Fact files: Here are the answers to all cartonboard questions

A sheet of cartonboard has two sides.
The material's construction is far more complicated. So, too, is the manufacture of packaging and its use throughout the entire logistics chain from filling and distribution to its use by the individual consumer. Cartonboard and the entire life-cycle of packaging therefore give rise to innumerable questions. We have gathered the answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

Table of contents:

  1. Packaging and Society

    1. What is “packaging”?
    2. What role does packaging play?
    3. Is packaging wasteful?
    4. Isn’t packaging expensive?
    5. Would prices fall if there was no packaging?
    6. What are the costs of packaging?
    7. What do the terms primary, secondary and tertiary packaging mean?
    8. Is carton packaging bad for the environment?
    9. What is the "packaging chain"?
    10. What is meant by the “packaging industry”?
    11. What are the different types of packaging material?
    12. What is the main issue to consider when specifying packaging?
    13. Why choose folding cartons?

  2. Cartons, industry and the environment

    1. What are folding cartons?
    2. What types of product are packed in cartons?
    3. Where are products sold in folding cartons?
    4. What are the key statistics for the European cartonboard and carton industries?
    5. What does 1 tonne of cartonboard look like?
    6. How many cartons are obtained from 1 tonne of cartonboard?
    7. How are cartons involved in environmental issues?
    8. Can environmental factors be measured?
    9. How are LCAs carried out?
    10. Is there a standard LCA methodology?
    11. Are cartons eco-friendly?
    12. Do consumers regard cartons as eco-friendly?

  3. Forests - The raw material for cartonboard

    1. Why are forests important for cartonboard?
    2. Why are forests important for the environment?
    3. Are there any other benefits from forestry in Europe?
    4. What is the “greenhouse effect”?
    5. How do trees reverse the “greenhouse effect”?
    6. How much of the world is forested?
    7. How much of Europe is forested?
    8. How much wood is harvested world-wide per year and for what purposes?
    9. Where does the timber for the European paper and board industry come from?
    10. Are tropical rain forests destroyed in order to produce paper and board?
    11. Are any forests destroyed in order to produce paper and board?
    12. Are there any threats to forests in Europe?
    13. Who owns the forests?
    14. If paper and board can be recycled why do we cut down trees?
    15. What species of trees are used for paper and board production?
    16. Which parts of the tree are used for paper and board manufacture?
    17. How can the European community be sure that forests are being managed properly?
    18. What is “sustainable development”?
    19. How does “sustainable development” apply to forestry?
    20. How can forest owners prove that their forests are sustainably managed?
    21. What is meant by “chain of custody”?

  4. The pulping process

    1. What is wood pulp?
    2. What is mechanical pulp?
    3. What is chemical pulp?
    4. What is meant by bleaching?
    5. Is bleaching necessary?
    6. What is meant by the AOX level?
    7. What is recycled pulp?
    8. What energy sources are used in the production of pulp, paper and cartonboard?
    9. Why is water used in pulping?
    10. What are the advantages of cartonboard made from virgin fibres?
    11. What are the advantages of cartonboard made from recycled fibres?
    12. How is used paper and board selected for recycling as cartonboard?
    13. How is the quality of recovered paper and board graded?

  5. Cartonboard

    1. What is cartonboard?
    2. How is cartonboard classified?
    3. What are the main characteristics?
    4. What is Solid Bleached Board?
    5. What is Solid Unbleached Board?
    6. What is Folding Box Board?
    7. What is Whitelined Chipboard?
    8. What other boards are used for cartons?
    9. Why is cartonboard multilayered?
    10. How is cartonboard produced?
    11. What laminations and treatments are available?
    12. What developments have there been recently in board manufacture?

  6. Folding cartons

    1. What is meant by “carton design”?
    2. How are cartons designed to create impact and visual interest?
    3. How are cartons designed to protect the product?
    4. How does cartonboard influence design?
    5. How are cartons printed?
    6. Which is the best process for printing cartons?
    7. How is the carton profile produced?
    8. What other processes are used in carton making?
    9. How are cartons packed?

  7. Recycling

    1. What is meant by “recycling”?
    2. How important is recycling in the paper and board industry?
    3. Is all recovered fibre of equal quality?
    4. Can the fibres be recycled indefinitely?
    5. Can cartons be used more than once?
    6. What is de-inking?

  8. Folding cartons, branding and marketing

    1. How do cartons assist branding and marketing?
    2. How do folding cartons protect brands?
    3. How do folding cartons help brands to communicate with customers?
    4. How do folding cartons help brands to promote themselves?
    5. How does brand advertising on packaging compare with other media?
    6. How are developments in carton packaging helping brands?
    7. How do cartons help brands in the supply chain?
    8. How do folding cartons add value to brands and help to build them?