Cardboard, Cartonboard or Corrugated?
Cardboard is a generic term for heavy-duty paper. As such, it is used to describe different types of packaging material, most often cartonboard or corrugated cardboard. In this article, we explain the difference between the two, so you can specify your requirements to a packaging manufacturer. What’s the difference Between Cartonboard and Corrugated Cardboard? Both […]
Is Cardboard Packaging a Wise Choice?
It’s an exciting time in the packaging industry. That’s because environmental concerns are driving a wave of innovations. We’re seeing a significant shift away from plastic packaging and some exciting new products that are making this possible. However, sometimes the old ways are the best. So, we want to highlight why cardboard remains a wise […]
A Harvest of Packaging Materials
When you think of Autumn does it conjure up images of a school harvest festival? Maybe, you enjoy foraging for seasonal produce including mushrooms, blackberries and apples. For every crop that is harvested, there are elements of the plant that we don’t eat. For example, the stalks of wheat or the skin of onions. However, […]
Festival Essentials: Single-use Cardboard Tents
Come rain or shine, the festival season is in full swing. At each event, hundreds or thousands of tents are erected to provide temporary accommodation over the weekend. However, many are never packed up and reused. So, let’s look at an alternative option, sustainable, single-use cardboard tents. Musicians Cutting the Carbon Footprint of Touring Glastonbury […]
3 Essentials for Shelf Ready Packaging
You want customers to find your products when they are shopping yet, you have no control over how frequently retailers replenish the stock. However, by providing your products in shelf ready packaging, you make restocking a quick and easy process. This can help the visibility of your brand and boost sales. What is Shelf Ready […]
When Cardboard is Your Home
At the moment, many people are visiting the Ideal Home Show for interiors inspiration. However, such aspirations are a far cry from everyone’s experience of a place to live. For some people, a stack of cardboard on the street is what counts as home. So, we’d like to share a recent project that raised money […]
Sustainable Shoes & Boxes
Did you know that the average British woman is said to own 34 pairs of shoes? Despite this, the footwear market forecast shows this is a growth area. Interestingly, UK consumers are showing greater interest in sustainable shoe brands and shoe boxes. In the Market for Sustainable Shoes Once our feet stop growing, a well-made […]
How are Bespoke Boxes Made?
Many people believe that bespoke boxes will cost a lot more than off-the-shelf solutions. However, there is very little difference in the manufacturing process. For this reason, custom packaging can be affordable and may even help to reduce other costs. Let us explain the process. Back to Basics with Corrugated Cardboard Corrugated cardboard boxes have […]
How to Pack & Ship Fragile Items
We recently read that cardboard boxes were selected as the ideal means of moving flamingos to a South Carolina zoo. With this in mind, let’s talk about how to pack and ship fragile items. The Decision to Pack and Ship in Cardboard Boxes When 15 fully grown flamingos needed to be transported from North Carolina […]
From Polystyrene to Cardboard
The recent Government ban on polystyrene cups and containers has encouraged many retailers and manufacturers to look at alternatives. From takeaway packaging to protective box inserts for machinery, we’ve helped brands shift from polystyrene to cardboard. We’ve now discovered a British designer, known for his polystyrene creations, who is exhibiting a collection of cardboard furniture. […]
Cat Friendly Boxes
Every cat owner knows that an empty cardboard box soon becomes a resting place for their feline friend. Now Tesla has released a corrugated cardboard cat house. It’s currently only available in China, but what alternatives do we recommend for UK cat lovers? Why do Cats love Cardboard Boxes? Let’s start by asking why cats […]
Ditch or Switch Plastic Packaging
July is Plastic Free Month! The perfect time to make long-term changes, as an individual, a business or a community, to ditch or switch plastic packaging. Small Changes to Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste Can small changes have an impact? You may believe that the scale of the issue is too big for your changes to […]
Benefits of Shelf Ready Packaging
To attract shoppers , retailers have to keep their shelves well stocked. In large stores, this can be an almost constant process. When products are running low, it’s important to have a quick and efficient means of filling the gaps. This is where shelf ready packaging comes into play. What is Shelf Ready Packaging? Shelf […]
How to Make Cardboard Moisture Resistant
Cardboard boxes are known to be robust and protective, which is why they are widely used for product packaging and shipping. However, if your deliveries have ever been left out in the rain, you are well aware that moisture can compromise these credentials. The same issue can occur in cold storage. So, how do we […]
How is Cardboard Packaging Manufactured?
