PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

Commission file number 1-15399

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(847) 482-3000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨        No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨        No  þ

At June 30, 2011, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common equity held by nonaffiliates was approximately $2,791,932,385 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange. This calculation of market value has been made for the purposes of this report only and should not be considered as an admission or conclusion by the Registrant that any person is in fact an affiliate of the Registrant.

On February 17, 2012, there were 98,426,015 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Specified portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference to the extent indicated in Part III of this Form 10-K.

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INDEX

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PART I

General

Packaging Corporation of America (we, us, our, “PCA” or the “Company”) is the fourth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated products in the United States in terms of production capacity. During 2011, we produced 2.5 million tons of containerboard at our mills, of which about 80% was consumed in PCA’s corrugated products manufacturing plants, 10% was sold to domestic customers and 10% was sold in the export market. Our corrugated products manufacturing plants sold about 32.5 billion square feet (BSF) of corrugated products. Our net sales to third parties totaled $2.6 billion in 2011.

Containerboard Production and Corrugated Shipments

In 2011, we produced 1.5 million tons of kraft linerboard at our mills in Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia, and 1.0 million tons of semi-chemical corrugating medium at our mills in Tomahawk, Wisconsin and Filer City, Michigan. We currently lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Counce and Valdosta mills. We also have supply agreements with third parties on approximately 279,000 acres of timberland.

Our corrugated products manufacturing plants produce a wide variety of corrugated packaging products, including conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods, multi-color boxes and displays with strong visual appeal that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations. In addition, we are a large producer of meat boxes and wax-coated boxes for the agricultural industry.

Industry Overview

According to the Fibre Box Association, the value of industry shipments of corrugated products was $26.1 billion in 2011.

The primary end-use markets for corrugated products are shown below (as reported in the most recent 2010 Fibre Box Association annual report):

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Corrugated products plants tend to be located in close proximity to customers to minimize freight costs. The U.S. corrugated products industry consists of approximately 575 companies and 1,245 plants.

Containerboard, which includes both linerboard and corrugating medium, is the principal raw material used to manufacture corrugated products. Linerboard is used as the inner and outer facings, or liners, of corrugated products. Corrugating medium is fluted and laminated to linerboard to produce corrugated sheets. The sheets are subsequently printed, cut, folded and glued to produce corrugated products.

Containerboard may be manufactured from both softwood and hardwood fibers, as well as from recycled fibers from used corrugated and waste from converting operations. Kraft linerboard is made predominantly from softwoods like pine. Semi-chemical corrugating medium is made from hardwoods such as oak. The finished paper product is wound into large rolls, which are slit to size as required and shipped to converters.

PCA Operations and Products

Containerboard Mills

Our two linerboard mills can manufacture a broad range of linerboard grades ranging from 26 lb. to 96 lb. Our two semi-chemical corrugating medium mills can manufacture grades ranging in weight from 20 lb. to 47 lb. Mill capacities described below are estimated based on expected mix of paper basis weights, and production can exceed estimated capacity if a higher-than-estimated mix of heavier grade paper is produced. All four of our mills have completed an extensive independent review process to become ISO 9002 certified. ISO 9002 is an international quality certification that verifies a facility maintains and follows stringent procedures for manufacturing, sales and customer service.

The following four paragraphs describe our containerboard mills’ annual practical maximum capacity, 2011 actual production and production capabilities.

Counce.    Our Counce, Tennessee mill is one of the largest kraft linerboard mills in the United States. Its year-end 2011 annual estimated production capacity, as reported to the American Forest and Paper Association (“AF&PA”), is 1,043,000 tons. In 2011, we produced 1,007,000 tons of kraft linerboard on two paper machines at Counce. The mill produces a broad range of basis weights from 26 lb. to 90 lb. The mill also produces a variety of performance and specialty grades of linerboard.

Valdosta.    Our Valdosta, Georgia mill is a kraft linerboard mill. Its year-end 2011 annual estimated production capacity, as reported to the AF&PA, is 556,000 tons. In 2011, our single paper machine at Valdosta produced 516,000 tons of kraft linerboard. Valdosta produces a range of basis weights from 35 lb. to 96 lb.

Tomahawk.    Our Tomahawk, Wisconsin mill is one of the largest semi-chemical corrugating medium mills in the United States. Its year-end 2011 annual estimated production capacity, as reported to the AF&PA, is 538,000 tons. In 2011, we produced 538,000 tons of semi-chemical corrugating medium on two paper machines at Tomahawk. The Tomahawk mill produces a broad range of basis weights from 23 lb. to 47 lb. and a variety of performance and specialty grades of corrugating medium.

Filer City.    Our Filer City, Michigan mill is a semi-chemical corrugating medium mill. Its year-end 2011 annual estimated production capacity on three paper machines, as reported to the AF&PA is 438,000 tons. In 2011, we produced 438,000 tons of corrugating medium on three paper machines at Filer City. Filer City produces corrugating medium grades ranging in basis weight from 20 lb. to 47 lb.

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Corrugated Products

We operate 71 corrugated manufacturing operations, a technical and development center, six regional graphic design centers, a rotogravure printing operation and a complement of packaging supplies and distribution centers. Of the 71 manufacturing facilities, 41 operate as combining operations, commonly called corrugated plants, that manufacture corrugated sheets and finished corrugated containers. The remaining 30 manufacturing facilities, commonly called sheet plants, procure combined sheets (primarily produced at PCA’s corrugated plants) and manufacture finished corrugated containers.

We have corrugated manufacturing operations in 26 states in the U.S., with no manufacturing facilities outside of the continental U.S. Each corrugated plant, for the most part, serves a market radius that typically averages 150 miles. Our sheet plants are generally located in close proximity to our larger corrugated plants, which enables us to offer additional services and converting capabilities such as small volume and quick turnaround items.

We produce a wide variety of products ranging from basic corrugated shipping containers to specialized packaging such as wax-coated boxes for the agriculture industry. We also have multi-color printing capabilities to make high-impact graphics boxes and displays that offer customers more attractive packaging.

Timberland

We currently lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia mills. Virtually all of the acres under cutting rights agreements are located within 100 miles of these two mills, which results in lower wood transportation costs and provides a secure source of wood fiber. These leased cutting rights agreements have terms with about 12 years remaining, on average.

During 1999 and 2000, PCA sold approximately 800,000 acres of timberland. We currently have in place supply agreements covering approximately 279,000 of the 800,000 acres sold. The majority of the acreage covered by supply agreements is located in close proximity to our Counce mill.

PCA participates in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and is certified under the SFI sourcing standards. These standards are aimed at ensuring the long-term health and conservation of forestry resources. PCA is committed to sourcing wood fiber through environmentally, socially and economically sustainable practices and promoting resource and conservation stewardship ethics.

Sales and Marketing

Our corrugated products are sold through a direct sales and marketing organization. We have sales representatives and a sales manager at most of our corrugated manufacturing operations who serve local and regional accounts. We also have corporate account managers who serve large national accounts at multiple customer locations. Additionally, our graphic design centers maintain an on-site dedicated graphics sales force. In addition to direct sales and marketing personnel, we utilize new product development engineers and product graphics and design specialists. These individuals are located at both the corrugated plants and the graphic design centers. General marketing support is located at our corporate headquarters.

Our containerboard sales group is responsible for the sale of linerboard and corrugating medium to our corrugated plants, to other domestic customers and to the export market. This group handles order processing for all shipments of containerboard from our mills to our corrugated plants. These personnel also coordinate and execute all containerboard trade agreements with other containerboard manufacturers.

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Distribution

Containerboard produced in our mills is shipped by rail or truck. Rail shipments typically represent from about 50% to 55% of the tons shipped and the remaining 45% to 50% is comprised of truck shipments. Our individual mills do not own or maintain outside warehousing facilities.

Our corrugated products are delivered by truck due to our large number of customers and their demand for timely service. Our converting operations typically service customers within a 150 miles radius. We use third-party warehouses for short-term storage of corrugated products.

