[Guide] How to choose the optimal carton for your purposes

Sustainable and functional – corrugated board packaging is a real all-rounder! However, with a large number of folding cartons, the packers are ruined for the selection.

Whether it is during transport or in the warehouse, the corrugated cardboard packaging is used almost anywhere. Why does the material convince us in terms of sustainability? The corrugated board is made of renewable raw material wood, and recycling it is very easy. Apart from that, a corrugated board offers many other advantages, such as their high stability and lightweight. The fact that it is very easy to print is also a very attractive material. 

So the question is not so much whether you should use corrugated cardboard boxes, but much more about which ones! Simply answer the following questions, and you will get a good step closer to the perfect carton for your application:

• What specific use case do you have?
• What quality does your carton need?
• Which construction is best suited?
• How to imagine the look of your carton

1). What specific use case do you have?

Before you go into detail, you should first look at it: What goes into my box and for what purpose? If you take a close look at your application, many requirements for your folding carton arise as if by themselves. To make it easier for you to get started and get your thoughts rolling, we have prepared some questions for you here:

• How big and heavy are my goods?
• Does my product have sharp edges?
• How sensitive is my item, and does it need additional protection?
• What is the purpose of my packaging – e.B. for shipping, archiving or sub-packaging?
• How long will my shipment be transported, and by what route?
• Are my goods exposed to heat or cold during transport or storage?

Examples

Dusty or unsorted documents? Not with a cardboard box with a gauntlet lid. It can be protected from all aspects and can be resumed and closed with the frequency as necessary if additional documents are added. This will be a cardboard box that is particularly suitable for archiving purposes.

2). What quality does your carton need?

Did you answer the first question? Then the application is already clear. However, what kind of corrugated board be made to fulfil the intended use in an optimal way? This depends on the following aspects.

• One-, two- or three-wave Corrugated board is classically composed of two smooth layers of paper, between which there is a paper shaft. The following applies: The more layers of shaft and paper there are, the more stable the cardboard.
• Micro, fine or coarse shaft The cardboard waves differ in their height and wave pitch (distance to the tip of the neighbouring wave). Depending on the characteristics of the wave division and height, certain wave types result. The fine shaft, for example, is particularly suitable for small, lightweight products. The microwave, on the other hand, offers an optimal basis for individual printing. The coarse shaft is the first choice when the product needs padding. The pronounced wave height ensures this. Of course, combinations of the different wave types are also possible.
• Grammage – virgin or recycled fibres To estimate the quality of the corrugated board all around, you also have to take a close look at the paper quality. Above all, the outermost layer of paper is crucial. Quality criteria are the weight per square meter of paper (grammage) and the composition of the paper fibres. A cover paper can consist of recycled waste fibres (Schranz) or mostly virgin fibres (Kraftliner). In addition, there is the quality type Testliner, for which very high-quality waste fibres are recycled. The general rule of thumb: The higher the quality of the fibres and the higher the grammage, the more resilient the paper used.

Regardless of the different types of corrugated cardboard boxes, our folding cartons have one thing in common: they are all sustainable. If a PEFC™ or FSC ® certification is also available, the responsible extraction of the wood fibres is also ensured.

Examples

To send a book safely, wrapping packaging is required that protects the edges. However, since the goods themselves are insensitive, packaging made of a single-wave testliner is sufficient.

3). Which construction is best suited?

In the meantime, we discovered that not all boxes are the same. And the structure and construction of different types of cardboard are also different. For example, classic folded cardboard, cardboard with flashing bottom or cuff box.

The processing of the corrugated board is also another criterion. In “inline” processing, the corrugated board is cut and grooved directly on the machine, which is more cost-effective. Alternatively, the corrugated board is further processed with punching tools.

The construction also includes a type of closure because depending on the cutting type, it still has to be closed on the side. Most often, this happens with a tab bonding with glue. To obtain greater stability, the cardboard will be alternately used with strips or nailed with wire clamps. There are many ways to make it easy for the user to handle plug-ins to adhesive closures. 

Many factors, therefore, make up the construction. If it goes specifically to the choice of cardboard, it is best to go through the following point:

• Shape and dimensions of the construction If the product does not fit into the packaging, the rest is extra. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that the dimensions of the construction match the goods. Do you send by post? Then you should resort to post-compliant boxes.
• Design Does a single-element construction make sense for your use, or is it more practical if the lid and bottom are separate? An example of the latter would be our cuff box. It consists of a cardboard box with a matching lid.
• Type of closure By default, it is sufficient if the tabs are glued with glue. However, for high weight and heavy loads, a closure with tape or strip bonding or wire clamps is better.
• Practical extras A flash bottom significantly accelerates the construction of your boxes, as well as an integrated closure makes packaging easier. A height groove allows you to flexibly adapt the packaging to your goods and save filling material.

Examples

If shipping has to be fast, then boxes with a flash bottom are the first choice. Erected with one handle, they save valuable time during packaging. This makes them ideal for online retailers and frequent shippers – especially if they also offer a double self-adhesive closure for secondary shipping.

Thanks to the two-wave carton, which is processed both inside and outside, the bottle shipping box protects the delicate goods and separates the individual bottles. So the noble drop arrives safely at your customer.

4). How do you imagine the look of your carton?

When shipping goods, safety is the most important thing. If broadcasting can do this visually, then it can convince everyone. Everyone knows the standard version of corrugated cardboard packaging: brown or white. But you can also approach the design separately and print the box according to your wishes. On the one hand, here, you can print personal elements, such as your logo.

On the other hand, you can also choose full-surface printing. In any case, one of the main advantages of separate printing is the appearance of harmony and the advertising effect. In this way, you can benefit twice from a functional, sustainable, and at the same time, appealing packaging solution. 

Examples

Simple yet elegant. With a white cardboard box made of corrugated cardboard, you are in the right place for high-quality products or gifts. The cardboard not only fulfils its purpose but looks just as attractive.

The brown once again underlines the sustainable origin of the folding carton. In conjunction with the black motif print, the packaging has an effective advertising effect and convinces with a modern and trendy design.

Read our blog on Less is more – use packaging sparingly!