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More than 10,800 packaging-related jobs in the United States were affected by manufacturing facility closures and layoffs in 2025, according to Packaging Dive’s tracking. While several monthly totals exceeded 1,000 layoffs each, the pace slowed in December.
- Precision Concepts International plans to permanently close a plant in Mebane, North Carolina, around Feb. 1, according to a worker adjustment and retraining notification filed with the state. The WARN shows 59 people will be affected. PCI, a portfolio company of private equity firm The Sterling Group, in November announced it acquired fellow rigid plastic container manufacturer Comar.
- Smyth Companies, a label and flexible packaging manufacturer owned by private equity firm Crestview Partners, filed a WARN with the state of Massachusetts regarding the closure of its Wilmington facility that will affect 69 workers. The layoffs are slated to occur March 1 through July 1.
Other updates
- Domtar, based in South Carolina, disclosed in a securities filing that it would shut down a pulp mill in British Columbia, Canada, affecting 350 employees. This will reduce the company’s annual production of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp by 380,000 air-dried metric tons. The Crofton mill was slated to cease operations in December, but most employees would remain at least until February, CBC reported. Domtar anticipates the closure will result in an aggregate pre-tax earnings charge of approximately $60 million, with costs largely incurred in December 2025 and into the first half of 2026.
- Spartech disclosed in a WARN filed with the state of Indiana that it would close a plastic film manufacturing plant in Muncie, affecting all 125 full-time employees. The Muncie plant mainly produced flexible plastics for packaging used by the food and beverage, automotive and healthcare sectors. The layoffs were scheduled to begin on Dec. 23 and be complete by Feb. 13. Workers are not represented by a union and there are no bumping rights.