Customers

PCA’s corrugated products group sells to approximately 9,000 customers in over 17,000 locations. About two-thirds of our corrugated products customers are regional and local accounts, which are broadly diversified across industries and geographic locations. The remaining one-third of our customer base consists primarily of national accounts, or those customers with a national presence. These customers typically purchase corrugated products from several of our box plants throughout the United States.

Major Raw Materials Used

Fiber supply.    Fiber is the single largest cost in the manufacture of containerboard. PCA consumes both wood fiber and recycled fiber in its containerboard mills. We have no 100% recycled mills, or those mills whose fiber consumption consists solely of recycled fiber. To reduce our fiber costs, we have invested in processes and equipment to ensure a high degree of fiber flexibility. Our mill system has the capability to shift a portion of its fiber consumption between softwood, hardwood and recycled sources. All of our mills, other than our Valdosta mill, can utilize some recycled fiber in their containerboard production. Our ability to use various types of virgin and recycled fiber helps mitigate the impact of changes in the prices of various fibers. Our corrugated manufacturing operations generate recycled fiber as a by-product from the manufacturing process, which is sold to our mills directly or through trade agreements. During 2011, our containerboard mills consumed approximately 625,000 tons of recycled fiber, and our corrugated converting operations generated approximately 208,000 tons of recycled fiber. As a result, PCA was a net recycled fiber buyer of 417,000 tons, or 17% of PCA’s total fiber requirements.

Energy supply.    Energy at PCA’s four mills is obtained through purchased or self-generated fuels and electricity. Fuel sources include coal, natural gas, oil, purchased wood waste and by-products of the containerboard manufacturing and pulping process, including black liquor and wood waste. Each of PCA’s mills self-generate process steam requirements from by-products (black liquor and wood waste), as well as from the various purchased fuels. The process steam is used throughout the production process and also to generate electricity.

In 2011, PCA’s four mills consumed about 41 million MMBTU’s to produce both steam and electricity. Of the 41 million MMBTU’s consumed, about 62% was from mill generated by-products, and 38% was from purchased fuels. Of the 38% in purchased fuels, 34% was from coal, 28% from purchased wood waste, and 33% from natural gas.

In 2011, our mills purchased approximately 9.0 million CkWh (hundred kilowatt hours) of electricity, or the equivalent of 3.1 million MMBTU’s. Approximately 45% of the electricity consumed by our four mills in 2011 was generated on-site.

In 2011, PCA’s corrugated products plants consumed about 2.1 million MMBTU’s of natural gas.

In October 2009, PCA announced major energy optimization projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills, to significantly reduce fuel and electricity purchases at these mills and reduce fossil fuel consumption at

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these facilities. The projects were completed in the fourth quarter of 2011 and include a new recovery boiler and turbine generator at the Valdosta mill and a rebuild and upgrade of two existing recovery boilers and a new turbine generator at the Counce mill. We expect these projects to reduce our mill purchased fuels and electricity.

Competition

According to industry sources, corrugated products are produced by about 575 U.S. companies operating approximately 1,245 plants. Most corrugated products are manufactured to the customer’s specifications. Corrugated producers generally sell within a 150-mile radius of their plants and compete with other corrugated producers in their local market. In fact, the Fibre Box Association tracks industry data by 47 distinct market regions.

The larger, multi-plant integrated companies may also solicit larger, multi-plant customers who purchase for all of their facilities on a consolidated basis. These customers are often referred to as national or corporate accounts.

Corrugated products businesses seek to differentiate themselves through pricing, quality, service, design and product innovation. We compete for both local and national account business, and we compete against producers of other types of packaging products. On a national level, our primary competitors include International Paper Company, Georgia-Pacific (owned by Koch Industries, Inc.) and Rock-Tenn Company. However, with our strategic focus on local and regional accounts, we also compete with the smaller, independent converters.

Our principal competitors with respect to sales of our containerboard produced but not consumed at our own corrugated products plants are a number of large, diversified paper companies, including International Paper Company, Georgia-Pacific and Rock-Tenn Company, as well as other regional manufacturers. Containerboard is generally considered a commodity-type product and can be purchased from numerous suppliers.

Employees

As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately 8,300 employees. Approximately 2,500 of these employees were salaried and approximately 5,800 were hourly. Approximately 75% of our hourly employees are represented by unions. The majority of our unionized employees are represented by the United Steel Workers (USW), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

Based on an agreement reached with the USW in August 2008, the existing labor agreements at our containerboard mills covering USW-represented employees (88% of mill hourly workforce) were extended five years. With this extension, the USW contracts at our mills are currently set to expire between September 2013 and June 2015. Agreements with other union mill employees (12% of mill hourly workforce) expire between June 2012 and October 2014. Based on an agreement reached with the USW in April 2009, the labor agreement at 25 corrugated plants covering USW represented employees was extended up to five years. Contracts for unionized corrugated products plant employees expire between February 2012 and December 2017. We are currently in negotiations to renew or extend any union contracts that have recently expired or are expiring in the near future.

During 2011, we experienced no work stoppages and have experienced no instances of significant work stoppages in the five years prior to 2011. We believe we have satisfactory labor relations with our employees.

Environmental Matters

Compliance with environmental requirements is a significant factor in our business operations. We commit substantial resources to maintaining environmental compliance and managing environmental risk. We are subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. The most significant of these laws affecting us are:

1.   Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

2.   Clean Water Act (CWA)

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3.   Clean Air Act (CAA)

4.   The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act (EPCRA)

5.   Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)

6.   Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

We believe that we are currently in material compliance with these and all applicable environmental rules and regulations. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with these and other environmental laws. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we spent approximately $26.0 million, $24.6 million and $26.4 million, respectively, to comply with the requirements of these and other environmental laws. Additionally, total capital costs for environmental matters were $2.8 million, $1.1 million and $0.4 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We currently estimate 2012 environmental capital expenditures will be $1.0 million. We work diligently to anticipate and budget for the impact of applicable environmental regulations, and do not currently expect that future environmental compliance obligations will materially affect our business or financial condition.

In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) published the Boiler MACT regulations, establishing air emissions standards and certain other requirements for industrial boilers. These regulations were vacated and remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2007. The EPA proposed final regulations in March 2011, which would require compliance in 2014. During 2011, the EPA determined that it would reconsider certain provisions of the Boiler MACT regulations and, in December 2011, the EPA published proposed rules containing changes to the March 2011 rules. The EPA may make further changes to the proposed rules. PCA is currently assessing the impact of these regulations on its operations which could require significant modifications to certain of PCA’s boilers. Due to the complexity of these regulations, and the potential for additional future regulatory or judicial modification to these regulations, the timing and amount of expenditures to be made by PCA are uncertain, but could be significant during the period before compliance is required.

As is the case with any industrial operation, we have in the past incurred costs associated with the remediation of soil or groundwater contamination. From 1994 through 2011, remediation costs at our mills and converting plants totaled approximately $3.2 million. We do not believe that any ongoing remedial projects are material in nature. As of December 31, 2011, we maintained an environmental reserve of $10.5 million, which includes funds relating to on-site landfill and surface impoundments as well as ongoing and anticipated remedial projects. Of the $10.5 million reserve, $5.1 million is reserved for our landfill obligations, which are accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations.” We believe these reserves are adequate.

We could also incur environmental liabilities as a result of claims by third parties for civil damages, including liability for personal injury or property damage, arising from releases of hazardous substances or contamination. We are not aware of any material claims of this type currently pending against us.

On April 12, 1999, Pactiv Corporation, formerly known as Tenneco Packaging Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenneco Inc., sold its containerboard and corrugated products business to PCA, an entity formed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm. As a part of the April 12, 1999 transaction, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with pre-closing offsite waste disposal. Pactiv also retained environmental liability for a closed landfill located near the Filer City mill.

As of the date of this filing, we believe that it is not reasonably possible that future environmental expenditures above the $10.5 million accrued as of December 31, 2011 will have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

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While legislation regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed at the federal level, it is uncertain whether such legislation will be passed and, if so, what the breadth and scope of such legislation will be. The result of the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions could be an increase in our future environmental compliance costs, through caps, taxes or additional capital expenditures to modify facilities, which may be material. However, climate change legislation and the resulting future energy policy could also provide us with opportunities if the use of renewable energy is encouraged. We currently generate a significant portion of our power requirements for our mills using bark, black liquor and biomass as fuel, which are derived from renewable resources. Our recently-completed major energy projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills are expected to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels at those facilities, while providing more efficient power generation at those facilities. While we believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of any renewable energy incentives, it is uncertain what the ultimate costs and opportunities of any climate change legislation will be and how our business and industry will be affected.

