NAICS 322291

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments so statistical agencies can collect, analyze, and publish data on the U.S. economy. Developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with partners in Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997; the current reference vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 322291 covers establishments primarily engaged in converting purchased sanitary paper stock or wadding into sanitary paper products. Examples include facial tissues and handkerchiefs, table napkins, toilet tissue, paper towels, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and tampons. Federal statistical programs use this code to tabulate industry-level outputs and other metrics for sanitary paper product converters. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Conversion of purchased sanitary paper stock or wadding into finished sanitary paper products. ²
• Manufacturing of toilet tissue and bathroom tissue. ²
• Converting paper towels and household towels from sanitary paper stock. ²
• Producing facial tissues and paper handkerchiefs. ²
• Converting table napkins and related sanitary paper table goods. ²
• Manufacturing disposable diapers from sanitary paper stock. ²
• Manufacturing feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins and tampons. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	322110	Pulp Mills
NAICS	32212	Paper Mills
NAICS	32221	Paperboard Container Manufacturing
NAICS	322299	All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing

Boundaries and common misclassifications

• Making pulp (without making paper) falls under 322110; not 322291. ²
• Making paper from pulp (including tissue base paper) is in 32212; converters of finished sanitary paper products are in 322291. ²
• Paperboard containers belong to 32221, not 322291. ²
• Stationery and related office supplies are classified in 32223, distinct from sanitary paper products in 322291. ²
• Molded-pulp egg cartons, food trays, and similar items are in 322299, not 322291. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What products are included in NAICS 322291?
  Establishments in 322291 convert purchased sanitary paper stock into products such as facial tissues, paper handkerchiefs, table napkins, toilet tissue, paper towels, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and tampons. This code focuses on converters rather than pulp or base paper manufacturing. ²

• How does 322291 differ from 322299?
  322291 covers sanitary paper products (e.g., tissues, napkins, diapers, feminine hygiene). 322299 covers other converted paper products, such as molded-pulp items and die-cut paper goods, expressly excluding sanitary paper products. ²

• Is NAICS 2022 the current version used by Census programs?
  Census programs are transitioning from the 2017 to the 2022 NAICS vintage on program-specific schedules. The 2022 Economic Census uses 2022 NAICS, and most other programs adopt 2022 NAICS by the end of 2027 per the Census implementation timeline. ³

• Are tissue base paper mills coded in 322291?
  No. Paper mills that manufacture tissue or other paper from pulp are classified in 32212. Code 322291 is for establishments that convert purchased sanitary paper stock into finished sanitary paper products. ²

• Does 322291 specify whether private-label or contract manufacturing is included?
  Not specified by official sources. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 322291
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 322291: Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing (2022)
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS timeline

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) main page. https://www.census.gov/naics
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 322291 Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing (official definition, examples, cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=322291&year=2022&details=322291
3. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (program adoption timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html