Cardboard boxes are available to buy in a huge range of types and sizes. When searching for boxes, you might notice the words ‘carton’ and ‘box’ are used interchangeably. However, these are in fact two very different types of packaging.
What is a Corrugated Box?
Corrugated boxes are made from a few layers of material. They consist of an inner liner, an outer liner and a fluted material that goes in the middle.
The fluting can vary in thickness from single wall, double wall or triple wall depending on how strong the box needs to be. It’s important to Choose the Correct Strength For Your Product.
The Benefits of Shipping in Corrugated Boxes
1. Strong & Durable
These boxes are popular for shipping products as they are strong and durable yet lightweight. They are made in a variety of designs and sizes and are highly suited to protecting products during the shipping process. This is particularly important if you ship your products via couriers who often handle the parcel several times. A recent study found that a whopping 9 million UK shoppers have received a damaged parcel.
2. Reusable
A corrugated box is perfect for reusing. Businesses can divert their used boxes back into reuse by joining the Reuseabox Community. As well as this, if you find your delivery boxes are starting to pile up at home, why not use them for storage boxes, or get creative and make a cardboard forte for the kids or a playhouse for your cat.
3. Easy to Brand
The outer and inner liner of these boxes makes them ideal for printing on. This means you can add your own branding to help enhance your customer’s unboxing experience.
4. Planet Friendly
Corrugated boxes are highly reusable, 100% recyclable and biodegradable, making them a great packaging option if you’re looking to pack more consciously. However, it’s important to remember that all packaging has a footprint. Remember to reduce and reuse wherever possible to reduce your environmental impact.
At Reuseabox we supply a huge range of New and Used Corrugated Cardboard Boxes.
What is a Carton Box?
Carton boxes are usually made from a thinner material such as paperboard or paper-pulp. They are commonly used as inner packaging to protect products such as cosmetics, food, and children’s toys. They can also be used to make notepads or as clothing inserts.
Advantages of Carton Boxes
Carton Boxes can be printed with a variety of colours and textures, making them ideal for marketing your product. Carton boxes look smart, are recyclable and can be made in a variety of different sizes.
However, cartons do not offer the same level of protection as corrugated boxes. For this reason, products packaged in carton boxes may need additional packaging such as outer packing boxes, bubble wrap or extra paper to ensure the products are not damaged. This also means they are not as reusable as corrugated boxes and will often need to be recycled after a single use.
Summary
When selecting packaging for your product it’s important to consider how the packaging needs to function, not just how it looks. Corrugated boxes are ideal for using as outer shipping boxes, due to their strength and durability, while carton boxes are more suited for inner packaging, helping you showcase your product and improve your customer’s unboxing experience.