Available Information

PCA’s internet website address is www.packagingcorp.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, our Code of Ethics may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of PCA’s website. PCA’s website and the information contained or incorporated therein are not intended to be incorporated into this report.

Financial Information About Segments

We operate as one segment and our revenues are generated primarily in one geographic segment. See “Segment Information” of Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Some of the statements in this report and, in particular, statements found in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations regarding our future earnings and financial condition. These statements are often identified by the words “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “hope,” or similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. These factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors described below.

Our actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, and accordingly, we can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. In view of these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect the occurrence of events after the date hereof.

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Industry Risks

Industry Cyclicality — Imbalances of supply and demand for containerboard could affect the price at which we can sell containerboard and corrugated products, and as a result, could result in lower selling prices and earnings.

The price of containerboard could fall if the supply of containerboard available for sale in the market exceeds the demand. The demand for containerboard is driven by market needs for containerboard in the United States and abroad to manufacture corrugated shipping containers. Market needs or demand are driven by both global and U.S. business conditions. If supply exceeds demand, prices for containerboard and corrugated products could decline, resulting in decreased earnings and cash generated from operations.

Competition — The intensity of competition in the containerboard and corrugated packaging industry could result in downward pressure on pricing and volume, which could lower earnings and cash generated from operations.

The containerboard and corrugated products industry is highly competitive, with no single containerboard or corrugated packaging producer having a dominant position. Containerboard cannot generally be differentiated by producer, which tends to intensify price competition. The corrugated packaging industry is also sensitive to changes in economic conditions, as well as other factors including innovation, design, quality and service. To the extent that one or more competitors are more successful with respect to any key competitive factor, our business could be adversely affected. Our products also compete, to some extent, with various other packaging materials, including products made of paper, plastics, wood and various types of metal. The intensity of competition could lead to a reduction in our market share as well as lower sales prices for our products, both of which could reduce our earnings and cash flow.

Company Risks

Cost of Fiber — An increase in the cost of fiber could increase our manufacturing costs and lower our earnings.

PCA has supply agreements at market prices for wood fiber to be consumed at our Counce, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia mills on approximately 279,000 acres of timberland. In addition to these supply agreements, PCA also secures wood fiber from various other sources at market prices.

PCA purchases recycled fiber for use at three of its four containerboard mills. PCA currently purchases, net of recycled fiber generated at its box plants, approximately 400,000 to 450,000 tons of recycled fiber per year. The amount of recycled fiber purchased each year depends on the prices of both recycled fiber and wood fiber as the company attempts to minimize total fiber costs.

The market price of wood fiber varies based upon availability and source. In addition, the increase in demand of products manufactured, in whole or in part, from recycled fiber, on a global basis, has caused an occasional tightening in the supply of recycled fiber. These periods of supply and demand imbalance have tended to create significant price volatility. Periods of above average fiber costs and unusual price volatility have occurred in the past and may occur again in the future, which could result in lower or volatile earnings.

Cost of Purchased Energy and Chemicals — An increase in the cost of purchased energy and chemicals could lead to higher manufacturing costs, resulting in reduced earnings.

PCA has the capability to use various types of purchased fuels in its manufacturing operations, including coal, bark, natural gas and oil. Energy prices, in particular prices for oil and natural gas, have fluctuated dramatically in the past. In addition, costs for key chemicals used in our manufacturing have risen. These fluctuations impact our manufacturing costs and result in earnings volatility. If energy and chemical prices rise, our production costs and transportation costs will increase, which will lead to higher manufacturing costs and reduced earnings.

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Material Disruption of Manufacturing — A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales and/or negatively impact our results of operation and financial condition.

Our business depends on continuous operation of our facilities, particularly at our mills. Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within such facilities, could cease operations unexpectedly for a long period of time due to a number of events, including unscheduled maintenance outages; prolonged power failures; an equipment failure; fire; explosion of a boiler; labor difficulties; natural catastrophes; terrorism; governmental regulations; and other operational problems. These events could cause us to be unable to service our customers or lead to higher costs and reduced earnings.

Environmental Matters — PCA may incur significant environmental liabilities with respect to both past and future operations.

We are subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with those laws. See Item 1. “Business — Environmental Matters” for certain estimates of expenditures we expect to make for environmental compliance in the next few years. In addition, environmental regulations may increase the cost of our raw materials and purchased energy. Although we have established reserves to provide for known environmental liabilities as of the date of this filing, these reserves may change over time due to the enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, which might require additional significant environmental expenditures.

Investment Risks

Market Price of our Common Stock — The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment to decline.

Securities markets worldwide periodically experience significant price declines and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. In addition, our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors, and in response, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly.

General Risks

Economic Conditions — Our earnings and cash generated from operations could be significantly lower if a severe downturn in the U.S. economy occurs again.

Our operations and financial performance are directly impacted by changes in the U.S. economy, and to a lesser extent, by global economic conditions. The significant downturn in the U.S. economy impacted our industry and PCA in late 2008 and continued into 2009, lowering the demand for our products and our mill production. This lower demand and production reduced our revenues, increased our unit production costs, and lowered our earnings and our cash generated from operations during those periods. Demand for our products and PCA’s mill production improved during 2010 and continued to improve in 2011. It is unknown whether economic conditions will again deteriorate or continue to improve. In the event that economic conditions deteriorate, our operating and financial performance will be adversely impacted. Lower earnings and reduced cash flow could impact our ability to fund operations, capital requirements, and common stock dividend payments, and another prolonged and severe downturn could possibly impact our ability to comply with our debt covenants.

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None.

The table below provides a summary of our containerboard mills, the principal products produced and each mill’s year-end 2011 annual practical maximum capacity based upon all of our paper machines’ production capabilities, as reported to the AF&PA:

We currently own our four containerboard mills and 44 of our corrugated manufacturing operations (37 corrugated plants and seven sheet plants). We also own one warehouse and miscellaneous other property, which includes sales offices and woodlands management offices. These sales offices and woodlands management offices generally have one to four employees and serve as administrative offices. PCA leases the space for four corrugated plants, 23 sheet plants, six regional design centers, and numerous other distribution centers, warehouses and facilities. The equipment in these leased facilities is, in virtually all cases, owned by PCA, except for forklifts and other rolling stock which are generally leased.

We lease the cutting rights to approximately 88,000 acres of timberland located near our Valdosta mill (77,000 acres) and our Counce mill (11,000 acres). On average, these cutting rights agreements have terms with approximately 12 years remaining.

Our corporate headquarters is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The headquarters facility is leased for the next ten years with provisions for two additional five year lease extensions.

During September and October 2010, PCA and eight other U.S. and Canadian containerboard producers were named as defendants in five purported class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging violations of the Sherman Act. The lawsuits have been consolidated in a single complaint under the caption Kleen Products LLC v Packaging Corp. of America et al. The consolidated complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to limit the supply of containerboard, and that the purpose and effect of the alleged conspiracy was to artificially increase prices of containerboard products during the period from August 2005 to the time of filing of the complaints. The complaint was filed as a purported class action suit on behalf of all purchasers of containerboard products during such period. The complaint seeks treble damages and costs, including attorney’s fees. The defendants’ motions to dismiss the complaint were denied by the court in April 2011. PCA believes the allegations are without merit and will defend this lawsuit vigorously. However, as the lawsuit is in the early stages of discovery, PCA is unable to predict the ultimate outcome or estimate a range of reasonably possible losses.

PCA is a party to various other legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. These legal actions cover a broad variety of claims spanning our entire business. As of the date of this filing, we believe it is not reasonably possible that the resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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None.

Brief statements setting forth the age at February 21, 2012, the principal occupation, employment during the past five years, the year in which such person first became an officer of PCA, and other information concerning each of our executive officers appears below.

