CARTON BASICS

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Paperboard

There are two basic types of paperboard used to produce folding cartons: Virgin Fiber and Recycled Fiber or Combination.

Virgin Fiber Paperboard Grades

SBS Paperboard (Solid Bleached Sulfate)
Bleached paperboard or solid bleached sulfate (SBS) is a premium paperboard grade that is produced from a furnish containing at least 80% virgin-bleached wood pulp. Most bleached paperboard is coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay to improve its printing surface and may be also coated with polyethylene (PE) resin for wet strength food packaging.

Coated Unbleached Kraft Paperboard (CUK)
Clay natural kraft (CNK®) made by MeadWestvaco Corporation or solid unbleached sulfate (SUS®) made by Graphic Packaging International, Inc. is a superior strength paperboard grade that is produced from a furnish containing at least 80% virgin unbleached, natural wood pulp. Most unbleached or natural kraft paperboard is coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay to improve its printing surface and may be also coated with polyethylene (PE) resin for wet strength food packaging.

Recycled Fiber or Combination Paperboard Grades

Uncoated Paperboard
Uncoated recycled paperboard, a multiply material, is produced from 100% recovered paper -collected from paper manufacturing and converting plants and post consumer sources- and represents the single largest market for recovered paper in the United States. Some uncoated paperboard is produced with a top ply of white recovered fiber or vat dyed for color.

Coated Paperboard
Coated recycled paperboard, a multiply material, is produced from 100% recovered paperboard just as uncoated paperboard; however, typically coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay over a top ply of white recovered fiber to improve its printing surface.