Paper product manufacturing is a production activity that utilizes paper and cardboard as raw materials to create finished paper goods through various processing stages. Classified as a sub-sector within the manufacturing industry (National Economic Industry Code 223), it encompasses the production of container-type products-such as corrugated boxes, paper cartons, and paper bags-as well as daily necessities like sanitary paper and notebooks. The production process does not involve pulp manufacturing; instead, it focuses solely on processing base paper through operations such as shaping, bonding, and printing. Characterized by low pollution and low emissions, the sector relies primarily on externally sourced cardboard for its raw materials.

Following nearly 30 years of development, China's paper product manufacturing industry reached a total industrial output value of 334.413 billion RMB in 2011. While the sector boasts over 4,000 enterprises classified as "above designated size" (large-scale), market concentration remains relatively low. The industry is significantly influenced by environmental protection policies; in 2021, approximately 8,650 enterprises obtained pollutant discharge permits. Furthermore, carbon emission quota management within the sector is implemented using a baseline method, set at 0.291 tons of CO2 per ton of product. Enterprises in the sector face pressures stemming from fluctuating raw material costs, the need for technological upgrades, and international competition; consequently, product design is trending toward greater diversification and functionality to meet market demands across various fields, including packaging and daily living.