Paul T. Stecko is 67 years old and has served as Executive Chairman of PCA since July 2010. He served as Chief Executive Officer from January 1999 through June 2010 and has been Chairman of PCA’s Board of Directors since March 1999. From November 1998 to April 1999, Mr. Stecko served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Tenneco Inc. From January 1997 to November 1998, Mr. Stecko served as Chief Operating Officer of Tenneco. From December 1993 through January 1997, Mr. Stecko served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tenneco Packaging Inc. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. Stecko spent 16 years with International Paper Company. Mr. Stecko is a member of the board of directors of Tenneco Inc., Smurfit Kappa Group Limited and State Farm Mutual Insurance Company.

Mark W. Kowlzan is 56 years old and has served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of PCA since July 2010. From 1998 through June 2010, Mr. Kowlzan led the company’s containerboard mill system, first as Vice President and General Manager and then as Senior Vice President — Containerboard. From 1996 through 1998, Mr. Kowlzan served in various senior mill-related operating positions with PCA and Tenneco Packaging, including as manager of the Counce linerboard mill. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. Kowlzan spent 15 years at International Paper Company, where he held a series of operational and managerial positions within its mill organization. Mr. Kowlzan is a member of the board of American Forest and Paper Association.

Thomas A. Hassfurther is 56 years old and has served as Executive Vice President — Corrugated Products of PCA since September 2009. From February 2005 to September 2009, Mr. Hassfurther served as Senior Vice President — Sales and Marketing, Corrugated Products. Prior to this he held various senior-level management and sales positions at PCA and Tenneco Packaging. Mr. Hassfurther joined the company in 1977.

Richard B. West is 59 years old and has served as Chief Financial Officer of PCA since March 1999 and as Senior Vice President since March 2002. From April 1999 to June 2007, Mr. West also served as Corporate Secretary. From 1995 through April 1999, Mr. West served in various senior financial positions with PCA and Tenneco Packaging. Prior to joining Tenneco Packaging, Mr. West spent 20 years with International Paper Company in various financial positions.

Thomas W.H. Walton is 52 years old and has served as Senior Vice President — Sales and Marketing, Corrugated Products since October 2009. Prior to this, he served as a Vice President and Area General Manager within the Corrugated Products Group since 1998. Mr. Walton joined the company in 1981 and has also held plant positions in production, sales and general management.

Stephen T. Calhoun is 66 years old and has served as Vice President — Human Resources of PCA since November 2002. Prior to this, he served in a variety of human resource positions at both the operational and corporate level. Prior to joining the company in 1989, Mr. Calhoun spent 15 years with American Can Company where he held several human resources and manufacturing positions.

Charles J. Carter is 52 years old and has served as Vice President — Containerboard Mill Operations since January 2011. From March 2010 to January 2011, Mr. Carter served as PCA’s Director of Papermaking Technology. Prior to joining PCA in 2010, Mr. Carter spent 28 years with various pulp and paper companies in managerial and technical positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President and General Manager of the Calhoun, Tennessee mill of Abitibi Bowater from 2007 to 2010 and as manager of SP Newsprint’s Dublin, Georgia mill from 1999 to 2007.

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PART II

Market Information

PCA’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PKG”. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices and dividends as reported by the New York Stock Exchange during the last two years.

Stockholders

As of February 17, 2012, there were 89 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

PCA expects to continue to pay regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to the timing or level of future dividend payments because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.

On February 22, 2011, PCA announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend on its company stock from an annual payout of $0.60 per share to $0.80 per share. The first quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share was paid to shareholders on April 15, 2011.

Sales of Unregistered Securities

No equity securities of PCA were sold by PCA during fiscal year 2011 which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

Purchases of Equity Securities

Stock Repurchase Programs

On October 17, 2007, PCA announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million common stock repurchase program, which it completed during the second quarter of 2011. Through June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased 6,422,587 shares of common stock, with 863,466 shares repurchased for $24.1 million, or an average of $27.94 per share, during 2011. All shares repurchased under this authorization were retired prior to June 30, 2011.

On February 22, 2011, PCA announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of an additional $100.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Through December 31, 2011, the Company repurchased 3,960,555 shares of common stock for $99.0 million, or an average of $24.99 per share. All but 2,355 shares repurchased were retired prior to December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, $1.0 million of the $100.0 million authorization remained available for repurchase of the Company’s common stock.

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On December 14, 2011, PCA announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of an additional $150.0 million of its common stock. The full amount of the authorization remained available for repurchase of PCA’s common stock at December 31, 2011.

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2011:

Of the 1,270,615 shares purchased during the fourth quarter of 2011, 2,355 shares were held in treasury as of December 31, 2011. These shares were subsequently retired in January 2012.

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Performance Graph

The graph below compares PCA’s cumulative 5-year total shareholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 index; the S&P Midcap 400 index; and a Peer Group that includes five publicly-traded companies, which are International Paper Company, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Temple Inland Inc., Rock-Tenn Company and Boise Inc. Beginning in 2011, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is not included in the peer group as it was acquired in 2011 by Rock-Tenn Company. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock, in each index, and in the peer group (including the reinvestment of all dividends) from December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2011. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

* $100 invested on 12/31/06 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

Fiscal year ending December 31.

Copyright^© 2012 S&P, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.

The information in the graph and table above is not deemed “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of PCA’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except to the extent that PCA specifically incorporates such information by reference.

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The following table sets forth the selected historical financial data of PCA. The information contained in the table should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements of PCA, including the notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this report.

The following discussion of historical results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this report.

Overview

PCA is the fourth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated products in the United States, based on production capacity. We operate four containerboard mills and 71 corrugated products manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Approximately 80% of the containerboard tons produced at our mills are consumed in our corrugated products manufacturing plants. The remaining 20% is sold to domestic customers or the export market. We produce a wide variety of corrugated products ranging from basic corrugated shipping containers to specialized packaging such as wax-coated boxes for the agriculture industry. We also have multi-color printing capabilities to make high-impact graphics boxes and displays that offer our customers more attractive packaging.

In analyzing our operating performance, we focus on the following factors that affect our business and are important to consider when reviewing our financial and operating results:

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Historically, supply and demand, as well as industry-wide inventory levels, have influenced prices of containerboard and corrugated products. In addition to U.S. shipments, approximately 10% of domestically produced containerboard has been exported for use in other countries.

The market for containerboard and corrugated products is generally subject to changes in the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy grew at a slower rate in 2011 than it did in 2010 as real GDP increased 1.7% in 2011 compared to a 3.0% increase in 2010 as reported by the U. S. Department of Commerce. Industry-wide corrugated products shipments increased 0.5% in 2011 compared to 2010 and containerboard production was 0.3% higher than in 2010 as reported by industry trade publications. PCA experienced improvement in demand that exceeded the industry average, and for the year, our corrugated products shipments were up 5.0% compared to 2010, and containerboard production increased from 2,443,000 tons to 2,499,000 tons, or up 2.3% setting a new record for annual production. Industry containerboard inventories at the end of December 2011 were 2.35 million tons, more than 65,000 tons below the ten-year average for year-ending levels.

Average prices for containerboard and corrugated products were higher during 2011 compared to 2010, reflecting a full year of the two published price increases that occurred in 2010. During 2011 the published price in industry trade publications for containerboard did not change.

Increased pricing and improved demand favorably impacted PCA’s 2011 earnings compared to 2010. However, they were offset by higher costs for transportation, chemicals, fiber, labor and other input items. Published recycled fiber costs in 2011 increased, on average, approximately 20% compared to 2010. At the end of 2011, published recycled fiber prices did decline and entered 2012 below the 2011 average price. Wood fiber costs in 2011 were essentially unchanged from 2010 levels as weather conditions in the U.S. South were favorable for access to wood fiber. Transportation costs increased 9% from prior year levels as average diesel prices, as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, increased 28% from the 2010 average price. Labor related costs increased reflecting annual merit increases and increased costs for medical insurance and workers’ compensation. Our prices paid for purchased fuels and electricity each averaged approximately 5% higher for 2011 compared to the 2010 average.

