Beyond Recycling: Rebox Bets on a Reuse Veteran to Scale Its Box Empire

MONTREAL, QC – July 13, 2026 – In a move that signals a significant scaling ambition, Rebox Corp, North America's largest buyer and seller of once-used corrugated boxes, has appointed Kyle Otting as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment, effective July 8, sees Otting take the reins from co-founder Mark Young, who transitions to the company’s Board of Directors after more than three decades at the helm.

While a leadership change at a 30-year-old company is notable, the context surrounding this transition speaks volumes about a broader industrial shift. Rebox is betting that the convergence of volatile supply chains, rising material costs, and an intensifying corporate focus on the circular economy has created the perfect storm for its business model. By bringing in a leader with a deep, proven history of scaling reusable asset businesses, the company is positioning itself not just for growth, but to fundamentally redefine the lifecycle of the humble cardboard box.

A Leader Forged in the Reuse Revolution

Kyle Otting is not a typical logistics executive. His career is a masterclass in building and expanding businesses predicated on the principle of reuse. Before joining Rebox, Otting served as CEO of 48forty Solutions, a dominant force in pallet management, and PLA Solutions, another major supply chain solutions provider. In these roles, he spearheaded national sales growth, executed multiple acquisitions, and delivered sustained double-digit revenue growth.

His resume goes deeper into the heart of the reuse ecosystem. Otting previously served as President of CHEP USA, a global leader in pooled pallets and containers, and before that, as President of IFCO Systems North America, a key provider of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) for the grocery industry. This extensive background across different reusable asset classes—from wooden pallets to plastic crates—provides him with a unique, systems-level understanding of the operational complexities and strategic opportunities inherent in circular logistics.

This specialized experience was precisely what Rebox was looking for. "Kyle is an outstanding leader with deep experience building and scaling reuse-based businesses," said outgoing CEO Mark Young. "Kyle's track record in reusable packaging, national logistics operations, building strong commercial organizations, and driving customer-centric growth makes him exceptionally well suited to lead Rebox in its next chapter."

The Dual-Sided Engine of the Circular Economy

At the core of Rebox's strategy is a deceptively simple yet powerful dual-sided model. The company acts as a market maker for cardboard boxes that have been used just once. On one side, it partners with large businesses—manufacturers, distributors, retailers—that receive goods in high-quality corrugated boxes. Instead of these companies paying to have the boxes compacted and sent for recycling, Rebox buys them, turning a disposal cost into a new revenue stream.

On the other side, Rebox sells these inspected, quality-controlled boxes to businesses looking for a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to purchasing new ones. By managing the sourcing, logistics, and quality assurance through its network of over 35 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada, the company provides a turnkey solution that plugs directly into existing supply chains.

"Rebox is a remarkable business with a dual-sided model that turns once-used boxes into revenue for businesses that would otherwise recycle them and repurposes them as a lower-cost, sustainable alternative for businesses buying new," Otting stated.

This model moves beyond recycling, which requires significant energy and water to pulp old fibers and remanufacture them, into the more environmentally and economically efficient realm of direct reuse. It’s a practical application of circular economy principles that offers tangible benefits: reduced procurement costs for box buyers, lower disposal expenses for sellers, and a measurable reduction in the carbon footprint for all involved. For the more than 2,000 businesses Rebox serves, including Fortune 500 giants, it’s a solution that satisfies both the CFO and the Chief Sustainability Officer.

Powerful Tailwinds in a Shifting Market

Otting’s appointment comes as powerful market forces align to favor Rebox’s value proposition. The global reusable packaging market, valued at over $40 billion in 2022, is projected by some analysts to more than double by the early 2030s, with a compound annual growth rate approaching 9-10%. This growth is fueled by a confluence of factors that make single-use packaging an increasingly tenuous proposition.

First is the rising cost and volatility of new corrugated boxes. Subject to fluctuations in pulp, energy, and labor costs, the price of virgin cardboard can be unpredictable, creating budget uncertainty for businesses that rely on it. A robust secondary market for once-used boxes offers a powerful hedge against this volatility.

Second is the undeniable corporate pivot towards sustainability. Driven by consumer pressure, investor demands, and looming regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, companies are actively seeking ways to reduce waste and decarbonize their supply chains. A partnership with Rebox offers a straightforward path to improve key sustainability metrics without fundamentally re-engineering internal processes.

"The rising cost of new corrugated boxes and the shift towards a more sustainable, circular economy are both strong tailwinds for Rebox, making it more important than ever for businesses to consider alternatives," Otting commented. "The foundation is strong and I'm looking forward to working with this team to accelerate our growth."

By appointing a CEO with deep expertise in scaling precisely these kinds of operations, Rebox is clearly aiming to capture this momentum. The challenge will be to expand its sophisticated logistics network and sales infrastructure to meet the accelerating demand, a task for which Otting’s past successes at companies like 48forty and CHEP make him uniquely qualified. The move positions Rebox to solidify its leadership in a market it helped pioneer, transforming what was once seen as waste into a critical asset for the modern industrial economy.