EX-99.(A) 3 a2086549zex-99_a.htm CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit A

STATEMENT UNDER OATH OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER REGARDING FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING TO EXCHANGE ACT FILINGS

I, Paul T. Stecko (Principal Executive Officer), state and attest that:

(1)
To the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the covered reports of Packaging Corporation of America, and, except as corrected or supplemented in a subsequent covered report:

no covered report contained an untrue statement of a material fact as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed); and

no covered report omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements in the covered report, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed).

(2)
I have reviewed the contents of this statement with the Company's audit committee.

(3)
In this statement under oath, each of the following, if filed on or before the date of this statement, is a "covered report":

Annual Report on Form 10-K of Packaging Corporation of America for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001;

all reports on Form 10-Q, all reports on Form 8-K and all definitive proxy materials of Packaging Corporation of America filed with the Commission subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K identified above; and

any amendments to any of the foregoing.



/s/ Paul T. Stecko

Paul T. Stecko
August 13, 2002


 


Subscribed and sworn to
before me this 13th day of
August, 2002.

/s/ Rhonda K. Rogers

Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11/02/03




QuickLinks