Knowing the differences between cardboard and corrugated box structure is an essential first step. It will help you look for ways to store or ship things. People often talk about the two materials as if they were the same, but they are very different. Knowing what kind of packaging you’re getting is important when choosing the suitable raw material to ship your products is essential. If you don’t, you might not be running your brand as well as you thought. Usually, “cardboard” means thick paper stock or large paper pulp. This kind of paper is used to make cereal boxes and greeting cards. Even though some cardboard makes corrugated cartons, it’s crucial to understand that the two are not the same.
Corrugated has many advantages over regular cardboard, ensuring your goods get from one point to another without any problems. Continue reading to find out how corrugated is different from regular cardboard.
Corrugated Boxes with Enhanced Strength:
Paper stock or pulp is thinner and lighter than traditional cardboard. One thing made of cardboard is a cereal box. In contrast, corrugated may be made of cardboard, but it has a much more robust design and structure. Corrugated fiberboard differs from cardboard because it has three layers instead of two. Between the inner and outer layers of cardboard is a ruffled, fluted material. It makes the box very strong and able to withstand a lot of wear and tear during the handling, storage, transporting, and retail display processes. Corrugated packing is stronger and more stable than cardboard boxes because they are made of materials with more than one layer. That’s why corrugated boxes are superior in product protection.
Cardboard Packaging Boxes are Less Flexible:
It’s essential to keep in mind the strength-to-weight ratio. Especially when deciding between cardboard and corrugated fiberboard based on weight, even though cardboard is usually lighter, corrugated will be much stronger for the same weight. The ruffled inner layer gives the container strength and flexibility without making it too heavy. For cardboard to be as strong as corrugated, it would have to be much more severe, which isn’t physically or financially possible. That’s the most significant difference between regular and corrugated cardboard: Corrugated is made to meet the specific needs of the person who will use it, whereas regular cardboard is just a way to accomplish a goal. That doesn’t mean that regular cardboard has no use. It just isn’t strong enough for heavy-duty tasks.
Corrugated Packaging Boxes are Sustainable:
It is easy to recycle corrugated boxes. Most new corrugated encasing is made from a mix of new and used materials. This makes them a greener option for packaging products. Corrugated can be reprocessed and recycled well because it breaks down and has no dyes or bleaches. Corrugated cartons can be used more than once, while traditional custom cardboard boxes can only be used once. This saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint.
Variety of Customization Options for Corrugated Packaging:
These high-quality corrugated boxes can also be customized in many ways, so you can ship products in a way that shows who you are and what your business is all about. Using custom corrugated boxes makes customers happier and keeps them returning, which benefits your company and products in many ways. Your products can be controlled in order and shielded by packaging made just for them. To ensure your packaging is perfect for your product, you can choose different wall thicknesses (single, double, or triple), surface coating, glues, dividers, inserts, laminations, and more.
Various Types of Cardboard and Corrugated Boxes:
Cardboard boxes are just containers used to package, ship, and store goods sold in stores or online to consumers or businesses. They are an essential part of the packaging, a broader term for materials used to protect interests while shipped. It comes in many shapes and sizes, from simple storage boxes to multicolored card stock. Cardboard is a word for thicker paper-based products. It can be made in different ways and look different so that it can be used for many other things. Since “cardboard” doesn’t mean a specific type of material but rather a group of materials, it’s easiest to think of it as three things: paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, and card stock.
Most of the time, when people say “cardboard,” they mean corrugated fiberboard, which is frequently used to make different kinds of corrugated boxes. A grooved board comprises multiple layers of paperboard, usually two on the outside and one in the corrugated middle.
To make corrugated cardboard, machines called corrugators are used. These machines can process the material quickly and without making it bend. As the corrugated layer, called the medium, is heated, wetted, and shaped by wheels, it gets a wavy or fluted look. Corrugated boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, which makes them stronger and more durable. A fluted sheet is between the two layers of paperboard on the outside of this material. Compared to boxes made of paperboard, corrugated is more durable and can be used to ship or store things.
Therefore, the differences may not seem like much at first, but it should be clear that cardboard is better for things like cards and cereal boxes. On the other hand, corrugated is the best material to use for shipping boxes.
Another way that corrugated packaging is better than regular cardboard is that it can be used to package food. This is because it keeps things clean and safe while transporting food to store shelves. With the rise of online grocery shopping and meal delivery companies, corrugated packing is used more often. This is another crucial reason why corrugated boxes are better than cardboard boxes.
