International Paper has broken ground on a $225m sustainable packaging facility in Brandon city in Mississippi, US.
Company representatives and local officials attended the groundbreaking event at the East Metro Center Industrial Park on 20 May.
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The plant will cover 468,000ft² and is expected to create 150 jobs once operational.
It will replace the company’s current site in Richland and will focus on producing packaging materials for e-commerce and grocery shipping.
International Paper selected Brandon based on its ability to reach customers within a 300-mile radius.
The site covers 80 acres and was zoned specifically to ensure compatibility with neighbouring communities.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with completion targeted by the end of next year.
Upon completion, staff from the existing Richland plant will transfer to the new Brandon facility.
Entergy Mississippi will connect the plant to the electrical grid, with no on-site generation planned.
According to International Paper, the new facility is designed to update the manufacturing footprint, improve reliability and service to the Mid-South region, and meet market demand more efficiently.
International Paper IP North America Packaging Solutions East group vice-president and general manager Keith Townsend said: “We were already in the area, and we wanted to modernise our fleet. So this is a big investment in modernising our fleet.
“And logistically, this is a fantastic location for us. So we’re close to major, obviously, interstates and thoroughfares. So for us, our ability to service our customers, it was a prime location.”
The Brandon project was approved by International Paper’s board of directors as part of a strategy to modernise operations and support long-term business goals.
