Rubbermaid

Overview

Rubbermaid manufactures and distributes household items including food storage containers, trash cans, organizers, and cleaning products. As a subsidiary of Newell Brands, it focuses on home organization, storage, and commercial products sold in over 100 countries, with the United States as its primary market.¹²⁵

History

Rubbermaid was founded in 1920 and merged with Wooster Rubber in 1934, adopting the Rubbermaid name as its primary line; it officially became Rubbermaid Incorporated in 1957. The commercial products division began in 1958, expanding with a plant in Winchester, Virginia in 1967 and acquisitions like SECO Industries in 1986. It underwent restructurings in 1995-1997 to focus on core businesses and was acquired by Newell Brands.¹²³⁴

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in the United States, including facilities in Georgia and a commercial plant in Winchester, Virginia.¹³

Notable Products

• BRUTE container - Iconic heavy-duty trash and material handling container for commercial use.
• Roughneck refuse containers - Durable storage totes for household and garage use.
• Clear Classics canisters - Transparent food storage containers for kitchen organization.
• Closet Organizer - Modular shelving system for home closets.
• Rough Totes - See-through stackable storage boxes.

Reputation

Rubbermaid is recognized for durable plastic housewares and commercial products, with strong market leadership in home storage and cleaning categories.¹²⁵ Professionals value its reliability in institutional settings, though it faces competition from brands like Tupperware in premium segments.² Some older data notes high employee counts and global reach, but recent figures show a smaller scale under Newell Brands.¹