A major packaging and paper products manufacturer has filed a WARN notice. According to the notice, it is closing its Virginia plant, affecting more than 100 employees. The workers are a part of a labor union that will help them through this change.
Packaging Corporation of America to Close Richmond, Virginia Plant
A WARN notice shows Packaging Corporation of America plans to close its Richmond, Virginia plant. The closure will affect all 110 employees at the facility. Discussions are ongoing for six employees at a satellite warehouse, which PCA plans to keep operating.
The closure is a business decision with an unspecified reason, and employees will be released on June 1, 2026. The WARN notice states that the employees are part of the labor union. It may help the affected employees get better compensation, extended benefits, and other advantages.
Why the Closure
The WARN notice itself does not confirm the reason for the closure that is affecting the employees. However, this is estimated to be a move to reduce production costs.
These assumptions are made on the basis of other closures that PCA initiated in Q4 of 2025. On December 3, 2025, the company announced the reconfiguration of its Wallula, Washington, plant. The closure impacted around 200 jobs to cut costs, streamline operations, and keep the plant running long-term.
About the Company
Based in Lake Forest, Illinois, Packaging Corporation of America manufactures packaging and paper products. It mainly produces cardboard boxes, containerboard, and uncoated paper products. It was founded in 1959 and went through mergers and restructuring in the 1990s.
PCA is a large U.S. packaging company that serves various industries. It is a Fortune 500 company and is part of the S&P 500 index.
The closure of the Richmond plant is set to affect over 100 employees in the community. It also highlights the challenges taking place within the industry, leading to these changes.
