The Benefits of Cardboard Packaging

Corrugated cardboard is an incredibly popular packaging material and has been for many years. Even though it was originally created to transport food from the manufacturer to the customer, the material has since been proven to be the perfect solution for shipping all types of goods. From fragile and delicate items to clothing pieces, cardboard is a secure substance that can preserve its contents for long periods, making it an excellent container for items that need storing or transporting. It has won battles against wooden boxes, making it every industry’s favourite for protecting products. But why is corrugated cardboard such a popular choice for packaging? BiGDUG has put together a list of reasons why many people choose to cover their items with this material. The benefits of cardboard packaging are endless. So, if you are unsure about what type of packaging you should choose for your business, here is why cardboard should be your first pick…

The popularity of cardboard packaging is fairly well known at this point, almost any package you receive will be protected by cardboard. In fact, around 80% of all packages in the US and the EU are packaged in cardboard. This would equate to around 400 billion square feet of cardboard! Definitely hard to get your head around but fascinating nevertheless!

Corrugated cardboard has a strong fluted design. This involves a cardboard sheet consisting of three layers: an inner/outer paper liner and a middle flute which is formed into a crimped shape. This formation increases the strength of the cardboard box and helps it hold its shape even when under stress. Due to corrugated cardboard having the ability to keep its structure during transit, it is incredibly difficult to tear or crush. Which in turn provides high levels of protection and cushioning to delicate items, keeping them safe on long journeys and whilst being handled during the trip.

Corrugated cardboard can also prevent bacterial growth during transport and storage. This is because the material resists moisture from entering the carton, keeping its contents out of harm’s way. This is why cardboard boxes are suitable for storing food products or any items that are prone to spoiling if infected by bacteria.

One of the main benefits of cardboard packaging is that it helps businesses save a significant amount of money. The material is considerably cheaper than other variants of packaging such as plastic. Cardboard boxes do not cost as much to source and manufacture, therefore the cost price when buying boxes is not as much as other containers that are more expensive to form. When bought in bulk, your company can save money because suppliers lower their prices for customers who purchase more packaging, and as boxes are delivered flat, they can be conveniently stored without taking up excessive amounts of space.

Corrugated cardboard is also a very lightweight material. This means it will not add much more weight to your item, and as a result, will not significantly increase your postal costs. This comes in handy for goods travelling long distances – once they are placed on the scale you won’t be shocked by the transit costs. This helps keep your items easy to store and transport as well as not making them bulky for the customer to receive.

Another note to add is that an advantage of incorporating cardboard into your packaging is that it is ideal for printing and customising. Unlike other forms of substances, corrugated cardboard is easy and effective to print designs onto, which means that your boxes can stand out and increase brand awareness without breaking your business’s bank.

Cardboard is a very flexible material. This adaptability allows the material to be suitable to package a wide variety of different products. From books, jewellery and clothing to pizza or drink bottles, cardboard can be cut and moulded into any size or shape. This means there is no limit on what they can package. That is why companies choose to use cardboard to protect their products as it reduces the stress from packaging and it is more comfortable due to providing more options to businesses.

Cardboard is highly customisable. It can be bent into any shape imaginable, and it can be printed with different colours, your logo or almost anything. Finding the right kind of packaging is very simple when you are working with cardboard.

Now for one of – if not the most – obvious reasons why individuals choose cardboard over other forms of packaging. It is a very eco-friendly material. Not only is cardboard packaging beneficial to your business, but it also benefits the environment. Sourced from trees, it is a renewable resource and has been proven to be one of the materials with minimal environmental impact. When cardboard boxes are manufactured, there is a reduction of up to 60% in carbon dioxide and oil emissions produced compared to other packaging materials.

Corrugated cardboard is also 100% recyclable and biodegradable; it takes a maximum of one year to degrade and what’s more, it minimises waste generation. This means that before it is thrown away and left to degrade, it can be reused and recycled to avoid any unnecessary consumption of cardboard. What is also good about recycling the material is that it saves significant amounts of energy compared to other substances. Recycled packaging takes 90% less water and 50% less electricity to make!