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Adviser about Folding boxes

-Folding boxes
-Materials for folding boxes
> Chrome board
> Cardboard labels
> Colourful folding boxboard
> Thick folding boxboard
> Weight per unit area / grammage Folding boxboard
> Grass cardboard
> Natural cardboard
> Recycled cardboard
> Cellulose cardboard
+Structure
+Folding carton production
+Sustainability of folding boxes
+Flexible packaging

Natural cardboard

Natural cardboard is not a specific type of cardboard that can be limited to the origin of the raw material, processing or colour. Natural cardboard is an umbrella term for particularly sustainable or sustainable-looking folding boxboard. Natural cardboard often contains a high proportion of rapidly renewable raw materials (grass) or waste paper. The term can be used to refer to grass cardboard, brown kraft cardboard and grey recycled cardboard, for example. All of these types of cardboard are particularly suitable for sustainable brand identities and specific environmental requirements. Due to the origin of the raw materials, most natural cardboard is not suitable for direct contact with food.

Colour: Natural colours (brown / grey / grass fibre / multicoloured)
Printing Conditional (depending on print image & ink application)
Further processing (punching/creasing/perforating) Conditional (prone to edge breakage)
Finishing (varnish/hot foil) Conditional (depending on surface and absorbency)
Food contact: No
Extraction Secondary fibre / waste paper / grass
Sustainability Fully recyclable
Grammage Approximately 190 to 675 g/m²
Bending stiffness Low / Medium

What types of natural cardboard are there?

As described, the term ‘natural cardboard’ refers to a type of categorisation of several folding box materials. They all share the characteristics of sustainability and a high proportion of secondary fibre. Some examples of natural cardboard are:

Designation Definition Special features
GD2 Coated secondary fibreboard, grey reverse side, specific volume 1.3–1.45 cm³/g Front side well suited for printing and finishing.
Grass cardboard Outer and inner cover made of grass, insert often made of primary or secondary fibre (for stability) Suitable for simple print motifs and low ink application. Low bending stiffness.
GT4 Coated secondary fibre cardboard, reverse side brown Front side well suited for printing and finishing. Brown reverse side for a unique look.
(i): The colour of the natural cardboard can influence the colour accuracy of the desired print motif. We therefore recommend applying opaque white to the entire print motif. Our calculators offer the option ‘4C Euroscale + white’ for this purpose. This ensures high print quality and colour accuracy.

About the author

Lasse Harder

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