I manage all the supply ordering for a mid-sized company—roughly $1.5 million annually across a dozen or so vendors. Packaging has been part of my portfolio for about 4 years now, ever since we moved from glass to plastic for our product line. When I first started looking into suppliers like Amcor, I had more questions than answers. If you're in a similar spot, here's what I've learned the hard way—no fluff, just the stuff I wish someone had told me.
What exactly does Amcor do?
At its core, Amcor is a global leader in rigid plastic packaging and flexible packaging. They make everything from PET bottles and jars to plastic films and bags. But if you're in B2B purchasing, what matters is their rigid plastics network. They have manufacturing facilities across the US (I'm thinking of locations like Orlando, Allentown, and Blythewood). What most people don't realize is that their scale—the sheer volume of resin they move—means they can often offer pricing and consistency that smaller regional players can't match.
Is Amcor the same as Berry Plastics now?
This is a common point of confusion. No, they are not the same company, but there's obviously a lot of history there. You might see searches like "amcor berry plastics" or "did amcor buy berry plastics." The short version: Amcor and Berry Global (the name after various acquisitions) have had competitive and, at times, collaborative relationships over the years. I won't pretend to know the exact legal history of the merger talks—I'm not a corporate lawyer. But from a purchasing standpoint, I treat them as distinct suppliers with overlapping capabilities. You should always get quotes from both if they serve your specific product category.
What number plastic is polypropylene?
If you're dealing with Amcor or any plastics vendor, you'll hear a lot about resin codes. So, what number plastic is polypropylene? It's #5. That's PP—used for yogurt containers, bottle caps, and a lot of industrial packaging. But here's a touchy point: don't assume all #5 plastic is created equal. People think the recycle number tells you everything about recyclability. Actually, it tells you the resin type, not whether your local facility can process it. The assumption is that #5 is widely recycled. The reality is it depends heavily on your municipality's capabilities. I learned that one the hard way when a sustainability report I was putting together had to be revised.
What is Amcor's stance on sustainability?
Sustainability leadership is one of Amcor's key differentiators. They have public sustainability reports and initiatives aimed at making all their packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. That doesn't mean plastic packaging is 100% environmentally friendly—it's not. And no company can claim they're the only sustainable packaging company. That's a red flag. But what I appreciate from a procurement standpoint is that they have clear compliance expertise in things like ROHS and REACH standards. That saves my team time in vendor due diligence. When I need a packaging compliance service, they can provide the documentation without me chasing it. That's worth a premium in my book.
Why would someone choose Amcor over a smaller supplier?
Price is always the first conversation, but in my experience managing vendor relationships for 5 years, the lowest quote has cost us more in 60% of cases. With Amcor, you're paying for their network. If you need rigid plastic packaging across multiple product lines, their global supply chain means fewer delays. A smaller local supplier might shave 10% off your unit cost, but if they can't deliver consistently or can't prove ROHS compliance for a new market you're entering, that $200 savings turns into a $1,500 rush re-order problem. Here's something vendors won't tell you: the first quote for a standard spec isn't the final price for an ongoing relationship. There's usually room to negotiate volume discounts once you're a proven customer.
Are products like 'owl pet' and 'pet stairs' made by Amcor?
Let's clear this up. You might be searching for "owl pet" or "pet stairs" and landing on pages about PET (polyethylene terephthalate, resin code #1). That's not about owls or stairs for your dog. Amcor is a leading producer of PET packaging—the plastic used for water bottles, soda bottles, and many food containers. It's a completely different conversation. So if you're looking for pet supplies, you're in the wrong place. But if you're looking for a supplier of PET preforms or bottles, they are a major player. This kind of keyword confusion is more common than you'd think.
What's the catch with buying from a giant like Amcor?
I knew I should highlight the downsides, but I wanted to give a balanced view. The biggest risk is the bureaucracy. For a small order—say, a single production run of a custom resin product—their minimums and lead times can be frustrating. You're not their core customer. In Q3 2024, we needed a relatively small batch of plastic bags for a pilot project. We ended up going with a smaller specialist because Amcor's standard turnaround included buffer time that didn't fit our schedule. It costs more per unit, but it was the right call for that specific project. The lesson: use their scale for your scale items, and keep a nimble backup for the specialty stuff.
Pricing and regulatory information is for general reference only. Actual prices vary by vendor and time of order. Verify current regulations at official sources like the FTC or EPA for packaging compliance.