Corrugated cardboard boxes are pretty common nowadays and it seems that they have become indispensable for e-commerce businesses anyway. They are lightweight, customizable, functional, and easy to cut, fold, and print and that’s a reason they are so hyped out there. But how they are different from regular cardboard boxes? What makes them unique in their way and more functional than any other cardboard type?
Well, learn about the basic differences below and find out if are they worth your try or not. Moreover, you will also learn how to leverage the potential of corrugated cardboard boxes in combination with custom gift boxes when it comes to shipping across the board. So, let’s read ahead.
What Is the Difference between Corrugated Cardboard and Regular Cardboard?
Corrugated cardboard and regular cardboard boxes are both heavy-duty paper-based products used to meet different packaging and shipping needs altogether. Custom shipping boxes are the best examples of corrugated cardboard which are perfect for transferring goods from one place to another. While custom gift boxes are the best examples of regular cardboard which are more user-friendly and enticing.
Cardboard is a durable and rigid material crafted from paper pulp, available in various compositions and structures. It serves as the cornerstone for manufacturing both standard cardboard and corrugated boxes.
Although they are pretty different from each other depending on their structure, composition, design, strength, and usability in the market, they also have some things in common. For instance, they both are recyclable and sustainable which can easily be transformed into a variety of other paper-based materials.
Both are types of cardboard and used to package e-commerce products and their purpose is to protect items from external impact. Both are also affordable and suitable for business needs as well as customer expectations. Overall, we can’t imagine our life without both corrugated and regular cardboard boxes as they are involved in retail products, supermarket items, online deliveries, take-out containers, and stored foods. In short, both are useful and functional in their own way leaving behind all other packaging solutions. Such as plastic or metals which are not eco-friendly at all.
Corrugated Cardboard Vs Regular Cardboard: Key Differences
There are a lot more types of cardboard besides corrugated cardboard yet they all are uniquely created and thus have their features. The same goes with corrugated cardboard also. It’s sturdier, reliable, durable, customizable, easy to carry, size-fit, and biodegradable. All these contribute to making corrugated cardboard the first choice for packaging and shipping needs.
Here are some key differences that set corrugated cardboard apart from regular as well as other popular types of cardboard. Such as paperboard, Kraft board, wet strength cardboard, and honeycomb cardboard.
Strength And Durability
Corrugated cardboard is a sturdier and more durable type of cardboard that offers unique features to manufacturers. The strength and durability of corrugated cardboard come from its unique structure and composition design. For instance, corrugated cardboard is a combination of both flat and fluted paper layers that provide perfect insulation and shock absorption properties to the packaging material.
As corrugated boxes can withstand extreme environmental conditions such as heat, temperature, moisture, abrasion, and pressure. They can deliver high-quality products safely to the doorstep of consumers.
On the other hand, regular cardboard is a thinner and plain packaging material containing one or two flat paper layers. It’s lightweight, customizable, can be styled in various ways, and easy to work with. Regular cardboard packaging is also cheaper and more appealing to customers which makes the products stand out on shelves.
However, it’s not as strong and durable as corrugated cardboard due to its thinner composition and thus not suitable for transporting goods from one place to another.
Structure And Composition
What makes corrugated cardboard extra special and worth the hype is its well-thought-out structure and sturdy composition. Corrugated cardboard is made with two external liner board paper sheets which protect the products from external forces and pressure.
Moreover, there is also a wavy fluted paper layer inside the two external paper layers which helps create a cushioning element like air pockets in the packaging. Three of these stiff paper sheets are bonded together tightly to give rise to a durable and resilient packaging material that is ready to ship products.
On the other hand, regular cardboard boxes are made of one or two thin paper sheets glued together to give rise a lightweight, stylish, and personalized packaging ready to display your products and make them stand out on the shelves. Have you ever noticed the packaging style or strength of custom gift boxes? They are appealingly elegant, lightweight, reusable, and eye-popping. They are the best examples of regular cardboard which is created the same way.
Versatility And Usability
The applications of corrugated cardboard boxes are endless when comes to serving retail as well as e-commerce businesses all the way. They are good at transporting bulk products to all the retail stores across the board. Delivering custom deliveries to the doorstep of customers, and storing bulk products without damaging them. However, they are not as versatile and customizable as regular cardboard boxes.
The reason is their hard structure and rough surface which makes them hard to print custom details or high-resolution images on the packaging. Although they can be created in different shapes and sizes. They are not as stylish and appealing as regular cardboard and it all makes sense too. Because their purpose of creation is to protect the goods during shipping. They don’t need to be stylish and eye-popping to attract customers at all.
On the other side, regular cardboard boxes offer more applications, versatility, and usability features than you may think. Through customization, you can design or style cardboard boxes as you want your dream packaging would look like. They can be created in different shapes, sizes, styles, and designs with additional features such as handles, flaps, and windows. Their main purpose of creation is to capture the sight of viewers and encourage them to try the product necessarily to boost sales.
