Company Overview

Cascades Inc. is a Canadian-based industrial company specializing in the manufacturing, converting, and recycling of packaging and tissue paper products. The company operates primarily within the containerboard and packaging, tissue paper, and recycling services industries, serving both industrial and consumer markets. Its core revenue drivers include corrugated packaging solutions, containerboard production, molded pulp packaging, and consumer and Away-from-Home tissue products.

Founded in 1964, Cascades has developed a distinctive market position through its long-standing emphasis on recycled fibers, vertically integrated operations, and environmental stewardship. The company began as a small paper recycling operation in Québec and evolved into a multinational packaging and tissue producer through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Sustainability, cost control through integration, and proximity to customers are central to its competitive strategy.

Business Operations

Cascades conducts its operations through three primary business segments: Containerboard, Tissue Papers, and Corporate and Recovery. The Containerboard segment, the largest contributor to revenue, includes the production of containerboard and the manufacturing of corrugated packaging products for food, manufacturing, and e-commerce customers. The Tissue Papers segment produces consumer tissue products under private-label brands and branded offerings, as well as Away-from-Home tissue solutions for commercial clients. The Corporate and Recovery segment manages recycled fiber sourcing, recovery activities, and corporate services.

The company operates an integrated network of mills, converting plants, and recycling facilities across North America, allowing it to control raw material inputs and manage costs. Cascades owns and operates proprietary recycling systems and paper-making technologies, with limited reliance on external joint ventures. Its operations are supported by subsidiaries including Cascades Containerboard Packaging, Cascades Tissue Group, and Cascades Recovery.

Strategic Position & Investments

Cascades’ strategic direction centers on operational efficiency, disciplined capital allocation, and strengthening its core packaging businesses. Growth initiatives prioritize modernization of containerboard mills, optimization of converting capacity, and selective investment in high-margin, sustainable packaging solutions. The company has publicly emphasized capital spending aimed at improving productivity, reducing energy consumption, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent strategic actions include investments in new containerboard capacity and the optimization of tissue operations following prior market volatility. Cascades has also divested non-core or underperforming assets to focus on its strongest segments. While the company does not operate a broad external investment portfolio, it continues to invest in emerging sustainable materials, lightweight packaging designs, and recycling technologies aligned with circular economy trends.

Geographic Footprint

Cascades’ headquarters are located in Kingsey Falls, Québec, Canada, and its operational footprint is concentrated in Canada and the United States, which together account for the vast majority of revenue. The company operates numerous manufacturing, converting, and recycling facilities across Québec, Ontario, the U.S. Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast.

While Cascades does not maintain significant manufacturing operations outside North America, its products reach customers across multiple regions through cross-border trade. The company’s geographic strategy emphasizes proximity to customers and raw material sources rather than global expansion, reflecting the logistics-intensive nature of paper and packaging production.

Leadership & Governance

Cascades is a founder-led organization with continued involvement from the founding family, contributing to a long-term governance perspective. The company is overseen by an experienced executive team with deep operational expertise in paper manufacturing, packaging, and recycling. Leadership has consistently articulated a strategic vision focused on sustainability, operational discipline, and value creation for shareholders.

Key executives include:

• Mario Plourde – President and Chief Executive Officer
• Hugues Simon – Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
• Luc Langevin – Executive Vice-President, Containerboard
• Jean-David Tardif – Executive Vice-President, Tissue Papers
• Julie Lachance – Vice-President, Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development