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What is Cardboard?

What is Cardboard?

Cardboard is a versatile material used to cover a wide range of purposes from product packaging to safe shipping. It offers structural support with its ultimate durability to the product residing inside the packaging. Cardboard is an affordable packaging solution designed to satisfy product needs and brand requirements. While holding great market demand, cardboard is globally known for giving businesses a sigh of relief by lowering the packaging production cost. This is an eco-friendly alternative reducing the carbon footprints to keep nature free from hazardous substances. To know more about cardboard, let’s have a look at the article below:

What is Cardboard used for?

Cardboard is a sustainable and recyclable packaging material used to give products the required strength with the layering of paper pulp. The material is pressed together to create variations in the packaging thickness for crafting distinct types of packaging boxes. Cardboard provides you with a great balance between functionality and environmental friendliness.

The durability and thickness of cardboard could be increased with the use of a wavy layer called a flute. It boosts the packaging strength and makes it a perfect choice for the shipping of goods.

How is the Cardboard Made?

Cardboard uses paper pulp in its production, extracted from a variety of wood. Following are the series of steps used to manufacture a durable packaging material, cardboard:

·   Pulping

The raw materials are collected to undergo the pulping procedure for making cardboard. The extracted material is given the shape of a fibrous pulp through chemical and mechanical methods. The mechanical process uses machines to separate fiber from wood while in the chemical process, different chemicals are utilized to serve the purpose.

·   Cleaning

The next step involves the cleaning of pulp to remove all types of impurities like dirt, bark, or ink. This enhances the purity level and makes the raw material ready for high-quality cardboard production.  

·   Bleaching

The purpose of bleaching is to give cardboard a consistent white color with the elimination of distinct shades from the raw materials. Bleaching makes the cardboard visually attractive and boosts the aesthetic feel of the packaging.

·   Sheets formation

The material is then converted into large sheets using a machine. The sheets are then piled up into multiple layers to generate cardboard. The sustainable packaging material holds various distinct thicknesses as they become thick or thin using sheet layering.  

·   Pressing

The formation of pulp sheets leads toward their pressing through the large rollers. The pressing of pulp sheets gives you a smooth paperboard surface.

·   Corrugation

The paperboard sheets are then passed through a corrugator to enhance their strength and durability. Wavy flutes are added between the layers during the process of corrugation to create corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is used for the shipping of heavy-weight items are it holds brilliant sturdiness to keep products safe during tough shipping procedures.

·   Cutting and Shaping

After the completion of the production process, the cutting and shaping of the cardboard starts to create boxes, containers, and many other packaging alternatives.

Different Types of Cardboard Packaging

Following are the different types of cardboard packaging used to give products the ultimate protection:

·       Single Wall Cardboard

Single-wall cardboard comprises a sole layer of corrugated material between the sheets to offer durability. This type is considered best for the protection of lightweight products. This is quite an affordable packaging solution designed for the shipping and storing of products.

·       Double Wall Cardboard

The double-wall cardboard consists of two layers of corrugated material in between the sheets to enhance the strength and sturdiness of the packaging material. This type offers the best protection for heavier items during the shipping process.

·       Triple Wall Cardboard

Triple-wall cardboard is the strongest of all the other types. It contains three layers of corrugated material between the sheets to carry heavy-duty items. This is mostly utilized for industrial packaging as it provides great strength and resistance against any sort of damage. 

Is Cardboard Eco-Friendly? 

Cardboard is considered an eco-friendly packaging material as it is produced from natural raw materials. To manufacture cardboard, wood pulp is extracted from the trees which is a recyclable resource. Cardboard is biodegradable and breaks down naturally to keep the environment safe from harmful elements. Cardboard promotes recyclability as it could be easily transformed into new products. Cardboard supports businesses in lowering their carbon footprints and building a healthy environment for potential customers.

Stephan Benjamin

Stephen is a Packaging Consultant at Box Agency with a passion for innovative designs. He offers insights on how brands can improve their packaging to form a lasting impression. Stephen offers valuable advice to business owners and industry experts with years of involvement in product branding and promoting. His ability helps clients make packaging that stands out while aligning with their brand values and sustainability goals.

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