Healey Packaging / Material guide
Packaging materials.
Make an informed choice.
Compare boards for custom cartons, shipping boxes and presentation packaging.
We help UK businesses choose paper-based packaging around product protection, printing and delivery requirements. Start with the construction, then confirm the board grade, finish and complete specification.
Illustrative material swatches. Confirm the actual grade and construction for your project.
A practical starting point
Match the construction
to the packaging job.
For printed retail cartons, start with folding carton board. For shipping, consider corrugated board. For a substantial presentation box, consider a wrapped rigid structure. Check suitability against the actual product and distribution route.
Swipe or scroll sideways to see all comparison columns.
| Construction | Typical application | Print considerations | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding carton board | Retail cartons, sleeves and smaller product boxes. | Surface smoothness, coating and colour influence the printed result. | Grade, caliper, creasing, product weight and any barrier requirements. |
| Corrugated board | Shipping cartons, ecommerce mailers and protective structures. | Confirm the liner and whether graphics are printed directly or on a laminated sheet. | Flute, wall construction, load, stacking and product movement. |
| Rigid box construction | Gift sets, jewellery and presentation packaging. | Graphics and decorative finishes are typically applied to the outer wrap. | Core thickness, wrap, inserts, closures and a protective shipping outer where needed. |
Explore the options
Know what sits
behind the surface.
These material families provide a starting point. The specific board, dimensions and added components determine how the finished pack performs.
Paperboard for cartons
Foldable board can provide a printable surface for cosmetics, retail goods and other product cartons. The grade and surface treatment affect stiffness, colour reproduction and finishing.
- Look at
- Grade, grammage, thickness and coated or uncoated surface.
- Keep in mind
- A retail carton may still need an outer shipping pack or internal support.
Corrugated for distribution
Corrugated board combines flat liners with fluting. Its performance depends on the paper combination, flute, wall construction and the design of the finished box.
- Look at
- Flute profile, liner specification, packed dimensions and stacking conditions.
- Keep in mind
- Fragile products may need fitments or cushioning as well as a suitable outer box.
Rigid board for presentation
A dense board core with a separate wrap creates a substantial presentation box. Inserts and closures should be specified around the product and intended use.
- Look at
- Core thickness, wrapping paper, insert material and closure design.
- Keep in mind
- Presentation quality does not establish courier protection. Review the shipping pack separately.
Considering kraft?
Brown kraft can give packaging a natural-looking surface, but printed colours may appear different from the same artwork on white board. Kraft-based liners also come in white variants. Confirm the exact stock, finish and fibre information.
View kraft packaging optionsRead the specification
GSM is weight.
Caliper is thickness.
These measurements describe different properties. Neither figure, used alone, tells you whether the finished box will protect your product.
Grammage / GSM
The mass of one square metre of board. Two grades with the same grammage can have different thickness, stiffness and printing characteristics.
Caliper / thickness
The distance between the sheet’s surfaces. Confirm the actual caliper for the selected grade rather than converting GSM to thickness using a fixed rule.
Corrugated specification
Flute profile, paper combination and single- or double-wall construction work together. More layers alone do not guarantee suitability for a given load.
Include the product weight, internal dimensions, box style, handling and stacking conditions. Where performance testing is needed, agree the test method and acceptance criteria for the finished pack.
Read our board grades guidePrinting & finishes
Choose the surface
as carefully as the structure.
A finish should be assessed on the actual stock and production route. The same artwork can look different on a coated white board, brown kraft or corrugated liner.
Colour and surface
Review smoothness, coating and board colour. Ask how these affect colour matching, fine text and artwork coverage on the proposed material.
Print process
Confirm whether the box is printed directly or uses a printed wrap or laminated sheet. This changes the surface being printed and the construction being supplied.
Decorative treatments
Foil, embossing, spot UV and laminates require compatibility checks. They may also affect folding, separation or recycling of the finished pack.
Before production
Know what your
sample can confirm.
Ask which sample type is appropriate, what it represents and whether there are costs or timing implications. Sampling availability depends on the project.
Digital proof
Useful for checking artwork, text and layout. A screen proof does not confirm physical fit, material strength or the exact printed colour.
Plain prototype
Useful for reviewing dimensions, folding and product fit. Confirm whether its material and production method match the proposed finished pack.
Printed sample
Useful for reviewing appearance and construction. Ask which materials, inks and finishes are representative; a sample is not automatically a transit-test result.
Sourcing & suitability
Check the claim.
Check the complete pack.
Material sourcing, recycled content, food-contact suitability and recyclability are separate questions. Confirm the requirements for your project before artwork or production approval.
Our sustainability approachFSC certification
If required, confirm the eligible specification, relevant certificate holder, supply-chain requirements and permitted claim. A sourcing certification does not by itself establish recyclability.
Recycled content and recycling
Request the fibre percentage for the actual grade. Assess recycling separately, including coatings, windows, adhesives, inserts and local collection rules.
Food-contact requirements
Specify direct or indirect contact, food type, temperature and grease or moisture exposure. Paper-based or recycled material alone does not establish suitability for the intended food use.
Material questions
A few details
worth getting right.
Use these answers to prepare a more useful brief and compare proposed specifications.
Is cardboard different from paperboard?
Cardboard is a broad everyday term used for several paper-based boards. For a quotation, specify whether you mean solid folding carton board, corrugated board or a rigid box construction, then confirm the grade and thickness.
Does a higher GSM mean a stronger box?
Not necessarily. GSM measures mass per area. Fibre composition, board structure, thickness, grain direction and box design also affect performance. Compare the actual grades and finished construction against the product’s requirements.
Which material should I consider for ecommerce?
Corrugated board is a common starting point for mailers and shipping cartons. Choose the construction around the packed weight, fragility and handling route, and assess whether inserts or cushioning are needed.
Is brown kraft always recycled or recyclable?
No. Colour does not establish recycled content. Ask for the specific fibre information and assess recyclability using the complete construction, including coatings and added components, and the available disposal route.
What information do you need to recommend a material?
Share product dimensions and weight, quantity, box style, artwork and finishing requirements, delivery conditions and any food-contact or sourcing requirements. A current sample or specification can help when replacing existing packaging.
Continue your research
Useful material references.
Industry references explain material principles. They do not certify an individual Healey Packaging product.
Start with your product
Let’s build the
right specification.
Send your product dimensions, weight, quantity and preferred packaging style. Include print, finish and material requirements so we can discuss suitable options.