A Guide to Choosing Paper for Packaging: From Unfamiliar Terms to Material Characteristics

Hello, this is Packative.

If you don’t have much experience in packaging production, you may have felt that there are too many things to choose and decide on — from box structure to paper material, GSM, coating type, design, and more — even though the terms themselves are unfamiliar.

Today, we’ll walk you through a very basic paper selection guide for packaging beginners.

Paper Selection Guide 1️⃣ Paper Boxes

In paper box production, the process generally proceeds by selecting the paper material → GSM → print color → coating type → post-processing type. Since choosing the paper material is the very first foundation of paper box production, we’ll briefly explain the characteristics of each paper material.

The images below show the white papers most commonly used: Royal Ivory (AB), Ivory (IV), and SC Manila. Did you notice anything unusual?🫨 At first glance, they all look like the same white paper, but if you look at the back side, you’ll see that they are slightly different.

▪️Royal Ivory (AB)

This is the most commonly used material for paper box production because it offers strong quality at a good value. As a food-safe paper, it is suitable for food packaging, and as an FSC® certified paper, it is also a good choice for eco-friendly brand packaging. Its defining feature is a white outer side and a slightly ivory-toned (yellowish) inner side.

▪️Ivory (IV)

This paper is characterized by a slightly speckled gray tone on the inner side, sitting between SC Manila and Royal Ivory (AB).

▪️SC Manila

This paper is used more often for lamination on corrugated boxes than for paper boxes. Its outer side is white, while the inner side is a mix of gray and brown.

CCP

▪️CCP

Unlike the white papers introduced above, CCP paper is characterized by a glossy finish on the front that looks like a glossy coating.

In general, packaging is most commonly produced by printing colors on white paper, which is why we introduced only white papers above. However, many packages are also made using the paper’s own color and texture alone.

If you’d like to learn more about paper materials, please check the papers Packative can produce here.

Paper Selection Guide 2️⃣ Corrugated Boxes

Unlike paper boxes, corrugated boxes have a structure made of outer liner - flute - inner liner, and you simply choose the paper material for the outside and inside surfaces based on the flute in the middle. Before that, let’s briefly explain the basic structure of corrugated boxes — namely, classification by “ply” and “flute,” as well as the “types of base paper.”

Source @gcb.com.my

ℹ️ Classification by corrugated box “ply”

Corrugated boxes can be classified by ply into single face / single wall / double wall / triple wall. Single-face corrugated board is used as internal cushioning material, single-wall corrugated board is the most familiar laminated box (color box), and double- and triple-wall boards are often used for shipping boxes or export packaging.

ℹ️ Classification by corrugated board “flute”

Depending on the flute that supports the layers, A/B/C/E/F flutes are generally used for double-wall boards, and E-flute is the most commonly used type for ordinary laminated boxes (color boxes) encountered in everyday life. For shipping boxes and other packaging that needs to hold heavier items with a greater risk of breakage, double-flute structures such as BA and BB are used.

ℹ️ Types of corrugated board “base paper”

Now that you know about “ply” and “flute,” only the “base paper” is left. The most commonly used base papers are KLB (dark brown), SK (light brown), and WK (white). If you’ve ever placed an order on the Packative website, ‘White = WK’ and ‘Kraft = KLB’ are the meanings.

Now that you understand corrugated box structures, let’s look at actual Packative production examples. 💡

1. KLB-K-KLB E-Flute

This is a case produced with E-flute using KLB (kraft) base paper for both the exterior and interior, without separate lamination. ‘K’ refers to the base paper used for the E-flute medium.

Packative x Lowhand corrugated G-type kraft box production case

2. White K-K E-Flute, SC 240gsm

Most standard laminated boxes (color boxes) are produced with this specification. This example was made by laminating SC Manila paper, printed in color on the outside, onto WK base paper with E-flute.

Packative x Padong Co., Ltd. corrugated G-type laminated box (color box) production case

3. KLB-K E-Flute, SC 240gsm

This type uses KLB (kraft) base paper on the outside, E-flute in the middle, and SC Manila paper laminated on the inside.

Packative x Dolbwaeyo corrugated G-type laminated box (color box) production case

Paper Selection Guide 3️⃣ Shopping Bags

At Packative, shopping bags are produced using two paper materials: Art Paper and Snow White.

▪️Art Paper

Art Paper is a coated paper with a smooth, even surface, and it allows sharp color reproduction.

▪️Snow White

With its soft and matte texture, this paper has no coating, but because it has low reflectivity, it develops a subtle sheen after printing.

Below is a shopping bag production case for the Seoul Metropolitan Government made with Art Paper. Is there any packaging better suited than a shopping bag for effectively promoting your brand with just a simple logo and print?

Packative x Seoul Metropolitan Government shopping bag production case

Paper Selection Guide 4️⃣ Eco-Friendly Brands

🌱For eco-friendly brand packaging production, we recommend using uncoated paper that minimizes the use of ink, coating, and post-processing.

The advantage of uncoated paper is that it preserves the paper’s natural texture without any coating, helping create a more environmentally friendly feel. Specialty papers such as Old Mill and Acopack are not only textured, but also FSC® certified papers, making them a great recommendation if you are considering eco-friendly product branding.

Below is an eco-friendly packaging production case for the cosmetics brand ‘Bay Wellness Ritual’ using Old Mill Extra White paper. By printing the FSC and SOY INK certification marks as well, we emphasized that it is an eco-friendly package.

From how to choose paper for each package, to simple characteristics of each paper type, and even production examples — we hope this paper selection guide makes packaging production a little easier and more enjoyable. 🤩

🔽Go to the Packative homepage🔽

Custom package 3D design & production, fast and easy! | Packative

🔽Request a quote for custom box production🔽

Real-time quote inquiry for custom box production | Packative