Cartonboard or cardboard?
If you are looking for sturdy packaging made from a paper-based material, you are most likely to search for “cardboard packaging”, especially when looking online. Cardboard is a term used widely to describe material that is thicker than paper and predominantly is used for packaging items that require protection and need to be sturdy and solid.
Is cardboard really the right term, or is cartonboard more appropriate? Without going too deep into the technicalities they are the same thing and yet they are also not the same, confusing right?
Cardboard is really just a generic term used to describe heavy duty paper-based products, it is the name used to describe paper once it has gone over a certain thickness, normally 180gsm and over. Cardboard was a commonly used name for this type of material in a commercial environment and within the paper and board industry. The term however has been superseded in recent years due to a number of factors.
One of which being that it does not adequately define specific products, the cardboard spectrum is so varied and diverse that summing it all up under on description just didn’t work when there are so many types. Whilst the different terminology is well recognised withing the paper and board industry itself, cardboard is still the terminology used by the public at large and it is perfectly understood.
So what is cartonboard?
Put simply it is the term used within the industry to categorise a selection of “cardboard”. There are many types such as, white lined chipboard, folding box board and solid bleached board. These cartonboards are used in a variety of ways from food packaging to pharmeceuticals.
Collectively these grades come under the term cartonboard, the generic name used for all paperboard used for carton manufacture.
The problem with having two terms with more or less an identical meaning is that it can cause confusion around which material can be used and which are suitable for their end purpose.
When searching online it can lead to a lack of refined results meaning the person looking for a certain packaging material can often be left with the wrong or indeed no answers, which leads to frustration and ultimately could lead to loss of business.
For example, a large proportion of our customers and potential customers produce packaging for the food sector. This sector covers such a diverse range of end uses and so pinning down your exact requirement can be tough. Online searches for things such as cardboard food boxes, cardboard takeaway containers, cardboard food packaging, cardboard food containers and cardboard burger boxes to name a few don’t necessarily return the results required. Searching for cardboard will for the most part return options for corrugated packing and storage boxes, not the food specific cartonboard required.
This is where the use of cardboard against cartonboard makes the most difference and can make the search a challenge.
Looking for a little more information?
Take a look at our quick view guide to cartonboards and their most common uses.
So whether you say cardboard or cartonboard we are here to help find the right product for you. Get in touch with your questions and requirements and we will find the best material for you.