QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

EXHIBIT 24.1

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ SAMUEL M. MENCOFF Samuel M. Mencoff

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ THOMAS S. SOULELES Thomas S. Souleles

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ HENRY F. FRIGON Henry F. Frigon

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ LOUIS A. HOLLAND Louis A. Holland

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ RAYFORD K. WILLIAMSON Rayford K. Williamson

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ ROGER B. PORTER Roger B. Porter

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ PAUL T. STECKO Paul T. Stecko

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul T. Stecko, Richard B. West and Kent A. Pflederer, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: February 20, 2008

/s/ RICHARD B. WEST Richard B. West

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 24.1

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY