Cutting and packing (C&P) problems are hard combinatorial problems, which arise in the context of many real-world applications, both in industry and in services. In general, they require that “large objects” be divided into “small items” in such a way that waste is minimized. Problems of this kind may involve the cutting of paper rolls into narrower rolls in the paper industry, the cutting of large wooden boards into smaller rectangular panels in the furniture industry, the cutting of irregularly shaped components of garment from fabric rolls in the fashion industry, but also the packing of boxes into containers or the loading of boxes on pallets in logistics applications. The aim of this special issue of the International Transactions in Operational Research (ITOR) is devoted to publish high-quality, state-of-the-art papers that contribute to the methodology and practice of cutting and packing problems resolution, either presenting new insights for understanding problem structure, new algorithmic approaches, or innovative resolution of real-life problems and practical applications. This special issue is also linked to the EURO Summer Institute on Cutting and Packing (ESI-CP), which was held in Porto, Portugal, July 16–29, 2012. Each paper will be peer-reviewed according to the editorial policy of ITOR (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118505725/home), published by the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS). Papers should be original, unpublished, and not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. They should be prepared according to the instructions to authors that can be found in the journal homepage. Authors should upload their contributions using the submission site http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/itor, indicating in their cover letter that the paper is intended for this special issue. Other inquiries should be sent directly to any of the Guest Editors in charge of this issue: A. Miguel Gomes ([email protected]), José Fernando Gonçalves ([email protected]), Ramón Alvarez-Valdés ([email protected]), and Valério de Carvalho ([email protected]).