When choosing packaging for a product, companies must look at the benefits and drawbacks of different types of packaging, and the materials they are made from, in order to choose one that will keep their products safe. Investing in packaging that does not effectively protect the products could cost a company a significant amount in revenue loss, so it is crucial that they do their research before making a final decision. Corrugated cardboard is a common choice for companies for a variety of reasons.
Here are five interesting facts about corrugated cardboard:
1. Corrugated cardboard has strong design
Using age-old concepts, packaging with corrugated cardboard is consistently stronger than packaging with alternative designs. It is made up of two sides with a wavy middle layer called fluting, which is based off of the concept that arches are the strongest shape in architecture and design.
The fluting creates a series of arches between the two sides, which is what gives it increased strength. Because of the curves in the fluting, the packaging is more resistant to bending in any direction than other materials would be, also making it more resistant to tearing or bursting.
2. Corrugated packaging uses lighter and less cardboard material
The lightness of corrugated cardboard is exceptionally beneficial when it is being used to ship products. The lighter the material, the lower the costs, so it is a bonus for companies to choose this option, as they simultaneously receive a strong material and save money on weight costs in shipping.
It also doesn’t take up a lot of space, so regardless of whether it is being used to ship products or for other packaging purposes, companies are able to save a significant amount of space by opting for corrugated packing.
3. Corrugated cardboard is good for the environment
As far as sustainability goes, corrugated packaging is one of the best options. Many of the companies that produce it use recycled materials to do so. As well, it uses a very small amount of energy when it is being produced, unlike other types of packaging.
Corrugated cardboard can often be reused multiple times, as it doesn’t become destroyed as easily, and once it is destroyed it is 100 per cent recyclable. It is also the most commonly recycled packaging option, with the majority of all corrugated packaging making it into the recycling bin. There are also options of corrugated packaging available which use less material than others, another plus when it comes to saving the environment.
4. There are different sized flutes for different uses
Corrugated packaging has different sized flutes, and the different sized flutes actually have a purpose. Larger flutes provide more cushioning for the products, and are ideal for protection purposes. The largest flute size is A-flute, which contains about 36 flutes per foot of material.
On the other end of the spectrum is the F-flute. This is the very smallest fluting at about 128 flutes per foot. This size still provides a strong material for packaging, but reduces the material used providing a flatter surface for higher quality printing.
5. It is easy to personalize with corrugated cardboard
Corrugated cardboard is very easy to print on, and it supports many different methods of printing. The smaller the flute, the flatter the surface for printing, and the flatter the surface for printing, the more high quality the image is going to appear in direct printing. Direct printing is the most common method used for printing on corrugated packaging.
It is printing that is done directly onto the corrugated material. Pre-printing is another method that is used, where the printing is done and then glued or otherwise adhered to the packaging. There are multiple methods of pre-printing such as printing on linerboard or litho-labelling. Other methods that can be used are flexography and digital printing.