North American converters. The company manufactures and sells high-quality paperboard products, including folding cartons, multi-ply paperboard, bleached paperboard, and specialty paperboard used primarily for consumer goods and food service packaging. Operations are concentrated in North America, with core facilities including the recently acquired Augusta, Georgia paperboard manufacturing plant, which increased Clearwater’s paperboard capacity by nearly 75%. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, Clearwater Paper formerly operated in both the tissue and paperboard segments.
In a major strategic transformation completed in 2024-2025, Clearwater Paper exited the tissue business by selling that division to Sofidel America Corporation for $1.06 billion in November 2024, signaling a decisive shift to focus exclusively on paperboard packaging solutions. This divestiture alongside the acquisition of the Augusta mill has significantly expanded its footprint and production scale in the paperboard sector. The company continues to invest in sustainable packaging innovations such as poly-free coatings and lighter-weight folding cartons expected to launch in early 2026. To improve operational efficiency and address margin pressures, Clearwater implemented a workforce reduction of over 10% and is targeting $30-40 million in annual cost savings in 2025. Through these moves, Clearwater aims to solidify its position as one of North America’s top three independent paperboard suppliers and capitalize on growing demand for sustainable packaging alternatives.
Clearwater’s product portfolio primarily serves converters who manufacture packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and retail consumer markets. Its offerings include solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard, multi-ply paperboard, and specialty grades tailored for sustainable packaging needs. The company emphasizes operational execution improvement, supply chain optimization, and cost structure enhancement to navigate current industry challenges marked by supply exceeding demand in the paperboard sector. Clearwater intends to continue evaluating acquisition opportunities to expand its recycled paperboard offerings to complement its solid bleached sulfate product line. Overall, Clearwater Paper is repositioned as a dedicated paperboard packaging supplier with a strategic focus on innovation, sustainability, and market growth in North America.
This corporate repositioning aligns with Clearwater’s long-term outlook for recovery and growth in paperboard packaging, supported by improved volume growth, operational synergies from new assets, and a balanced approach to capital allocation post divestiture. The company reported $1.4 billion in net sales from continuing operations in 2024, with total operations net sales of $2.2 billion including the former tissue segment. Significant changes in 2024 and 2025 have set the stage for Clearwater Paper to capture market opportunities as consumer preferences increasingly favor sustainable packaging solutions. The company employs approximately 1,950 people following its workforce adjustments and continues operations headquartered in Spokane, Washington.