Packaging Materials Guide: Choosing the Right Board

Kraft board

Kraft board is unbleached, strong and fully recyclable. It looks best with restrained one- or two-colour printing that lets the natural fibre show, and it costs less than bleached white stock. It is the default choice for sustainable and craft brands. Uncoated kraft with soy inks is both recyclable and home-compostable.

SBS / white paperboard

Solid bleached sulfate (SBS) is the premium white paperboard used for folding cartons where vivid CMYK printing matters. It gives the sharpest colour reproduction of any board, which is why it dominates cosmetics, cosmetics and retail shelf packaging. Available in 14pt–28pt.

Corrugated board (flute types)

Corrugated board is a fluted core glued between two liners. The flute profile decides whether you get print quality, crush resistance, or both.

• E-flute — thin, smooth print surface, light shipping
• B-flute — thicker, higher crush resistance, medium loads
• C-flute — stacking strength for heavier freight
• Double-wall (B+C) — heavy and fragile freight
• Triple-wall — products over 65 lb

Rigid chipboard

Rigid chipboard (1.2mm–3mm) is wrapped in printed or textured paper to make setup boxes — the dense, non-folding format that signals luxury. It is hand-assembled, which is why it costs more, but the weight in the hand justifies a higher retail price point. Used for jewellery, electronics, fragrance and spirits.

Food-grade and specialty liners

Food packaging requires FDA-compliant board, food-grade inks, and grease- or moisture-resistant barriers. We offer freezer-grade coatings for frozen SKUs, PLA-lined compostable board, and grease-resistant liners for bakery and takeaway. Always specify your product temperature and shelf life so we recommend the right barrier.