Beautiful, Versatile, Sustainable
Made of thick paper, printed with brand-enhancing graphics, and cut/folded into unique structures, paperboard packaging engages consumers like nothing else on the store shelf.
The possibilities for creating unique, eye-catching paperboard packaging designs are truly endless. Paperboard can be scored, folded, curved, and custom diecut in countless ways. Embossing lifts type and images off the surface of the board, creating immense tactile interest; hot foil stamping adds regal gold or silver elements; UV coatings add a lustrous, protective sheen; soft touch coatings impart a rich, luxurious texture onto the paperboard; windowing entices consumers with a peek at the packaged product.
Paperboard packaging is inherently sustainable, renewable, and recyclable—and today’s environmentally-conscious consumer knows this. Paperboard packaging helps the earth just as much as it helps the marketplace.
With its unmatched graphics, billboard appeal, and sustainability, it is easy to see why paperboard is the packaging substrate of choice.
Folding Cartons
A type of paperboard packaging that folds flat for storage and shipping, folding cartons are made of 10 to 36 point board and can be constructed using a wide range of virgin and/or recycled board types (SUS, SBS, CUK, CRB, FBB, etc.).
Although not as strong or durable as rigid boxes, folding cartons can be fluted for extra protection and cushioning. Known as “mini flute,” these cartons feature a small E, F, G, or N-fluted (wavy) substrate that is sandwiched between two liner boards.
Since folding cartons fold flat, taking up little space, they are economical to ship. And since they are printed in sheets containing many carton flats, folding cartons generally have lower per-unit costs and faster production speeds. They also provide excellent print quality (color registration, consistency, fine detailing) and have aseptic and direct food contact applications.
Rigid Boxes
Generally larger than folding cartons, rigid (set-up) boxes are made of thick 36 to 120 point board overlaid with a printed paper wrap. These boxes generally do not fold flat. They’re
available in a variety of striking structural formats, and the graphics for the paper overwrap (exotic foil or texturized paper, paper-backed fabric, or printed plain white paper) are nearly endless.
Visually appealing and structurally impressive, rigid boxes convey a sense of prestige, luxury, elegance, and quality, and are ideal for smaller, high-end items such as jewelry or electronics. Many consumers even keep and reuse rigid boxes long after the original purchase, thus providing excellent opportunities for long-term product/brand recognition.
Unlike folding cartons, which are shipped flat and therefore require assembly before being filled with product, rigid boxes usually remain erect and therefore have lower assembly costs. Furthermore, since tooling costs for simple rigid boxes are much lower than those needed to manufacture folding cartons, rigid boxes are ideal for short-run orders (5,000+).
Check out PPC’s annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competitionto see examples of stunning paperboard packaging.