​A Guide to Cardboard Cartons

Posted by Mike Cunningham on Mar 8th 2023

​A Guide to Cardboard Cartons

Corrugated cardboard is one of the most used materials in the world. Considering the continued growth of online retail, it’s safe to assume that the popularity of cardboard boxes is here to stay!

Cardboard boxes are a much-loved packaging material used by everyone, from large multibillion dollar e-commerce retailers to small Etsy shops! It’s the first product people think about when they say ‘packaging’. They have great versatility, to protect and ship your products and they can be recycled!

This guide will cover everything you need to know about cardboard boxes, to learn what will best suit you and your business. But first, a history lesson…

The history of cardboard boxes. Corrugated paper was first invented in the 19th century as a means to reinforce top hats! The first pleated paper was patented in England in 1856 by Edward G. Healy and Edward E Allen.

Almost two decades later, people started to use corrugated paper as a protective packaging material. Initially, it was used to wrap glass bottles and kerosene lamp chimneys. Corrugated cardboard as we now know it, came about in 1874 when an American, Oliver Long, introduced two sheets (or liners) to the pleated paper and make it stronger.

Flash forwards another 20 years to 1894 and the first corrugated cardboard boxes were produced by Henry Norris and Robert Thompson. They proved cheaper, lighter and easier to store than the wooden boxes being used for shipping at the time – and the packaging industry has never looked back!

So, what do you need to know about corrugated cardboard boxes if you want to use them as your main packaging material? Call us at 813 242 6995 or sales@quickpakinc.com to discuss your corrugated application.