In a strategic move set to reshape the global packaging industry, Dublin-headquartered plastics manufacturer IPL has announced a merger with Dutch company Schoeller Allibert.
The alliance is poised to create a sustainability-driven packaging powerhouse, boasting combined pro forma annual revenues exceeding $1.4 billion in 2024.
The merger, expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, will form a major international packaging provider headquartered in Dublin. Alan Walsh, IPL’s current Chief Executive Officer, will take the reins of the newly formed entity.
“The future of packaging lies in sustainability, innovation and adaptability,” Mr Walsh stated in today’s announcement.
“This merger will allow IPL and Schoeller Allibert to combine our strengths on both sides of the Atlantic to meet that future together.”
“With an unwavering commitment to innovation, we will not only enhance the way we serve our customers but also optimise the skillsets of both companies to build a strong, resilient foundation for growth.”
IPL is a major force in the plastics and packaging industry, specialising in customised injection and blow-moulded containers. Its reach spans food, consumer goods, agriculture, automotive, logistics, and environmental sectors.
With 16 manufacturing plants in Canada, the US, Britain, and Belgium, as well as two product development hubs in the US and UK, IPL employs approximately 2,500 people. In 2024, the firm reported a global turnover of $822 million.
Schoeller Allibert, meanwhile, is renowned across Continental Europe for its returnable transport packaging solutions. The company serves a wide customer base across automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, retail, and cosmetics. Based in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, it operates 11 production facilities and employs around 1,600 people. Its 2024 revenue hit €550 million.
The merger will see the combined business operate across 27 manufacturing locations in Europe, the UK, and North America. It’s a significant footprint aimed at improving efficiency, innovation, and sustainability in packaging solutions.
Schoeller Allibert CEO Alejandro Cabal Uribe added: “Our combined strength in packaging solutions is well-positioned to benefit from the tailwinds for the sector, driven by corporate sustainability ambitions and evolving regulations to improve value chains and reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste.”
“We look forward to together delivering leading customer service and innovative global solutions.”
The merger is more than just numbers. It signals a concerted push towards sustainable manufacturing in the packaging world — an industry increasingly pressured by regulation, environmental concerns, and customer demand for greener alternatives.
With strongholds in both North America and Europe, the new entity is set to challenge competitors with a blend of technical expertise, global reach, and sustainable innovation.
This landmark merger places Dublin at the centre of a new global packaging empire. Combining IPL’s North American and British influence with Schoeller Allibert’s European presence, the deal is set to revolutionise how packaging is produced and delivered across key industries.
The future of packaging is not just about containers anymore. It’s about responsibility, resilience, and readiness for change.