As disclosed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, PCA is a producer of black liquor, which is considered an alternative fuel when mixed with diesel, making the black liquor an alternative fuel eligible for a $0.50 per gallon refundable alternative fuel mixture tax credit through December 31, 2009. In an IRS memorandum released during the second quarter of 2010, the IRS concluded that black liquor also qualifies for the taxable cellulosic biofuel producer credit of $1.01 per gallon of biofuel produced in 2009. In a subsequent memorandum, the IRS concluded that a black liquor producer may claim the alternative fuel mixture credit and the cellulosic biofuel producer credit in the same taxable year for different volumes of black liquor (the same gallon of fuel cannot receive both credits, but different gallons of fuel can be claimed as either the alternative fuel mixture credit or the cellulosic biofuel producer credit). PCA received the required cellulosic biofuel producer registration code in September 2010.

Prior to the IRS’s memoranda and guidance regarding the cellulosic biofuel producer credits, PCA had recorded all tax credits resulting from black liquor production before December 31, 2009 as alternative fuel mixture tax credits, resulting in $171.3 million in income in 2009 and an additional $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2010. Based upon both IRS memoranda and the 2010 guidance regarding the cellulosic biofuel producer credit, PCA analyzed the additional potential benefits from claiming the cellulosic biofuel producer credit for 2009 instead of the alternative fuel mixture credit, or claiming a combination of the two credits for 2009. For the gallons of alternative fuels produced in 2009, PCA claimed about two-thirds of the gallons as cellulosic biofuel producer credits and about one-third of the gallons as alternative fuel mixture credits, resulting in additional income of $38.5 million in 2010 and a reserve for uncertain tax positions of $102.0 million. This

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reserve relates to uncertainty concerning the proprietary biofuel process at the Company’s Filer City corrugating medium mill. Due to the unique and proprietary nature of the Filer City mill process, IRS guidelines do not specifically address the process and uncertainty exists. As a result, the Company recorded a $102.0 million reserve for uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” As of December 31, 2011, including the $102.0 million recorded as an uncertain tax position under ASC 740, PCA had as much as $167.5 million of tax credits to be used to offset future tax payments. The cellulosic biofuel producer credit is a taxable credit. However, the laws governing the taxability of the alternative fuel mixture credit are not completely defined. The IRS has not issued definitive guidance regarding such taxability. PCA believes that the manner in which the credit was claimed will not subject the Company to federal or state income taxes on such benefits. If it is determined that any of the alternative fuel mixture credits are subject to taxation, PCA will be required to pay those taxes and take a corresponding charge to its net income. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company received notification that the IRS will begin its review of the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits claimed in the 2009 federal income tax return, and such review is under way.

On February 3, 2012, PCA amended its 2009 tax return to reflect a change in claimed gallons between the alternative fuel mixture credits and the cellulosic biofuel producer credits. This change is expected to result in a first quarter 2012 non-cash, after-tax charge of $23 million.

Excluding charges of $4.8 million, or $0.05 per share, for asset disposals related to major energy projects and income of $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share, for an adjustment related to medical benefits reserves, we earned net income of $161.8 million ($1.61 per diluted share) for the full year of 2011. This compares with $166.3 million ($1.62 per diluted share) for the comparable period in 2010, excluding the income impact of the tax credits noted above of $47.7 million ($0.46 per share) and charges of $8.6 million ($0.08 per diluted share) for asset disposals related to major energy projects and other assets no longer in service and facility closure costs. Management excludes the above items and uses these measures to focus on PCA’s on-going operations and assess its operating performance and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. Reconciliations to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP are included elsewhere in Item 7 under “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts.”

In the first quarter of 2012, our corrugated products shipments should be higher with four additional workdays compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, and we also expect a full quarter’s earnings benefit from our major energy projects. We expect normal first quarter cost increases from colder weather, annual maintenance outages at our Counce and Valdosta mills, timing related employee benefits, a higher tax rate and pension expense. Average export containerboard prices are expected to be lower reflecting the full impact of fourth quarter price changes. Considering all of these items we expect first quarter earnings, excluding special items (including the non-cash charge described above), to be approximately equal to reported earnings of $0.40 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2011.

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Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2010

The historical results of operations of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are set forth below:

Net Sales

Net sales increased by $184.5 million, or 7.6%, for the year ended December 31, 2011 from the year ended December 31, 2010. Net sales increased primarily as a result of increased sales volumes of corrugated products and containerboard ($122.6 million) and higher sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($61.9 million).

Total corrugated products volume sold increased 5.0% to 32.5 billion square feet in 2011 compared to 31.0 billion square feet in 2010. On a comparable shipment-per-workday basis, corrugated products sales volume also increased 5.0% in 2011 versus 2010. Shipments-per-workday is calculated by dividing our total corrugated products volume during the year by the number of workdays within the year. Both 2011 and 2010 contained 251 workdays, those days not falling on a weekend or holiday. Containerboard sales volume to external domestic and export customers increased 1.2% to 513,000 tons for the year ended December 31, 2011 from 507,000 tons in 2010.

Income from Operations

Income from operations increased by $87.3 million, or 47.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 2010. As noted in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, PCA received the cellulosic biofuel producer registration in September 2010. As a result, our 2010 income from operations was reduced primarily due to reversing a portion of our 2009 alternative fuel mixture credits out of income from operations ($96.0 million) in order to claim cellulosic biofuel credits which were recorded in the provision for income taxes ($135.5 million) in 2010. In addition, income from operations included alternative fuel mixture credits in the amount of $9.2 million in 2010. Excluding special items (as detailed below under “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts”), income from operations decreased $6.8 million for full year 2011. This decrease was primarily attributable to increased costs for transportation ($20.5 million), chemicals ($16.7 million), labor ($13.4 million), recycled fiber ($10.0 million), medical and workers’ compensation ($8.9 million), depreciation ($8.1 million), energy ($4.8 million), the impact of severe winter weather in first quarter 2011 ($3.5 million), legal services ($2.3 million), travel, entertainment and meetings ($1.9 million), warehousing requirements ($1.7 million), building repairs ($1.5 million), environmental expenses ($1.4 million) and other fringe benefits ($1.2 million). These increases were partially offset by increased sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($61.9 million) and higher sales volume ($29.4 million).

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Gross profit increased $9.7 million, or 1.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2011 from the year ended December 31, 2010. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased from 21.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2010 to 20.7% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2011 primarily due to cost increases on a per unit basis described above.

Selling and administrative expenses increased $11.5 million, or 6.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2011 from the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily as a result of increased salary expense ($4.3 million) reflecting annual merit increases, fringe benefits ($1.3 million), warehouse costs related to customer requirements ($1.7 million), travel and meeting costs ($1.6 million) and other increased costs which were individually insignificant.

Corporate overhead for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased $6.4 million, or 11.1%, from the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily attributable to increased salary and fringe benefit expenses ($4.0 million) and increased costs for professional services related to legal matters ($2.3 million).

Other expense, net, decreased $9.2 million, or 46.3% for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. The decrease was primarily due to closure costs at two facilities ($4.2 million) and costs related to the write-off of paper machine assets at Tomahawk ($2.8 million) in 2010 in addition to reduced fixed asset disposal costs ($1.6 million).

Interest Expense, Net and Income Taxes

Net interest expense decreased by $3.1 million, or 9.6%, for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily as a result of higher capitalized interest ($2.2 million) related to the Counce and Valdosta major energy optimization projects during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

PCA’s effective tax rate was 35.1% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and (34.2)% for the year ended December 31, 2010 due to the impact of recording the alternative fuel mixture tax credits in 2010. Excluding the impact of the tax credits, the 2010 effective tax rate would have been 34.5% for the year ended December 31, 2010. The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0% principally due to the impact of the alternative fuel mixture tax credits (in 2010), state and local income taxes and the domestic manufacturers’ deduction. PCA had no material changes to its uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” during 2011. In March 2011, the Company was notified by the Internal Revenue Service that it will begin its review of the 2008 and 2009 federal tax returns in the second quarter of 2011. This review is under way.

