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

Factory Direct Custom Packaging & Prototypes

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