A circular story, made in Nova Scotia
You have almost certainly held Maritime Paper’s work in your hands without ever knowing it.
The flat of blueberries from Costco. The lobster shipped three provinces away. Mussels, frozen fries, soft drinks. Behind a remarkable amount of what Atlantic Canada grows, catches, and makes, there is a corrugated box or package. And chances are, it came from a plant in Burnside that has been helping shape the region’s products since 1931.
Yes, folks! 1931.That was the year Maritime Paper opened on Almon Street in our very own province, in Halifax, during the depths of the Great Depression, when businesses everywhere were shutting their doors.
It began with a simple need: Atlantic Canada’s breweries needed boxes. Local investors joined forces with partners from Central Canada and the United States to meet that demand. Ninety-five years later, that early bet looks remarkably visionary.
Today, Maritime Paper is the only company in Nova Scotia still manufacturing corrugated packaging, with operations in Dartmouth, Moncton, and St. John’s. Its boxes carry seafood, produce, frozen foods, and industrial goods across the region and beyond.
President & CEO Sheldon Gouthro, who has spent 35 of the company’s 95 years with Maritime Paper, has seen the industry evolve firsthand.
“In the early days, customers simply wanted a box,” he explains. “Today, they want a billboard.”
Modern packaging does far more than protect a product. Customers are looking for shelf-ready packaging printed in five, six, or even seven colours—packaging that helps tell a brand’s story the moment a shopper sees it.
That ability to adapt has helped Maritime Paper navigate nearly a century of change, from shifting consumer expectations and e-commerce growth to the challenges of a global pandemic.
Their philosophy has remained consistent: stay nimble, listen to the market, reinvest, and keep moving forward.
It’s a mindset that dates back to 1958, when entrepreneur R.A. Jodrey acquired the company under the Scotia Investments family of companies, and continued in 1967 with the opening of the Burnside facility where Maritime Paper still operates today.
A Circular Story, Made in Nova Scotia
At Maritime Paper, sustainability isn’t a marketing slogan—it’s built into the business model.
The company purchases paper produced from 100 per cent recycled corrugated cartons, then sells its own off-cuts and trim to sister company Scotia Recycling. That material is processed and returned to the mill, where it can be transformed into new paper products.
The box, quite literally, comes back around.
It’s a circular economy approach that reflects the long-term values of the broader Scotia Investments family and demonstrates how environmental responsibility can be woven directly into day-to-day operations.
That same long-term thinking extends to Maritime Paper’s people.
The company’s approximately 240 employees are part of a culture built around what Gouthro calls the three Ps: passion, pride, and purpose.
By this fall, four employees will each celebrate 50 years with the company—an extraordinary 200 combined years of service at a business marking its 95th anniversary.
So, what’s next for a company approaching its 95th anniversary?
The same long-term thinking that has guided Maritime Paper for nearly a century continues to shape its future.
Recent investments in automation, facility upgrades, and enhanced employee spaces, including a new lunchroom and patio reinforce a simple message: after nearly a century, Maritime Paper continues to invest in its future. And according to Gouthro, there’s more to come in 2027 and beyond.
Telling Nova Scotia’s Story
Gouthro is quick to credit the partnerships that help regional companies stay visible in a national marketplace.
A longtime member of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Maritime Paper views organizations like the Chamber and partners such as Halifax Partnership as important allies in showcasing the strength of Nova Scotia’s business community.
It’s a collaborative approach that mirrors the way Maritime Paper operates—stronger together, connected to its community, and committed to helping tell Nova Scotia’s story.
For a company that has spent 95 years building its future in this province, that’s the goal: stay rooted, stay competitive, and be here for the next 95 years.
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