Packaging Materials

Bleached or Unbleached?

Essential Facts...

  • When you make card from pulped wood it is a grey or brown colour. It is bleached to make it white.
  • Just like when you spill bleach on your clothes or put it in your hair bleach removes the colour from card.
  • Bleached card is white. It is more expensive to make, but looks more expensive so people associate it with quality products.
  • If you are going to print onto card the card MUST BE WHITE as printing processes do not use white ink.

 

Material Description Application Advantages
Folding box board A layer of unbleached card between 2 bleached, white layers

Products that need to be printed on both sides of the same piece of card

Cheaper than solid white board

Can be printed on both sides

 

Solid white board Bleached card

Expensive foods

Easter egg boxes

 

Looks high quality

Looks hygienic

Good printing surface

 

White lined chipboard

 

Layer of white card backed with unbleached card to save money

Cheap food package

Cereal boxes

Lower Cost

High Strength

 

Foil lined board A layer of waterproof foil is added to the card

Drinks Cartons

Some pre-packed foods

Is airtight and waterproof

Strong visual impact

Corrugated Card Protective package for electrical products

Strong and light (Good strength to weight ratio)

Will absord force of minor impacts

Cast coated board

Cast coating is an extra shiney surface added to any type of bleached card

Expensive chocolates

Extra smooth and shiney surface finish

Looks expensive

Can be embossed

 

Things to think about....

Why is white lined chipboard used for ceral boxes and not solid white board?

Answer: Because white lined chipboard is cheaper as the inside layer is not bleached.

Why do McDonalds use more expensive solid white board for their 'Apple pie' boxes, not white lined chipboard?

Answer: Because the apple pie touches the card and the bleached, white card looks more hygienic