Corrugated cardboard – The interesting bits

Cardboard is a wood based paper that appears to have originated in China during the 15th century. Nowadays cardboard is most commonly made from a mixture of recycled & virgin paper pulp. It typically takes two forms;



Solid cardboard & corrugated cardboard;



The solid board form of cardboard is a thin, but durable sheet that is most commonly used in food packaging.



Corrugated cardboard consists of two "liners" either side of a "fluted" sheet.



The first patent for a corrugated cardboard product was in 1856 & it was used in the production of high hats worn by Englishmen.



It was later patented as a shipping material in 1871. The corrugation allowed the cardboard to be rigid & helped provide cushioning to prevent damage.



The first corrugated cardboard was unlined. In 1874, a liner sheet was added to both sides of the corrugation & it began to look much like it does today.



The most common use for corrugated cardboard is in the production of cardboard packaging & shipping containers or boxes.



Corrugated cardboard is very sturdy and lightweight, making it a perfect packaging material & it makes up a larger percentage of overall packaging than any other material available.



It can be cut or folded into any shape & can be printed on using several different processes for advertising & marketing. Printing on corrugated cardboard is almost exclusively done in water-based, rather than lead-based, inks.



It is also tear & burst resistant. Above all, it is a rigid structure that has an outstanding ability to cushion.



It is estimated in excess of five billion corrugated cardboard boxes are used each year in the UK alone.

This equates to over 80 boxes per person per year.



Corrugated cardboard is fairly inexpensive to make & its light weight construction makes it a relatively inexpensive shipping material.



Corrugated cardboard is a biodegradable product that can be safely disposed of or efficiently & easily recycled many times. Corrugated cardboard is considered environmentally friendly because it is made from renewable resources.



Corrugated cardboard is also nontoxic as a result of the materials in its makeup.

The paper layers on the outside are known as the liners while the wave shaped material in the middle is called the corrugation or fluting.



Corrugated cardboard is produced in different thicknesses depending on the required application.

Some toys and even furniture have parts that are constructed of corrugated cardboard.



In all, corrugated cardboard truly is a versatile product & plays an important part in all our lives.



Mark Reid works for Postpack Ltd, an online manufacturer & distributor of packaging materials throughout the UK, Ireland & Europe. They provide free samples if required, offer free delivery for orders over £50 and operate a free bespoke design service.



Click here to buy your corrugated cardboard boxes, cartons & packaging materials from Postpack