Company Overview

Greif, Inc. is a global industrial packaging company that manufactures and supplies rigid industrial packaging products, flexible packaging, and integrated services. The company operates primarily within the industrial packaging, materials handling, and packaging services industries, serving customers in sectors such as chemicals, petroleum, food and beverage, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and specialty manufacturing. Greif’s core revenue drivers are the sale of steel, plastic, and fiber-based containers, along with container lifecycle services.

Founded in 1877 as a cooperage business, Greif evolved from wooden barrel production into a diversified global packaging manufacturer through organic expansion and acquisitions. The company is known for its scale in industrial packaging, a broad product portfolio, and vertically integrated operations that include raw material sourcing, manufacturing, and recycling, which collectively support cost efficiency and customer retention.

Business Operations

Greif operates through several primary business segments, including Global Industrial Packaging, Paper Packaging & Services, and Land Management. Global Industrial Packaging is the largest segment, producing steel drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), plastic drums, jerrycans, and reconditioned containers. Paper Packaging & Services includes containerboard, corrugated sheets, and packaging solutions, supported by recycled fiber mills. The Land Management segment manages timberland assets in the southeastern United States, generating revenue from timber sales and land transactions.

Operations span both domestic and international markets, with manufacturing facilities, reconditioning plants, and service centers across multiple continents. Greif controls proprietary manufacturing processes, reconditioning technologies, and a global logistics network. The company operates through numerous wholly owned subsidiaries and has historically used targeted acquisitions to expand capacity, geographic reach, and product capabilities rather than relying on large-scale joint ventures.

Strategic Position & Investments

Greif’s strategy emphasizes sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and customer-centric solutions. Key initiatives include expanding reconditioning and recycling services, investing in lightweight and high-performance packaging designs, and improving digital integration across operations. Sustainability is a central component of its strategy, with investments in circular economy solutions and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions tied to customer and regulatory expectations.

The company has completed multiple acquisitions to strengthen its industrial packaging footprint and paper packaging capabilities, including the previously acquired Caraustar Industries, which significantly expanded Greif’s paper packaging and recycling platform. Greif continues to invest in automation, data-driven manufacturing, and environmentally focused product development, while selectively divesting non-core assets to optimize capital allocation.

Geographic Footprint

Greif is headquartered in North America, with its corporate headquarters located in Delaware, Ohio. The company maintains a significant presence across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and parts of Africa, operating more than 200 facilities worldwide. Its global footprint enables it to serve multinational customers with consistent products and services across regions.

International operations account for a substantial portion of revenue, with Europe and Latin America being particularly important markets for industrial packaging. Greif’s broad geographic distribution reduces reliance on any single market and supports long-term relationships with global industrial customers requiring localized manufacturing and service capabilities.

Leadership & Governance

Greif follows a governance structure typical of publicly traded U.S. industrial companies, with oversight by a board of directors and an executive leadership team focused on operational excellence, sustainability, and disciplined capital management. The leadership philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement, safety, and long-term shareholder value creation.

Key executives include:

• Ole Rosgaard – President and Chief Executive Officer
• Larry A. Hilsheimer – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
• Bala V. Sathyanarayanan – Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
• Karin O. Kritzler – Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
• Kevin G. Stockdale – Senior Vice President, Global Industrial Packaging

The executive team’s strategic vision centers on strengthening Greif’s global packaging leadership, advancing sustainability objectives, and maintaining disciplined financial performance aligned with long-term corporate goals.