Ranpak Expands E-Commerce Reach with Walmart Automation Deal

Packaging technology company Ranpak has announced a major multi-year partnership with retail giant Walmart, marking its second major e-commerce alliance of the year after Amazon. The move is part of Ranpak’s broader strategy to scale its automation technology across North America’s largest fulfillment networks (Packaging Dive, 2025).

The announcement was confirmed by Ranpak CEO Omar Asali in an interview with Packaging Dive, where he highlighted the importance of the new collaboration. Walmart has already deployed Ranpak’s AutoFill systems at a fulfillment center near Indianapolis. With the new agreement, the technology will be installed at four additional distribution centers located in Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Sacramento.

The AutoFill system is designed to automate the packing of e-commerce orders by accurately measuring and filling empty spaces in shipping boxes with eco-friendly paper filler. This not only protects products during transit but also reduces waste compared to traditional plastic fillers or air pillows. By automating the void fill and taping process, the system significantly reduces the need for manual labor, which is a critical advantage amid ongoing labor shortages in the logistics sector.

This Walmart partnership comes on the heels of Amazon’s $400 million equity investment in Ranpak earlier this year, which gave Amazon a 17% stake in the company (Packaging Dive, 2025). These collaborations with two of the largest retailers globally highlight Ranpak’s growing prominence in the automation and sustainable packaging space.

In his comments to Packaging Dive, CEO Omar Asali emphasized that while Ranpak continues to serve small and mid-sized businesses with its traditional paper-based packaging products, the company’s automation offerings are now seeing rapid adoption among large scale enterprises. This shift reflects broader industry trends where automation and sustainability are becoming priorities for e-commerce fulfillment.

A standout feature of Ranpak’s automation technology is its proprietary DecisionTower system, which integrates artificial intelligence and computer vision to optimize packing efficiency. DecisionTower scans the inside of each box, identifies the size and placement of items, and calculates the exact amount of paper filler needed to ensure safe shipping. It can even detect hard-to-see or transparent objects, ensuring comprehensive protection for diverse product types. The system then automatically fills and seals the box, while continuously collecting data to improve performance over time (Packaging Dive, 2025).

Maximizing system uptime is another key benefit of DecisionTower. The AI-enabled system can detect defective or improperly sized boxes before they enter the packing line, preventing jams and minimizing downtime. This capability is especially valuable in large fulfillment centers, where operational disruptions can result in costly delays and missed shipping deadlines.

Asali also addressed the current economic climate, noting that despite ongoing uncertainties, the largest e-commerce companies like Walmart and Amazon are expected to maintain or even increase their shipping volumes. Their scale, pricing power, and investments in automation provide them with a competitive advantage during fluctuating market conditions. Asali expressed confidence in a strong holiday season for Ranpak’s clients in the fourth quarter of 2025 (Packaging Dive, 2025).

To further improve operational efficiency, Ranpak implemented a 3% reduction in its workforce in April 2025 and followed this with a corporate reorganization in July. These strategic moves aim to streamline the company’s structure, reduce costs, and enhance service levels for its expanding enterprise customer base (Packaging Dive, 2025).

Sustainability remains at the core of Ranpak’s mission. The company is intensifying efforts to reduce its environmental impact by increasing the proportion of recycled and post-consumer fibers used in its packaging materials. Ranpak is also committed to sourcing 100% of its paper from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified suppliers. Moreover, it is working to electrify its transportation fleet to lower carbon emissions across its supply chain, targeting reductions in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (Packaging Dive, 2025).

These combined strategies automation, efficiency, and sustainability position Ranpak to meet the growing demands of a market increasingly focused on fast, reliable, and environmentally responsible fulfillment solutions. The partnerships with Walmart and Amazon exemplify how the company is becoming a key player in the future of e-commerce packaging.