Types of cardboard

Solid board differs from paper primarily in its load-bearing capacity. Cardboard is multi-layered and usually only single-side coated (most often matte), while paper is double-side coated (can be matte or glossy) and made of only one layer. The difference between them is also in their purpose: paper is used for commercial purposes such as brochures, folders, catalogues, and magazines, while cardboard is used primarily for packaging.

Solid board has a smooth and flat surface that allows for easy printing, drawing, or gluing. Due to its solid structure, it has high stability and rigidity. This means that it maintains its shape and does not deform easily under load or pressure. It is usually less sensitive to moisture than corrugated cardboard. Due to its density and flat surface, it is less prone to moisture absorption, which allows it to better maintain its properties and strength.

Corrugated cardboard consists of at least 2 layers and a maximum of 5 to 7 layers. The outer first layer is smooth, while the second inner layer is corrugated, which is where the name originates.

The shape of the flutes and the distance between them can vary depending on the desired strength and stiffness of the cardboard. In our company, we work with F, E, and B flutes. Exceptionally, EE, EF, or EB flutes are also used.

It can be printed directly onto corrugated cardboard (flexo printing) or the cardboard can be printed in a lower grammage (most commonly 230 g) and glued onto either two-layer or multi-layer corrugated cardboard. This is called litho-laminated cardboard.

Below are the groups of cardboards that we most frequently use in our production for the manufacture of our folding boxes. We have added the most important information regarding the areas of application, the composition of the material itself, and their characteristics and properties.

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
SBS/GZ single- or double-sided bleached paperboard	high-quality paperboard	postcards	100% cellulose	front whiteness 95%
	brilliant whiteness	book covers		back whiteness 93%
	premium performance	brochures		recyclability** – confirmed
	impressive smoothness	folders		compostability**** – confirmed
		calendars
		premium chocolate packaging
		cosmetics

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GC1 cellulose paperboard	excellent printability	chocolate and confectionery	86% cellulose	front whiteness 92%
	consistent quality	pharmaceuticals and healthcare	pigment coating 14%	back whiteness 91%
	very smooth surface	cosmetics and personal care		recyclability** – confirmed
	high whiteness	technical devices
	high gloss	other non-food areas
	good creasing ability

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GC2 cellulose paperboard with cream back	high stiffness	dry food	90% cellulose	front whiteness 87%
	excellent yield (lower grammage, higher bulk compared to GC1)	frozen food (also as secondary packaging)	pigment coating 10%	recyclability** – confirmed
	very good printability	chocolate and confectionery		biodegradability*** – confirmed
		pharmaceuticals and healthcare
		cosmetics and personal care
		other non-food areas

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GT4 recycled paperboard (brown back)	kraft brown back	dry food	30% cellulose	front whiteness 79%
	high stiffness	frozen food (also as secondary packaging)	PIW* 20 %	recyclability* – confirmed
	good printability	fruit and vegetables	PCW* 40 %	biodegradability*** – confirmed
		beverages (as secondary packaging)	pigment coating 10%
		detergents (in powder form)

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GT2 single-side coated recycled paperboard (white back)	good brightness	dry food	20% cellulose	front whiteness 80%
	high stiffness	frozen food (also as secondary packaging)	PIW* 50%	back whiteness 72%
	high stiffness	fruit and vegetables	PCW* 20%	recyclability** – confirmed
		beverages (as secondary packaging)	pigment coating 10%	biodegradability*** – confirmed
		pharmaceuticals and healthcare
		cosmetics and personal care

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GD2 recycled paperboard (grey back)	high stiffness	dry food	10% cellulose	front whiteness 80%
	good printability	frozen food (also as secondary packaging)	PIW* 20 %	recyclability** – confirmed
		fruit and vegetables	PCW* 60 %	biodegradability*** – confirmed
		beverages (as secondary packaging)	pigment coating 10%
		shelf-ready packaging
		shelf-ready packaging

	FEATURES	APPLICATIONS	COMPOSITION	PROPERTIES
GD2 (for lamination) single-side coated recycled paperboard	high efficiency and good printability	fruit and vegetables	PIW* 30 %	front whiteness 80%
	very suitable for further processing	beverages (as secondary packaging)	PCW* 55 %	recyclability** – confirmed
	good brightness	detergents (in powder form)	pigment coating 15%	biodegradability*** – confirmed
	very soft and glossy	shelf-ready packaging
	intended for lamination onto corrugated board	other non-food areas
	grammages only from 180g to 280g

*PCW – post-consumer waste

*PIW – post-industrial waste

**recyclability – processing of already used, waste materials into new products; recycling reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise take up valuable space in landfills, and also reduces the consumption of natural raw materials otherwise needed for the manufacture of new products, while saving water and energy.

*** biodegradability – the degree to which microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) can decompose a certain substance, which should mean that the decomposition residues are non-toxic; it does not mean that the waste can be thrown into compost, but it must still be correctly separated

**** compostability – a material can be composted when its biological decomposition is in accordance with the conditions (temperature, humidity, time) found in composting facilities

2-ply corrugated board	COMPOSITION
F flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / F flute
	grammage: 140 g / 100 g
	average flute height 1 mm
E flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / E flute
	grammage: 140 g / 100 g
	average flute height 1.4 mm
B flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / B flute
	grammage: 140 g / 100 g
	average flute height 2.8 mm

3-ply corrugated board	Sestava
F flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / F flute / brown or white inner layer
	grammage: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
	average flute height 1.1 mm
E flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / E flute / brown or white inner layer
	grammage: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
	average flute height 1.6 mm
B flute (brown / white)	brown or white outer layer / B flute / brown or white inner layer
	grammage: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
	average flute height 3.00 mm

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