How is cardboard made?

With so many different kinds of boxes for shipping and receiving, the gold standard for shipping is cardboard boxes. In this short article, we are going to look at the process of how these boxes are made. There is a unique kind of process that is used to make up these essential boxes. These boxes are the most used when it comes to the shipping industry. Almost every company that deals in shipping and receiving products uses cardboard for their boxes as they are not only lightweight but also relatively cheap. This aspect is an excellent thing as it helps companies reduce on their shipping costs. 

To begin with, as many of us know, cardboard is essentially tough paper. The process to make these boxes is a unique yet easy process. Trees are cut down to make paper. Companies who produce cardboard then buy this paper so it can be made into the boxes. A sheet of paper is folded several times like a traditional Japanese paper fan. This fold or ridges is what gives cardboard its superior strength and durability. This process was actually found out on accident one day in the eighteen hundreds by an English man who worked as a paper printer. He used this accident to then make the first ever paper board box that eventually evolved into the cardboard containers we use today for shipping. 

The ridged or folded paper is then sandwiched between two sheets of paper to hold it in place. It is because of this that cardboard is so strong. If it were not for the sheets on either side of the ridges, then it would be flimsy and not have as much strength as it has with them. These two sheets of paper are a special kind of paper that has gone through a cleaning and manufacturing process that coats the paper to make it a bit more tough and able to withstand the elements and some damage. 

Cardboard is a very sturdy material, and it is because of the ridged paper sandwiched between two unique pieces of paper. Once all that has been done, creases are added so the cardboard can be formed into a box. The added creases need to be carefully planned out as if one is wrong, there is a chance that the box will not properly fold and form a box. Along with the creases that are formed, sections of it need to be cut out so it will adequately fold into a box. If just one crease or cut out is wrong or misplaced, then that sheet of cardboard will need to be recycled and made into a new box so it will properly make a box. The good thing is that all of these cardboard containers can be made from recycled goods, thus reducing the carbon footprint. 

Cardboard boxes are a great way to ship and receive goods. They are the gold standard for shipping boxes. Almost every company uses them, but no one knows how they are really made. I hope that this short essay has enlightened you somewhat about the process of making these essential boxes for the shipping industry. With how light this material is, it does not add to the overall shipping cost. This is good for the consumer as it does not make the price for the items someone buys more expensive.