Corrugated boxes have revolutionized the world of packaging since it was discovered in 1817. Here are some of the reasons why:
First and foremost: what is corrugated packaging? It’s all in the flutes
To begin with, it is easy to confuse corrugated board with conventional old-school cardboard. The main distinguishing feature between the two is the ‘flutes’- waves pressed between two sheets- that’s what makes the corrugated cardboard boxes sturdy and durable.
Sturdy and recycle able (reuse able) win the race
Did you know? Corrugated is the most recycled packaging material in the world: 96 percent of corrugated produced in 2018 was recovered for recycling and almost all of that material was used to make new products.
So, what is it about corrugated packaging that makes it so compelling? Corrugated board’s sturdiness, along with its ease of recycling (over 90% of all corrugated board in the United States is recycled), is also the driving force that astronomically increased the surge in prevalence and appeal. Moreover, corrugated packaging can hold a wide array of goods, regardless of their structure, composition or weight, and it’s especially attractive to millennials, who are becoming more environmentally and socially responsible every passing day. This can be proven; according to a recent research Global Corrugated Boxes Market was to Reach $120. 3 Billion by 2027. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Corrugated Boxes estimated at US$103. 2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$120 (Intrado, 2020).
Endless opportunities of customization
Talented top-notch artists have no limitations when it comes to what they can do with corrugated board. Corrugated board is one of the most useful components widely available around the world, and it can be used to produce anything from POP displays to furniture and even musical instruments. When you ask a packaging designer what they admire most about corrugated packaging, the answer is very often- graphics. This is due to the fact that printing on corrugated cardboard is a breeze! In addition to printing directly on the material, you can also print on a thinner layer and then glue it to the surface, resulting in a litho-laminated box. This is the perfect way to progress, if you want more higher-end approach. Apart from this, another technique called designing a sleeve, it allows a separately designed thin paperboard to slide over the corrugated box; turning into an eccentric cover.
All these techniques, enables the corrugated board to reach endless opportunities, whilst transforming the world of recyclability; something our world is in sovereign need of.