EXHIBIT 12.1 HUNTSMAN PACKAGING CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PRO FORMA YEAR ENDED -------------------------------------------- DECEMBER 31, 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 ------- ------- ------- --------- -------- ------------ (IN MILLIONS) Income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary item........ $ 4.0 $ 7.4 $ 4.0 $(7.4) $ 1.2 $(6.2) Fixed charges: Interest expense.......... 6.6 7.6 8.8 11.7 16.6 22.8 Rental expense (33%) ..... 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.1 ------- ------- ------- --------- ------- -------------- Total fixed charges....... 7.2 8.2 9.5 12.4 17.5 23.9 Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges .. $11.2 $15.6 $13.5 $ 5.0 $18.7 $17.7 ======= ======= ======= ========= ======= ============== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges................... 1.6x 1.9x 1.4x 0.4x(1) 1.1x 0.7x(1) ======= ======= ======= ========= ======= ============== - ------------ (1) For the year ended December 31, 1996 and the pro forma year ended December 31, 1997 earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $7.4 million and $6.2 million, respectively.