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009

The historical results of operations of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are set forth below:

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Net Sales

Net sales increased by $288.0 million, or 13.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009. Net sales increased primarily as a result of increased sales volumes of corrugated products and containerboard ($176.7 million) and higher sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($111.3 million).

Total corrugated products volume sold increased 7.2% to 31.0 billion square feet in 2010 compared to 28.9 billion square feet in 2009. On a comparable shipment-per-workday basis, corrugated products sales volume increased 6.8% in 2010 from 2009. Shipments-per-workday is calculated by dividing our total corrugated products volume during the year by the number of workdays within the year. The larger percentage increase, on a total shipments basis, was due to the fact that 2010 had one more workday (251 days), those days not falling on a weekend or holiday, than 2009 (250 days). Containerboard sales volume to external domestic and export customers increased 17.6% to 507,000 tons for the year ended December 31, 2010 from 431,000 tons in 2009.

Income from Operations

Income from operations decreased by $167.1 million, or 47.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to 2009. As noted in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, PCA received the cellulosic biofuel producer registration in September 2010. As a result, our 2010 income from operations was reduced primarily due to reversing a portion of our 2009 alternative fuel mixture credits out of income from operations ($96.0 million) in order to claim cellulosic biofuel credits which were recorded in the provision for income taxes ($135.5 million) in 2010. In addition, income from operations included alternative fuel mixture credits in the amounts of $168.4 million and $9.2 million, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. Excluding special items (as detailed below under “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts”), income from operations increased $99.4 million for full year 2010. This increase was primarily attributable to increased sales prices of corrugated products and containerboard ($111.3 million), higher sales volume ($58.4 million) partially offset by increased costs for fiber ($47.8 million), transportation ($10.6 million), labor and fringe benefits ($7.8 million) and maintenance and building repairs ($7.3 million).

Gross profit increased $105.6 million, or 24.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased from 19.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2009 to 21.9% of net sales in the year ended December 31, 2010 primarily due to the increases of sales prices and volume described previously.

Selling and administrative expenses increased $9.0 million, or 5.2% for the year ended December 31, 2010 from the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of increased salary expense ($6.1 million) including annual merit increases, incentive compensation, and temporary labor, labor related benefits ($1.0 million), travel and meeting costs ($1.1 million) and broker commissions ($0.7 million).

Corporate overhead for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $3.5 million, or 6.4%, from the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to increased salary and fringe benefit expenses ($2.3 million) and costs for professional services regarding legal, tax and audit matters ($1.2 million).

Other expense, net, increased $5.4 million, or 37.4% for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to closure costs at two facilities ($4.2 million) and costs related to the write-off of paper machine assets at Tomahawk ($2.8 million), partially offset by reduced expenses related to legal claims ($1.5 million).

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Interest Expense, Net and Income Taxes

Net interest expense decreased by $3.2 million, or 9.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of higher capitalized interest ($3.9 million) related to the Counce and Valdosta major energy optimization projects during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

Due to the impact of recording the fuel tax credits, PCA’s effective tax rate was (34.2%) for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 16.1% for the year ended December 31, 2009. Excluding the impact of the fuel tax credits, the effective tax rate would have been 34.5% for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 36.3% for the same period in 2009. The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0% principally due to the impact of the fuel tax credits, state and local income taxes and the domestic manufacturers’ deduction. PCA recorded a material change in its uncertain tax positions under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” of $102.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the amendment of the 2009 federal income tax return to claim gallons of alternative fuel produced at the Filer City, Michigan mill. Due to the proprietary nature of the biofuel process at the Filer City mill, uncertainty as to total fuel gallons qualifying for the credit exists, which caused the additional reserve. Pending the timing and the outcome of the IRS review that is currently under way, which is not determinable at this time, the reserve for uncertain tax positions could change significantly.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $345.5 million compared to $349.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of $4.4 million, or 1.3%. Net income, excluding the income from the tax credits (described in Note 16 to the financial statements included in this report) of $47.7 million in 2010, was $158.0 million and $157.7 million, respectively, for 2011 and 2010. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense was higher by $7.7 million (primarily due to increased depreciation from the recently-completed major energy projects) and requirements for operating assets and liabilities were lower by $14.1 million in 2011 compared to 2010, which increased net cash provided by operating activities. The change in operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to an improvement in accounts receivable ($33.3 million) resulting from price increases in 2010 and favorable changes in inventory ($20.0 million) in 2011 compared to 2010 due to a 2010 build in inventory in anticipation of the downtime related to the major energy project work completed in 2011. This was partially offset by unfavorable changes in accounts payable ($26.1 million) and higher pension contributions ($6.9 million) in 2011 compared to 2010. In addition, PCA utilized fewer alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer credits to reduce federal tax payments in 2011 than it did in 2010, resulting in higher cash taxes paid ($33.6 million) in 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Cash requirements for operating activities are subject to PCA’s operating needs, the timing of collection of receivables and payments of payables and expenses, and seasonal fluctuations in its operations.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $349.9 million compared to $306.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $43.8 million, or 14.3%. Net

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income, excluding the income from the tax credits (described in Note 16 to the financial statements included in this report) of $47.7 million in 2010 and $171.3 million in 2009, was $157.7 million and $94.6 million, respectively, for 2010 and 2009, an increase of $63.1 million that increased net cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, more alternative fuel mixture and cellulosic biofuel producer tax credits ($24.2 million) were used to reduce federal tax payments during 2010 compared to 2009. During 2010, PCA’s cash taxes paid for both federal and state income taxes were $19.1 million. This was partially offset by higher requirements for operating assets and liabilities ($51.6 million) driven by higher accounts receivable levels in 2010 as a result of both higher 2010 sales volumes and pricing.

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased $28.8 million, or 9.0%, to $350.1 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily related to $57.3 million in corrugated products business acquisitions completed in 2011 and higher additions to other long-term assets of $10.4 million in 2011 compared to 2010. This was partially offset by lower additions to property, plant and equipment of $40.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to reduced spending ($55.9 million) on the major energy optimization projects.

Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $202.0 million, or 169.3%, to $321.3 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily related to higher additions to property, plant and equipment of $206.0 million, which included $175.9 million for the major energy optimization projects at our linerboard mills, during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Partially offsetting this increase was a $3.1 million acquisition completed during the third quarter of 2009 as described in Note 18 to the financial statements.

As of December 31, 2011, PCA had commitments for general purpose capital expenditures of $40.4 million. PCA believes that cash-on-hand combined with cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund these commitments.

Financing Activities

Net cash used for financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $35.6 million compared to $92.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of $57.2 million, or 61.6%. The decrease was primarily attributable to $150.0 million of proceeds from borrowing under a new term loan in October 2011 and $9.9 million in proceeds from the settlement of treasury locks received in February 2011, partially offset by higher repurchases of PCA common stock of $86.1 million, as well as higher dividends paid of $14.2 million during 2011.

Net cash used for financing activities totaled $92.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of $17.3 million, or 22.9%, compared to the same period in 2009. The difference was primarily attributable to repurchases of PCA common stock of $38.9 million during 2010, partially offset by lower common stock dividends paid of $15.1 million and higher proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $6.5 million during 2010 compared to 2009.

On November 29, 2000, PCA established an on-balance sheet securitization program for its trade accounts receivable. To effectuate this program, PCA formed a wholly-owned limited purpose subsidiary, Packaging Credit Company, LLC, or PCC, which in turn formed a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose subsidiary, Packaging Receivables Company, LLC, or PRC, for the purpose of acquiring receivables from PCC. Both of these entities are included in the consolidated financial statements of PCA. Under this program, PCC purchases on an ongoing basis substantially all of the receivables of PCA and sells such receivables to PRC. PRC and lenders initially established a $150.0 million receivables-backed revolving credit facility through which PRC obtains funds to purchase receivables from PCC. The receivables purchased by PRC are and will be solely the property of PRC. In the event of a liquidation of PRC, the creditors of PRC would be entitled to satisfy their claims from PRC’s assets prior to any distribution to PCC or PCA. Credit available under the receivables credit

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facility is on a borrowing-base formula. As a result, the full amount of the facility may not be available at all times. On October 11, 2011, PCA amended the receivables credit facility agreement which extended the termination date to October 11, 2014 and increased the borrowing availability from $150.0 million to $200.0 million. As of December 31, 2011, PCA had $91.0 million in additional borrowing capacity available under this facility and $109.0 million of borrowings was outstanding.

