Cardboard’s Widespread Use

Whether you realize it or not, cardboard is one of the most abundant materials in our nation. Sure, you may think wood, cotton, or plastic are up there in the top materials (and they certainly are), but think about how many packages are shipped every single day in America. What are those packages enclosed in? Cardboard shipping boxes.

What makes this material so abundant, then? Well, for starters, it’s incredibly cheap to produce. And just in case you didn’t know, cardboard comes from recycled paper everywhere. Essentially, all the paper you can think of in the world at some point or another is recycled. And cardboard happens to be the main place that paper goes.

Another reason it’s so widely used is its weight. Shipping rates often depend on the size and weight of a parcel. Well, if the size can be kept to pretty much the item’s dimensions (give or take a few inches extra from the cardboard box) and the weight is just a few ounces more from the cardboard, the rates won’t increase much at all. That’s the idea behind it, at least.

Additionally, cardboard is quite sturdy for being so lightweight and cheap. No, it’s not going to withstand a blunt force blow from a hammer anytime soon, but packages that are bumped around in transit are extremely unlikely to damage the goods within, especially with proper packing paper or bubble wrap.

When you think about it, cardboard is the perfect candidate for shipping boxes around the world. Plastic cannot be broken down and reused as easily (nor is it environmentally friendly by any means like cardboard is). Plastic also would weigh more and costs more to make than cardboard (considering cardboard is merely recycled paper).

Overall, it comes as no surprise that cardboard is the main material used for shipping goods locally, nationally, and internationally. We’re very likely to be seeing those classic brown boxes on people’s doorsteps for the foreseeable future. That is until we advance our technology or come up with a newer, cheaper, lighter, sturdier material, at least.

Think of cardboard as a super material. Even though you see it everyday, to the point that it’s become invisible to you and just another box laying up against the wall, it’s one of the most well-known and widely used materials the world sees daily. Considering it’s simply recycled paper, that’s pretty amazing.

Choosing the Right Size Package for Your Holiday Gifts

Gift giving is an interesting process. You stress over your budget for all of your family and friends. You stress over what items to get for each person. You stress about making the trip to the store or ordering online. And then, once you’ve got all of that determined, you stress about finding packaging for the gifts and actually doing the wrapping.

But one thing you may not consider as often is making sure you have the right package size for your gifts. This can be a major thing to think about, especially when the item you’re gifting is fragile or expensive.

We’ve got you covered, however. Check out these tips on correct sizing and get to gifting!

To use a bag or a box?

Old cardboard boxes, like leftover shippingboxes, are absolutely great for wrapping gifts in. You don’t have to go purchase them like you would a gift bag. They’re reliable since cardboard is a sturdy material that is easily broken down. And they can be put into storage for next year without taking up much space since you can break them down and build them up again next year.

However, sometimes a bag is warranted when an item is just too awkward or you want to give multiple small items to someone in one overall gift. Alternatively, you may want to use a gift bag because it’s simply easier to prepare than wrapping gifts in a box. No matter the case, make sure to make the bag look nice with matching tissue paper and a custom tag.

Leave a little space.

By making sure there’s a few inches on each side of the item within the box, you leave some wiggle room within. This makes it easier for you to actually place the gift in the box, but it also ensures that the gift itself won’t be crushed from the box or lose its shape. So, don’t choose a box that’s too big; save that for the next option on this list!

If you worry that the gift itself could be damaged from being moved around, dropped, or just jostled in transit, throw packing paper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap around it for extra safety!

Going larger.

If you have some leftover boxes that are too big, don’t fret. This method is pretty much used to throw off your recipient from guessing what your tiny gift is. By stuffing extra packing material in your old shipping boxes, you can also eliminate the rattle that your gift may cause in a large box. No more guessing from the kids!