A carton processing apparatus and method can be used to reduce inventory of pre-printed or pre-labeled cartons. The carton processing apparatus can use a stacked inventory of unassembled cartons in a first planar orientation. A carton can be picked from the inventory, rotated from the first planar orientation to a print plane, and transported near a carton coding device, such as an ink jet printer, which can apply indicia to the carton. The processed carton can be further rotated or provided to a downstream device or process.