What’s the first that comes to mind when we think about packaging? That’s right, boxes. When someone says packaging or packages, the first visual to come to mind is boxes. To be more precise, carton boxes. These boxes are everywhere, your house, grocery stores, supermarkets, you name it. This is because carton packaging is the most famous type of packaging. Throughout the years, cartons have been used to pack many products, ranging from food items such as cereals and milk to electronics and many more products.
Carton boxes have been around longer than you and I, and they do not plan to leave anytime soon!
What is Carton Packaging?
Carton packaging is packaging that is done with cardboard boxes. These cardboard boxes are paperboard boxes cut into specific sizes for different packaging materials. The process of creating the final packaging consists of three steps. These steps are;
- Preparing pulp from scrap paper, also known as preparing paperboard
- Cutting the paper board into multiple shapes and sizes
- Folding the paperboard
- Laminating the paperboard
After carefully performing each step, once the paperboard is completely ready, it is delivered flat to be packed and further folded into the desired shape.
These basic steps are a part of the origin of every carton packaging preparation. Apart from these steps, other steps can also be included in the preparation process. These additional steps depend on whether or not you want additional things on your carton. These additional things can be many things, such as any text or illustration you want to be printed on the carton. These steps then require some alterations in the preparation process. For this, during the processing of the paperboard, “dielines” are created. Dielines refer to the templates made to ensure that the process goes in the right direction and that the final packaging product will come out as desired. These templates guide all the cut lines a package should have to be of a certain size and shape. After the dielines are created, the desired text or illustration is added to them to be printed on large paperboard sheets. In the end, these cut pieces are folded and glued together like regular cartons, the only difference being the presence of a print on them.
Advantages of Carton Packaging
Carton packaging is not famous for no reason. It provides many benefits and has been providing them for a long time to be this consistent. Some of the benefits of carton packaging are;
- Usage in retail
- Cost-effective
- Environmentally friendly
- Flexible usage
Usage in Retail
There is a very high usage of carton packaging in the retail sector. Wherever you go shopping, you are bound to find carton boxes on the shelves, carrying what you are looking for or in a corner. The advantage that the retailers can have while using this type of packaging is that they can have their products delivered safely without any concern of damaging them. This is due to the high durability of the carton boxes. Furthermore, these boxes can have different designs and be placed on shelves for longer than products without any packaging. The different designs can also help them capture customer attention.
Cost-effective
Carton packaging is highly cost-effective. All the materials used in making the carton boxes are low-cost materials. These raw materials are also very easy to obtain, making them all the more desirable. One of the many important characteristics of these boxes is that even with low costs, they provide many benefits such as protection, high durability, flexibility, and high quality.
Environmentally Friendly
One of the biggest concerns nowadays is that of protecting the environment. This makes carton packaging a great option for shoppers concerned about the environment. All the raw materials used to make this packaging are sustainable, making the final product sustainable. Most of the paper used is eco-friendly and is obtained in environmentally friendly ways. They are also made of safe materials, making them suitable for food packaging. Due to their environmentally friendly nature, they are more acceptable and famous in the packaging world and among consumers.
Flexible Usage
Carton boxes have a high flexibility ability. They can be used for many types different packaging. Apart from their flexible packaging styles, their flexibility also lies in their ability to be made into different designs. This way, they can be used with different styles and designs depending on your preference. This can also result in your package having its look and being unique.
Types of Carton Packaging
There are several different types of carton packaging. These types further ensure your package looks unique and impressive in its way. Different types of carton packaging are;
Folding Cartons
These cartons are mainly made from paperboard and are made of a single sheet. These boxes are cut and given their desired shape. Their basic appearance can be enhanced with different steps added to the preparation process. They can undergo lamination, have something printed, either text or illustration, and even be coated with various coatings, such as an aqueous coating.
Rigid Cartons
Rigid cartons, unlike folding cartons, are made from two separate sheets instead of just one. The pieces are not attached and need to be folded together afterward. These cartons are also known as telescopic cartons. An advantage of these cartons is that they are, as the name suggests, rigid and do not bend or damage easily.
Boxboard Cartons
Boxboard cartons are also paperboard cartons. They serve the same purpose and can be used similarly. They have high durability. In addition, they are highly flexible, making it easier to bend them into any shape you want. They can also be used to have a printed look.
Corrugated Cartons
These boxes are used for shipping purposes, thus giving them the name of shipping boxes. These boxes are made from a corrugated sheet that has three layers. The outer two layers are known as liners, while the middle layer is known as the flute. The purpose of the middle layer, i.e., the flute, is to provide support and protection to the product inside. The three layers make the box strong and durable. These boxes can also be made with two layers having different thicknesses.
Braille Cartons
As the name suggests, these boxes are made to have braille characteristics. This is for visually impaired customers who can touch the braille and identify the characters. The most common use of such cartons is in pharmaceuticals.
Slotted Cartons
These boxes are taped and stapled. They are mainly used for shipping and storing purposes.
Aseptic Cartons
These cartons are multilayered and are mainly for storing liquid items. Their multiple layers allow them to stay on shelves for a long time. Another advantage of these cartons is that they preserve the characteristics, such as the color and nutritional value of the liquid. These cartons can also come with certain caps that ensure the liquid is stored properly.
Five-panel Wrap Carton
Another name for such cartons is smarty cartons. This name is given to them due to their unique ability to be bent into five panels. Such cartons are used to pack long items such as athletic things. These can include hockey bats, cricket bats, and rackets.
The options are endless, making carton packaging the best option for attracting customers in a uniquely sustainable way!
