Explore the Difference Between Corrugated Boxes and Kraft Boxes

Choosing the right packaging is essential for protecting products, controlling costs, and supporting your brand image. This guide explains the key differences between corrugated boxes and kraft boxes, focusing on their materials, strength, cost, sustainability, customization, and ideal use cases. By understanding how corrugated packaging compares to kraft packaging, businesses can make informed decisions based on shipping needs, product type, and environmental goals.

Kraft Boxes vs Corrugated Boxes

Custom kraft and corrugated boxes are important for your different products. However, they differ based on their conceptual understanding and properties like material, strength, sustainability, cost, and uses. The difference between corrugated and kraft boxes can be based on the following factors:

Material Overview

The basic difference between kraft and corrugated boxes is that they are made from different materials. However, both are recyclable. The difference between corrugated and kraft packaging based on material is as follows:

Kraft Paper Packaging Boxes

Custom kraft boxes are made from kraft paper, sourced from wood pulp. The renewable source of kraft packaging helps make it recyclable and 100% biodegradable. Kraft is a German word that means strength. Custom kraft packaging offers adequate product protection.

Cardboard Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated boxes are made from materials, constructed using multiple layers of paperboard or cardstock and kraft flutes. The materials used for making corrugated boxes are recyclable and biodegradable.

Cost Analysis

Cost is an important factor when choosing packaging for your products. Both corrugated and kraft packaging boxes are budget-friendly. However, the difference between the cost of corrugated and kraft boxes is as follows:

• Kraft Box Packaging

Custom kraft box packaging is made from a single layer of kraft paper. Its production cost is quite higher compared to corrugated boxes. Creating high-quality and single-layered kraft paper needs quite costly manufacturing compared to multi-layered corrugated boxes. The intricate design and styling of kraft box packaging also require more labor costs. 

• Corrugated Box Packaging

Corrugated boxes are made by joining multiple thin layers of paperboard and kraft flutes. The manufacturing of corrugated material requires automated machinery and an efficient corrugation process. This is why custom corrugated boxes are inexpensive compared to kraft boxes. You can also save labor costs due to automated machinery. 

Different Uses

The uses of kraft and corrugated boxes depend on their material, strength, and the nature of the products packed in them. Some of their uses are common such as packing retail products. However, you can differentiate between them with their different uses.

• Uses of Kraft Boxes

The rustic charm of kraft paper makes the kraft box packaging ideal for packing various gifts. Custom kraft boxes are food-grade and widely used in the food industry. They can also be used for packing jewelry, cosmetics, medicines, retail products, candles, soaps, and books.

• Uses of Corrugated Boxes

The robust construction of corrugated boxes makes them ideal for shipping products over long distances. These boxes are used to ship fragile and heavier items. They are mostly used for electronics, household items, toys, and sports equipment. You can customize corrugated boxes in large cartons to ensure safe shipping and storage of heavier and bulky items. 

Customizability

The more tailorable the materials, the higher the chances to create persuasive packaging. You can differentiate between corrugated and kraft box packaging by the customization compatibility.

• Kraft Papers’ Compatibility with Printing

Kraft paperboard packaging is customizable overall due to its flexibility, helping you create different shapes and styles of boxes. However, kraft paper’s printability is limited because of its porous surface, resulting in smudged inks that fade away easily. Laser printing is suitable for kraft box packaging. 

• Corrugated Material’s Printing Compatibility

Thicker materials offer excellent surfaces for printing and finishing. This is why corrugated boxes are highly compatible with printing and other customization options. Their thickness can also be customized. 

Strength and Durability

The ultimate purpose of every packaging box is to protect products and ensure that customers receive products in pristine condition. Both boxes protect the products but their strength differs.

• Kraft Packaging Strength

Kraft means strength, which depicts the strong protective properties of kraft box packaging. However, kraft boxes are made from one layer of paper that offers adequate protection to your products. Compared to corrugated boxes, kraft boxes are less durable.

• Corrugated Packaging Durability

Corrugated material includes multiple layers of paperboard or cardstock with kraft flutes, offering robust product protection. The thicker material of corrugated boxes ensures superior protection for your package during shipping, handling, and stacking. So, corrugated boxes are more durable than kraft boxes.

Sustainability

Packaging waste is becoming a global problem, increasing the need for eco-friendly packaging solutions. This is why sustainability is one of the important factors when choosing packaging.

• 100% Biodegradable Kraft Boxes

Kraft boxes are made from single-layer paper, sourced from wood pulp. These boxes can be recycled easily and biodegrade. Kraft box packaging is more eco-friendly than corrugated box packaging. 

• Recyclable Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated boxes are made from different layers of cardstock or paperboard and kraft flutes. All these materials are sustainably sourced and can be recycled. They are highly recyclable and old corrugated containers can be used to create new boxes. A study says that the average corrugated box contains 52% recycled OCC (old corrugated container). 

Conclusion!

Choosing between corrugated and kraft boxes depends on your products’ nature, business needs, and brand personality. At Custom Boxes Lane, you can customize corrugated boxes to make products’ traceability easier during handling, shipping, and storage. They are sturdy, ensuring reliable product protection.

On the other hand, kraft box packaging is ideal for packing gifts and retail products. Custom kraft boxes help you build an ethical brand image because they are eco-friendly properties. Consider the properties of both types of packaging and choose the one that aligns with your product needs. 

Feel free to contact us for more information!