Introduction

When it comes to packaging, choosing the right type of cardboard is important as it decides the final outlook of your product as well as your brand image in the market. Cardboard is a packaging material made from wood pulp in various forms such as paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, and mat board materials. All these types of cardboard are different in terms of strength, usability, convenience, and suitability. Therefore, you have to choose the right one to suit your marketing efforts as well as product specifications.

Here is a detailed guide to all types of cardboard that are used to make packaging boxes and the factors that decide the right type of material for your brand packaging needs. So, let’s learn in detail ahead.

Understanding the Cardboard Basics

Cardboard boxes are biodegradable packaging materials derived from renewable resources such as wood and paper pulp. The major raw materials involved in the manufacturing of cardboard are cellulose fibers, water, and synthetic chemicals giving rise to a thicker and more durable material, custom corrugated boxes, in return. In the later stages of manufacturing, the general cardboard material is used to make a myriad of packaging boxes which tend to vary from each other in terms of material thickness and number of layers.

The same goes for traditional cardboard and corrugated boxes as cardboard boxes contain one or two flat layers of papers bonded together while corrugated boxes have three layers, a middle thicker and wavy layer sandwiched between two flat external surfaces to give rise to durable cardboard packaging.

Overall, cardboard is an eco-friendly, sustainable, and biodegradable material which is the main reason it’s so popular in the market to accommodate a range of different products.

Types Of Cardboard Used For Boxes

After manufacturing a cardboard base, a variety of materials with varying numbers of layers and strengths are prepared to meet different packaging needs. The most common types of cardboard are paperboard, chipboard, honeycomb cardboard, and corrugated fiberboard which are used to make packaging boxes.

1. Paperboard

Paperboard is a highly in-demand type of cardboard packaging used to carry lightweight items and display them on shelves or in retail stores. It contains one or two flat layers of thick paper to keep the packaged products safe. However, it’s not suitable for shipping procedures and thus can’t be used to deliver bulkier items from one place to another.

2. Corrugated Fiberboard

Another common type of cardboard packaging is custom corrugated boxes which are extremely durable and sturdy and used to ship heavier or bigger sized items to manufacturing plants to the doorstep of consumers through different shipping routes.

They are made from three cardboard layers, two are flat and one is thicker and wavy sandwiched between external surfaces. They are also environment-friendly, customizable, biodegradable, and cost-effective packaging solutions that ensure product safety during handling and storage conditions.

3. Honeycomb Cardboard

A unique yet highly functional type of cardboard is a honeycomb material made from hexagonal cells of paper pulp. The cells form air pockets which serve as a perfect shock absorber and insulator for packaged goods. As honeycomb cardboard has a cushioning layer, it’s best to transport heavier items from one place to another.

Sometimes, the partitions and pallets of honeycomb cardboard are also used within regular packaging boxes to keep different items separate from each other and reduce the chances of collision. In addition, this type of cardboard is also recyclable and eco-friendly yet highly specific for particular kinds of products out there.

How to Choose The Best Type Of Cardboard For Packaging?

It becomes pretty hard to put your hands on a single type of cardboard when a lot of options are available out there. From many, you must choose cardboard packaging because it has a lot to offer for businesses as well as customers. Above all, it’s eco-friendly and sustainable which makes it a highly attractive option for customers and provides a unique selling point to businesses.

However, there are also different types of cardboard packaging available in the market, so what to choose? To select the right option, consider the following factors.

Find out your product specify first to proceed further. This is because if your products are heavier or larger in size, you must go for custom corrugated boxes. Similarly, they are the right option for your brand if you want to target consumers of different regions and deliver products through shipping as corrugated boxes are sturdier and durable all the way.

However, if your products have to be displayed on shelves in retail stores, choose paperboard packaging as it provides customization ease and printing versatility.

It’s also important to study the behavior of customers regarding their buying choices as more people tend to buy sustainable products with eco-friendly packaging solutions. If so, you can easily use paperboard or corrugated fiberboard boxes to display or ship your products to amaze your customers and enhance their first impressions.