Cardboard Recycling and Cardboard Shipping Boxes
Cardboard is a popular name used for strengthened material made of containerboard paper. It first came about in the eighteenth century and became economically significant at the beginning of the twentieth century following the development curve of the industrial boom. Originally, cardboard was made by just layering paper on top of each other and gluing it until needed strength was attained.
As industry evolved and products became more sophisticated with rather strict transportation requirements, cardboard boxes manufacturers realized that existing technology is not economically viable. This is when corrugated fiberboard was introduced and proliferated. Its uniqueness came from the way a box was structured. It was designed to sustain heavy weight and survive shipping and handling. In addition, the outside of the larger cardboard boxes became invaluable for commercial messaging and other product-related advertising.
A typical large cardboard box is generally made of three components – two lines with wavy flutes in between. This is the standard sandwich which can be turned into two- or three-ply as needed. The liners and flutes are made of containerboard (sometimes also CCM – corrugated case material). One liner goes on the inside of the box accompanied by the wavy material and a printed liner on the outside to complete the box.
Containerboard can be made from virgin or recycled fibers. Generally, some recycled fibers go into the production of 70 percent of the boxes nowadays. Some economics come into play to compare prices of recycled vs. virgin raw materials. Recycled fibers may contain traces of inks, adhesives, dirt so they often need to be bleached to improve printing qualities or appearance to conform to product specs. Corrugated cardboard remains one of the most highly recyclable material where the recycling ratio is up to 70-80 percent. This is a lot higher than the number from plastics recycling or thermoform packaging for example.
The true uniqueness of cardboard boxes, or rather corrugated fiber, stems from the wavy flutes which live in between the sandwich of the internal and outside liners. These triangle-shaped objects make a box strong, durable and light-weight – all qualities of vital significance in industrial economics. They can be of various grade, (typically A to F) with various width and count per lineal foot. Their size and number would be in direct relation to puncture resistance and edge crush test factors of shipping and moving containers. In addition, ability to stack and product air insulation also, within a reason, depend on the size and count of the magic flutes inside the walls of the cardboard boxes.
Implementation of flutes into the corrugated sphere of industrial packaging is relatively new. In contrast, other branches of human knowledge and science have known their advantages for centuries. Architecture, interior design and construction – to name a few. The exclusive qualities of flutes help large flat areas to be extended securely across space such as bridges, flyovers, exterior arches etc. What is more, their abilities to bend and absorb pressure from the outside allows products to travel safely and at longer distances while some abuse en route is suggested and tested for. Certain shipping best practices suggest that any box should be able to survive a three-foot free fall without damaging its contents. Proper packaging comes into play here also.
Packing tape is another essential element of every properly-prepared shipment. Most important point to remember here is the all-time-favorite duct tape is a poor choice together with other colored tape such as masking or frog tape. Packing tape or packaging tape is specifically designed to have sufficient strength and yet allow for smooth movement across conveyor belts and other means of transportation. Packing tape is normally clear or brown in color and is the final element which seals a cardboard shipping box and makes it a parcel. Best shipping practices call for heavier items to go on the bottom of a box. The remainder of the space inside is filled with bubble wrap or packaging peanuts and the whole package should be properly secured with packing tape along all sides on bottom and top where cardboard flaps meet in the center or at the sides.
Proper parcel packing is no rocket science; yet some basic rules should be complied with. Boxes for moving can be packed in a hurry and even left unsecured. Due to the short distances which they travel, they stand good chances of arriving at the destination intact. Shipping boxes on the other hand, require a lot more due diligence and preparation effort to ensure that packages do not fall apart when a courier changes means of transportation. New boxes are preferred with the proper characteristics such as designed product weight, edge crush test, puncture resistance and air insulation. Following these guidelines would make a shipment a lot less likely to mailing accidents and cause more smiles on the receiving end of the product as opposed to extra phone calls and insurance claims.
Naria McGregor has been involved in the the shipping and corrugated board industry for over a decade. She maintains a few blogs with news and updates on corrugated fiberboard, shipping best practices, packaging trends, green initiatives etc. They can be followed from the large cardboard boxes central. In addition, her other blog is Large shipping boxes.