Corrugated cardboard boxes are widely used for shipping goods, but how are they manufactured and why are they a popular packaging material? How are Cardboard Boxes Made? Renewable materials Corrugated cardboard is made from a high percentage (over 70%) of recycled cardboard fibres, combined with raw paper pulp from trees. The production process involves heating […]
Packaging Fresh & Fragrant Flowers
Giving flowers is an expression of appreciation, gratitude, joy, sympathy or apology, but how do flowers make it from farm to florists? We explore flower growers and cardboard flower packaging. Why Do People Buy Flowers as Gifts? A small bunch of daffodils in spring or an elaborate summer bouquet is a simple way to show […]
A Guide to Garment Packaging
Online sales of clothing increased by 14% in the year until May 2022*, despite e-commerce sales falling in most other categories. This indicates that shoppers are now making up for lost time; getting out and about with confidence. Wardrobe updates are making buyers feel ready for social get-togethers, work events and holidays. As a clothing […]
Exploring Packaging Material Innovations
When Aylesbury Box Company first opened its doors, polystyrene inserts and bubble wrap were widely used as void fillers. Many brands favoured layers of packaging to heighten the perception of luxury or value for money. Plastic was widely accepted as a desirable packaging material. Awareness of the impact of packaging waste on the environment has […]
Cardboard Boat Races
Corrugated cardboard is a resilient material; strong, insulating and cushioning. It is widely used to transport goods, but on a few days of the year, cardboard can also be found transporting people on the water. The time to sign up for novelty boat races is approaching! The Boat Race and Cardboard Boat Races At the […]
Is your Packaging Hard to Recycle?
Packaging design always used to prioritise styles, colours and designs with shelf appeal. To get the right look, designers would mix and match layers of packaging materials and the result could be visually stunning. Priorities have changed and whilst beautiful packaging is still desired, environmental considerations also impact consumer decisions. Many consumers are shunning brands […]
Recognised & Trusted Labels on Packaging
According to Statista research*, 47% of women and 43% of men check food labels on packaging before making a purchase. What information do consumers seek out before buying? Check the Packaging When in the shop or supermarket, some customers simply grab a product, whilst others study labels before adding goods to their basket. Those scanning […]
Plastic Tax & How to Avoid Paying
Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue. Discarded plastic packaging is building up across all parts of the planet, even littering remote locations where plastic has never been produced. The Plastic Tax aims to initiate change among plastic packaging manufacturers and importers. Will your business have to pay the Plastic Tax and how can you […]
Boxes of Unwrapped Fruit & Veg
France has banned plastic wrapping for the majority of fruit and vegetables, but we are led to believe that plastic helps to keep food fresher for longer. We know there is an urgent need to reduce the volume of single-use plastic used in food packaging but does loose produce sold straight from boxes simply increase […]
Upcycling & Recycling Cardboard Boxes
Corrugated cardboard is widely available, low cost and versatile. Both lightweight and strong, it can be modelled into all manner of shapes and items. With a flat, paper-based surface, it is easy to print. These properties make it ideal for protective, branded packaging. With a little imagination, cardboard boxes can be upcycled into a wide […]
Packaging in a Digital World
The rise of digital technology led to many believing that the paperless office would be the norm in the 21st Century. Would this lead to paper mills and packaging manufacturers in the UK going out of business? According to packaging data collated by Ibis World, there are currently 1,442 UK packaging companies. Many of these […]
What is a Circular Economy?
Terms like ‘Circular Economy’ and ‘Regenerative Production’ come up in conversations around sustainability. They inform product and packaging design, business planning and marketing messages, but what do they mean? Following on from our article about environmental claims, brands need to have a collective understanding of eco terms to avoid greenwashing. To aid understanding, the Ellen […]
Championing Sustainability in Organic September
Feeding the world whilst keeping food prices as low as possible is a challenge for producers. Intensive farming has provided a way to meet demands, yet whilst it keeps prices down, the cost to the environment, animal welfare and consumer health are high. Organic September highlights the benefits of choosing to buy organic produce. Yes, […]
Please Recycle Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard can be recycled, with the same fibres being reused seven times to create new boxes. This recycling process saves on raw materials, energy use and transportation costs. As the supply of cardboard has been lower than demand throughout 2021, as many boxes as possible must be kept in the cycle; manufacture, use, collect, […]
Colour Printed Boxes: What do I Need to Know?
Don’t be bland. Your retail packaging and shipping cartons are an important part of the customer experience. They are often the only physical contact with your company, so they need to reflect your brand. A pop of colour, a stunning illustration and iconic typography add to the appeal of your packaging and build the excitement […]
How a Cardboard Project Raised Thousands for Charity
Working with corrugated cardboard, we know that it is an incredibly versatile material. Being low cost, widely available and lightweight, cardboard is used for many inventive construction projects. A young New Zealand man has recently demonstrated the potential of cardboard by building his dream car. David Jones aspired to drive a Lamborghini, but at 22 […]
