International Paper has announced the permanent closure of four facilities, impacting operations across the United States.
The affected sites include the Red River containerboard mill in Campti, Louisiana, a recycling plant in Phoenix, Arizona, a box plant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and a sheet feeder facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Operations at these locations will cease by the end of April 2025.
The closure of the Red River mill alone is expected to reduce International Paper’s containerboard production capacity by approximately 800,000 tons annually. In total, 674 employees, including 495 hourly and 179 salaried workers, will be affected by the decision. The company has committed to mitigating the impact on its workforce through attrition, retirements, and reassignments to other International Paper facilities where possible. Additionally, employees will receive outplacement assistance, mental health support resources, and, in some cases, severance benefits.
Tom Hamic, executive vice president and president of North American Packaging Solutions at International Paper, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “The decision to close any facility is difficult because of the impact on our team members, their families, and the surrounding communities,” Hamic stated. “We greatly appreciate the contributions from our departing team members and will do all we can to support them.”
The company emphasized that these closures are part of its broader strategy to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. International Paper is focused on investing in facilities that better align with its long-term goals of improving quality, reliability, and service delivery.
Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, International Paper is a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, with operations in over 30 countries. In 2025, the company strengthened its position in the market with the acquisition of DS Smith, further expanding its presence in North America and the EMEA region. In 2024, the company reported net sales of $18.6 billion.
More details about International Paper’s restructuring efforts and its commitment to sustainability can be found at www.internationalpaper.com.