On July 21, 2003, PCA offered to qualified institutional investors $150.0 million of 4.375% senior notes which matured in 2008 and $400.0 million of 5.75% senior notes due 2013. On March 25, 2008, PCA refinanced the five-year notes, issuing $150.0 million of 6.50% senior notes due March 15, 2018 through a registered public offering.

On August 1, 2011, PCA entered into an interest rate protection agreement with a counterparty to protect against increases in the ten-year U.S. Treasury Note rate. The treasury rate will serve as a reference in determining the interest rate applicable to the new debt securities the Company expects to issue in the future to refinance PCA’s currently outstanding $400.0 million of senior notes that mature in 2013. At December 31, 2011, the Company had a notional value of $400.0 million in an interest rate protection agreement outstanding that is expected to settle by the end of 2012.

On October 11, 2011, PCA replaced its senior credit facility that was scheduled to terminate in April 2013 with a new senior credit facility that provides a $150.0 million term loan facility, which PCA fully borrowed, and a $250.0 million revolving credit facility, including a $50.0 million subfacility for letters of credit. Borrowings may be used for general corporate purposes and bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin that is determined based upon PCA’s credit ratings. PCA is required to make quarterly principal payments on the term loan of $3.8 million beginning March 31, 2012 through September 30, 2016, with the balance due at maturity. The new senior credit facility will terminate on October 11, 2016. PCA had no borrowings and $14.3 million of outstanding letters of credit under the revolving credit facility, resulting in $235.7 million in unused borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2011.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2011 that would require disclosure under SEC FR-67, “Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis About Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations.”

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes PCA’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2011:

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The above table excludes unamortized debt discount of $0.6 million at December 31, 2011 and interest payments on debt outstanding. Based on interest rates in effect and long-term debt balances outstanding as of December 31, 2011, projected contractual interest payments would be approximately $37.1 million in 2012 and for each future year. For the purpose of this disclosure, we have assumed that PCA’s variable and fixed rate long-term debt would be replaced at maturity with similar long-term debt and similar interest rates. This disclosure does not attempt to predict changes in interest rates. See Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for the impact of changes in interest rates on PCA’s future cash flows.

The operating lease commitments, capital commitments, purchase commitments and letters of credit are not reflected on PCA’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011. See Notes 8 and 13 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information. PCA currently does not have any projections for future pension contributions beyond 2011. See Note 6 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information.

As of December 31, 2011, PCA’s expected payment for significant contractual obligations excludes $6.3 million of obligations for uncertain tax positions because PCA cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of cash settlement for such liability. See Note 15 to the audited consolidated financial statements for additional information.

PCA’s primary sources of liquidity are net cash provided by operating activities, available borrowing capacity under PCA’s revolving credit facility and additional borrowings under PCA’s receivables credit facility. As of December 31, 2011, PCA had $326.7 million in unused borrowing capacity under its existing credit facilities, net of the impact on this borrowing capacity of $14.3 million of outstanding letters of credit. Currently, PCA’s primary uses of cash are for operations, capital expenditures, debt service and declared common stock dividends, which it expects to be able to fund from these sources.

The following table provides the outstanding balances and the weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2011 for PCA’s revolving credit facility, the receivables credit facility and the senior notes:

The above table excludes unamortized debt discount of $0.6 million at December 31, 2011. It also excludes from the projected annual cash interest payments, the non-cash income from the annual amortization of the $22.8 million received in July 2003 and the non-cash expense from the annual amortization of the $4.4 million paid in March 2008 to settle the treasury locks related to the 5 ³/4% senior notes due 2013 and the 6 ¹/2% senior notes due 2018. The amortization is being recognized over the terms of the 5 ³/4% senior notes due 2013 and the 6 ¹/2% senior notes due 2018 and is included in interest expense, net.

The instruments governing PCA’s indebtedness contain financial and other covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of PCA and its subsidiaries to:

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These limitations could limit corporate and operating activities.

In addition, PCA must maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio under its senior revolving credit facility. A failure to comply with the restrictions contained in the revolving credit facility could lead to an event of default, which could result in an acceleration of any outstanding indebtedness and/or prohibit PCA from drawing on the revolving credit facility. Such acceleration may also constitute events of default under the senior notes indentures and the receivables credit facility. At December 31, 2011, PCA was in compliance with these covenants.

PCA currently expects to incur capital expenditures of $40.4 million in 2012, primarily for maintenance capital, cost reduction, business growth and environmental compliance.

PCA believes that net cash generated from operating activities, cash on hand, available borrowings under its committed credit facilities and available capital through access to capital markets will be adequate to meet its liquidity and capital requirements, including payments of any declared common stock dividends, for the foreseeable future. As its debt or credit facilities become due, PCA will need to repay, extend or replace such facilities. Its ability to do so will be subject to future economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond PCA’s control.

Environmental Matters

PCA is subject to, and must comply with, a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws, particularly those relating to air and water quality, waste disposal and the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. The most significant of these laws affecting the Company are:

PCA believes that it is currently in material compliance with these and all applicable environmental rules and regulations. Because environmental regulations are constantly evolving, the Company has incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to maintain compliance with these and other environmental laws. The Company works diligently to anticipate and budget for the impact of applicable environmental regulations, and does not currently expect that future environmental compliance obligations will materially affect its business or financial condition. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we spent approximately $26.0 million, $24.6 million and $26.4 million, respectively, to comply with the requirements of these and other environmental laws.

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Additionally, total capital costs for environmental matters were $2.8 million, $1.1 million and $0.4 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the Company currently estimates 2012 environmental capital expenditures will be $1.0 million.

As is the case with any industrial operation, PCA has, in the past, incurred costs associated with the remediation of soil or groundwater contamination, as required by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as the federal “Superfund” law, and analogous state laws. Cleanup requirements arise with respect to properties the Company currently owns or operates, former facilities and off-site facilities where the Company has disposed of hazardous substances. As part of the sale to PCA of the containerboard and corrugated products business of Pactiv Corporation in April 1999, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with pre-closing off-site waste disposal. Pactiv also retained environmentally impaired real property in Filer City, Michigan unrelated to current mill operations.

In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) published the Boiler MACT regulations, establishing air emissions standards and certain other requirements for industrial boilers. These regulations were vacated and remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2007. The EPA proposed final regulations in March 2011, which would require compliance in 2014. During 2011, the EPA determined that it would reconsider certain provisions of the Boiler MACT regulations and, in December 2011, the EPA published proposed rules containing changes to the March 2011 rules. The EPA may make further changes to the proposed rules. PCA is currently assessing the impact of these regulations on its operations which could require significant modifications to certain of PCA’s boilers. Due to the complexity of these regulations, and the potential for additional future regulatory or judicial modification to these regulations, the timing and amount of expenditures to be made by PCA are uncertain, but could be significant during the period before compliance is required.

