Resources& Guides
Expert guides, interactive tools, and reference materials to help you make the best decisions about corrugated packaging.
Empowering Better Packaging Decisions
We believe informed customers are the best customers. That is why we have built this comprehensive resource library -- covering everything from box grading standards to environmental impact data. Whether you are a warehouse manager sourcing bulk gaylords, an e-commerce founder optimizing shipping costs, or a sustainability officer building an ESG report, you will find actionable information here.
Every guide is written by our team of packaging professionals with decades of combined experience in corrugated materials, supply chain logistics, and environmental science. We update these resources regularly to reflect the latest industry data, regulatory changes, and best practices.
Why Packaging Knowledge Matters
Cost Optimization
Choosing the right grade and size can reduce packaging spend by 30-60% without sacrificing protection.
Product Protection
Understanding ECT ratings and flute types ensures your products arrive undamaged every time.
Regulatory Compliance
Proper grading and documentation help you meet DOT shipping requirements and industry standards.
Environmental Impact
Data-driven decisions let you quantify your sustainability efforts for stakeholders and customers.
Most Popular Resources
These are the guides and tools our customers use most. Start here if you are new to used corrugated packaging.
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In-depth articles from our packaging experts covering industry trends, sustainability insights, and practical tips for your business.
Quick Reference Stats
Key numbers every packaging buyer should know. Bookmark this page for future reference.
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Corrugated Packaging 101
What Makes Corrugated Different from Cardboard?
Although often used interchangeably in everyday language, corrugated and cardboard are different materials. Cardboard is a single-layer heavy paper stock -- think cereal boxes and shoe boxes. Corrugated board consists of a fluted (wavy) medium sandwiched between one or more flat linerboard sheets. This structure gives corrugated boxes their stacking strength, cushioning ability, and resistance to impacts.
The fluting creates air columns that act as cushions, distributing weight evenly and protecting contents from shocks during transit. The combination of linerboard and medium can be varied to create single-wall, double-wall, or even triple-wall constructions for increasingly heavy loads.
Flute Types Explained
| Flute | Height | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| A-Flute | 3/16" | Cushioning, fragile items |
| B-Flute | 1/8" | Die-cut boxes, retail displays |
| C-Flute | 5/32" | General shipping (most common) |
| E-Flute | 1/16" | Retail packaging, printing |
| BC-Flute | 1/4" | Double-wall, heavy duty |
The Circular Lifecycle of a Box
A corrugated box has one of the highest recycling rates of any packaging material. In the United States, approximately 96% of corrugated packaging is recovered for recycling. But recycling is actually the second-best option -- reuse is even better.
When a box is reused, it skips the entire recycling process (collection, baling, transportation to a mill, re-pulping, dewatering, reforming, and manufacturing into new board). Each of those steps consumes energy and water. By extending a box's service life through reuse, the environmental savings multiply with each additional cycle.
ECT vs. Mullen Burst: Testing Standards
Two testing standards govern corrugated strength. Edge Crush Test (ECT) measures how much force a box can withstand on its edge before crushing -- important for stacking in warehouses. A 32 ECT box is standard for most shipping; 44 ECT handles heavier loads.
The Mullen Burst Test measures puncture resistance -- how much pressure the board can take before rupturing. A 200-lb burst test is equivalent to approximately 32 ECT. Most modern specifications use ECT because it more accurately predicts real-world stacking performance and typically requires less material than Mullen-rated equivalents.
Why Good Packaging Decisions Depend on Better Reference Material
Most avoidable packaging mistakes do not happen because teams lack effort. They happen because dimensions are misunderstood, grades are assumed instead of defined, and freight or storage consequences are considered too late.
A practical resource library helps operations teams standardize decisions. Instead of debating every order from scratch, buyers can refer to size charts, grading standards, handling notes, and technical explanations that reduce ambiguity.
That kind of shared reference material improves more than purchasing. It also helps customer service answer questions accurately, helps warehouse teams receive material consistently, and gives management better visibility into why packaging choices were made.
The most useful packaging references usually answer
- What condition is acceptable for each grade and each use case
- What size or construction is appropriate for a given product or pallet format
- How to quantify environmental savings in a way stakeholders can understand
- Which standards matter most for shipping, warehousing, and compliance-sensitive applications
Related Reading
Additional guides and articles that deepen the topic on this page.