Core Packaging Materials

A concise primer highlighting everyday packaging materials.

🎴 White Cardboard

Bright white and rigid, with the best print reproduction. Suits premium packaging for cosmetics and electronics. Costs more, but feels the best.

• Typical grammage: 250-400 gsm

• Finishing: takes foil, UV and embossing well

• Price: mid-to-high

🌾 Kraft Paper

Natural brown and tough, projecting a raw, eco-conscious image. Suits artisanal food and creative products.

• Typical grammage: 120-300 gsm

• Traits: biodegradable, strong green credentials

• Price: economical

📦 Corrugated Board

Strong cushioning protection — essential for transport packaging. Different flutes suit different jobs.

• E-flute (1-2 mm): premium boxes, slim items

• B-flute (3 mm): standard shipping cartons

• A/C-flute (4-5 mm): heavy goods, long-haul transport

🔍 PET / BOPP

Clear flexible materials. PET can be printed as labels; BOPP is used for lamination to add gloss and water resistance.

• Applications: food packaging, household product labels

• Traits: waterproof, transparent, tear-resistant

• Price: varies with thickness and finishing

Material Decision Tree

Want a premium feel? → White cardboard + foil / UV / embossing

Emphasizing sustainability? → Kraft paper + water-based inks + FSC certification

Need transport protection? → Corrugated board + cushioning materials

Cost-sensitive? → Coated paper or plain white card, with less finishing

Selection Tips

Material typically accounts for 40-60% of total packaging cost — the key lever for cost control
Ask suppliers for samples and handle them; specs never fully replace touch
Check downstream compatibility: lamination, foiling and the like depend on the stock
With the shift to sustainability, biodegradable materials such as kraft are becoming mainstream

TadaPack Engineering Column

Need Production Quotes or Custom Sized Boxes?

TadaPack (www.tadapack.com) offers direct factory manufacturing for corrugated shipping cartons, mailer boxes, rigid gift boxes, and eco-friendly protective packaging with instant online quotes and free vector CAD dielines.

Visit TadaPack.com