Because liability for remediation costs under environmental laws is strict, meaning that liability is imposed without fault, joint and several, meaning that liability is imposed on each party without regard to contribution, and retroactive, PCA could receive notifications of cleanup liability in the future and this liability could be material. From 1994 through 2011, remediation costs at PCA’s mills and corrugated plants totaled approximately $3.2 million. As of December 31, 2011, PCA maintained an environmental reserve of $10.5 million relating to on-site landfills and surface impoundments as well as ongoing and anticipated remedial projects. As of this filing, the Company believes that it is not reasonably possible that future environmental expenditures above the $10.5 million accrued as of December 31, 2011 will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

While legislation regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed at the federal level, it is uncertain whether such legislation will be passed and, if so, what the breadth and scope of such legislation will be. The result of the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions could be an increase in our future environmental compliance costs, through caps, taxes or additional capital expenditures to modify facilities, which may be material. However, climate change legislation and the resulting future energy policy could also provide us with opportunities if the use of renewable energy is encouraged. We currently generate a significant portion of our power requirements for our mills using bark, black liquor and biomass as fuel, which are derived from renewable resources. Our energy optimization projects at the Counce and Valdosta linerboard mills are expected to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels at those facilities, while providing more efficient power generation at those facilities. While we believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of any renewable energy incentives, it is uncertain what the ultimate costs and opportunities of any climate change legislation will be and how our business and industry will be affected.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management’s discussion and analysis of PCA’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements

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requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, PCA evaluates its estimates, including those related to bad debts, inventories, goodwill and intangible assets, pensions and other postretirement benefits, income taxes, environmental liabilities, stock based compensation, and contingencies and litigation. PCA bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

PCA believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. For a further discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to its consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Accounts Receivable — Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Customer Deductions

PCA evaluates the collectibility of its accounts receivable based upon a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial downgrading of credit sources), PCA records a specific reserve for bad debts against amounts due to reduce the net recorded receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on its historical collection experience. If the Company’s collection experience deteriorates (i.e., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations), PCA’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a material amount.

The customer deductions reserve represents the estimated amount required for customer returns, allowances and earned discounts. Based on PCA’s experience, customer returns, allowances and earned discounts have averaged 1.0% of its gross selling price. Accordingly, the Company reserves 1.0% of its open customer accounts receivable balance for these items.

As of December 31, 2011, the balance in the allowance for doubtful accounts reserve was $1.9 million, compared to $2.5 million at December 31, 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded expense related to doubtful accounts of $0.1 million compared to income of $0.9 million recorded during the year ended December 31, 2010. The income in 2010 of $0.9 million was primarily due to a $1.0 million reduction in the allowance for doubtful accounts reserve to reflect the low level of actual losses over the previous three years. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recorded income of $0.9 million related to doubtful accounts compared to expense of $1.5 million in 2009. The decrease in bad debt expense of $2.4 million between 2009 and 2010 was primarily due to a $1.0 million reduction in the allowance for doubtful accounts reserve to reflect the low level of actual losses over the previous three years and a $0.9 million decrease in expense related to customers who had filed for bankruptcy protection.

Inventories

PCA records its inventories at the lower of cost or market and includes all costs directly associated with manufacturing products: materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. The estimated market value is based on assumptions for future demand and related pricing. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, reductions in the carrying value of inventories may be required. Raw materials, work in process and finished goods valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) cost method comprised 61% and 65% of inventories at current cost at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Supplies and materials inventories are valued using a moving average cost.

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Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company accounts for defined benefit pension plans and postretirement plans in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 715, “Compensation — Retirement Benefits.”

One of the principal assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension cost is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may result in recognized returns that are greater or less than the actual returns on those plan assets in any given year. Over time, however, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is designed to approximate the actual long term returns.

The discount rate assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension and postretirement costs reflect the rates available on high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments on December 31. The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used to calculate net periodic pension cost and is determined by PCA based upon annual reviews.

For postretirement health care plan accounting, PCA reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rate assumption.

Environmental Liabilities

PCA accounts for its retirement obligations related to its landfills under ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” which requires legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets to be recognized at their fair value at the time that the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a liability, that cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and amortized to expense over the useful life of the asset.

The potential costs for various environmental matters are uncertain due to such factors as the unknown magnitude of possible cleanup costs, the complexity and evolving nature of governmental laws and regulations and their interpretations, and the timing, varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies. Liabilities recorded for environmental contingencies are estimates of the probable costs based upon available information and assumptions. Because of these uncertainties, however, the Company’s estimates may change. PCA believes that any additional costs identified as further information becomes available would not have a material effect on its financial statements.

In connection with the sale to PCA of the containerboard and corrugated products business of Pactiv Corporation in April 1999, Pactiv agreed to retain all liability for all former facilities and all sites associated with off-site waste disposal prior to April 12, 1999. Pactiv also retained the environmental liability for a closed landfill located near the Filer City mill.

Revenue Recognition

PCA recognizes revenue as title to the products is transferred to customers. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling billings to a customer are included in net sales. In addition, PCA offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The total cost of these programs is estimated and accrued as a reduction to net sales at the time of the respective sale.

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually at year end or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability of goodwill is determined by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of its goodwill to determine if a write-down to fair value is necessary.

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Long-lived assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived asset may not be fully recoverable. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If an evaluation were required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset (or group of assets) would be compared to the asset’s (or group of assets’) carrying amount to determine if a write-down to fair value is required.

Stock-Based Compensation

PCA measures and records stock-based compensation cost in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation.” Stock compensation cost includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of January 1, 2006, the effective date of ASC 718, and (b) compensation costs for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006. The grant date fair value is estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718.

PCA recognizes compensation expense associated with option awards ratably over their vesting periods. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option grant as of the date of grant. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected life of the option is estimated using historical data pertaining to option exercises and employee terminations. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for estimating the expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant.

The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based on the closing price of PCA’s common stock on the grant date. The Company generally recognizes compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards ratably over their vesting periods. As PCA’s Board of Directors has the ability to accelerate the vesting of restricted stock upon an employee’s retirement, the Company accelerates the recognition of compensation expense for certain employees approaching normal retirement age.

Income Taxes

PCA’s annual tax rate is determined based on income, statutory tax rates and the tax impacts of items treated differently for tax purposes than for financial reporting purposes. Tax law requires some items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax rate in the financial statements is different than the rate reported on PCA’s tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the tax return, and some differences are temporary, reversing over time, such as depreciation expense. These temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Inherent in determining the annual tax rate are judgments regarding business plans, planning opportunities and expectations about future outcomes. Significant management judgments are required for the following items:

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Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts

Income from operations, net income and diluted earnings per share excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management presents income from operations, net income and diluted earnings per share excluding these special items to focus on PCA’s on-going operations and assess its operating performance and believes that these measures provide useful information to investors because they enable them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. Reconciliations of those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 follow:

Item 7A.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

PCA is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and changes in the market value of its financial instruments. PCA periodically enters into derivatives in order to minimize these risks, but not for trading purposes. For a discussion of derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 9 to PCA’s consolidated financial statement included elsewhere in the report.

The interest rates on approximately 68% of PCA’s debt are fixed. A one percent increase in interest rates related to variable rate debt would have resulted in an increase in interest expense and a corresponding decrease in income before taxes of $2.6 million annually. In the event of a change in interest rates, management could take actions to mitigate its exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, the sensitivity analysis assumes no changes in PCA’s financial structure.

The response to this item is included in a separate section of this report beginning on page F-1, which is incorporated by reference herein.

None.

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Controls and Procedures

PCA maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in PCA’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to PCA’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Prior to filing this report, PCA completed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of PCA’s management, including PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011. The evaluation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures included a review of the controls’ objectives and design, PCA’s implementation of the controls and the effect of the controls on the information generated for use in this report. Based on this evaluation, PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2011.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, there were no changes in internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, PCA’s internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

PCA’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only with proper authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, PCA’s internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

PCA’s management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria for effective control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, PCA’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011, based on the specified criteria.

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Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited PCA’s financial statements included in this Form 10-K, has also audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Their attestation report precedes PCA’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

None.

PART III

Information regarding PCA’s executive officers required by this Item 10 is set forth in Item 4.1 of Part I of this report.

The following information required by this Item 10 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated by reference herein:

Information with respect to executive compensation required by this Item 11 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Officer and Director Compensation” (including all subcaptions and tables thereunder) and “Board Committees — Compensation Committee” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management required by this Item 12 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Ownership of Our Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Authorization of Securities under Equity Compensation Plans.    Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2011 are as follows:

Information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence required by this Item 13 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Election of Directors — Determination of Director Independence,” respectively, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Information with respect to fees and services of the principal accountant required by this Item 14 will be included in PCA’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Ratification of Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Fees to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

(a)  The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

(1)  The financial statements listed in the “Index to Financial Statements.”

(2)  Financial Statement Schedule.

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The following consolidated financial statement schedule of PCA for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is included in this report.

Schedule II — Packaging Corporation of America — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.