Worth knowing

Adviser about Folding boxes

Folding boxes are much more than just simple packaging. They are versatile, functional and offer a wealth of possibilities for a wide variety of products and applications. From food and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, folding boxes are present in almost every industry and meet a wide range of requirements.

Recycled cardboard

Recycled cardboard is a multi-layer folding box cardboard with an insert made of waste paper/secondary fibre. Recycled cardboard is available in different designs – for example, with a white outer layer and light grey reverse side (GD) or with a white outer layer and white/yellow/brown reverse side (GT1/GT2/GT4). Due to the high recycled content (>90%), these cartons are very environmentally friendly and are particularly suitable for sustainable brand strategies. The high proportion of recycled fibres makes the cardboard less stable and therefore particularly suitable for small and lightweight products. Due to the origin of the raw materials, recycled cardboard is not suitable for direct contact with food, as the waste paper used for this purpose often consists of newspaper, whose printing inks contain mineral oils. The transfer of mineral oil components can be prevented by using a barrier (protective laminate).

Colour: Grey streaked
Printing Yes (all printing processes)
Further processing Yes (punching, creasing, scoring, perforating)
Finishing Yes (lacquer, hot stamping)
Food contact: No
Extraction Secondary fibre / waste paper
Sustainability Fully recyclable
Grammage 250 to 675 g/m²
Bending stiffness Means

What types of recycled cardboard are there?

Recycled cardboard is available in various types. Depending on requirements, the main differences are in the surface and colour of the cardboard. However, the recycled content also varies depending on the type. Some examples of recycled cardboard are:

GD2 Coated secondary fibreboard, grey reverse side, specific volume 1.3–1.45 cm³/g Front side well suited for printing and finishing.
GT1 Coated secondary fibre cardboard, white reverse side Front side well suited for printing and finishing.
GT4 Coated secondary fibre cardboard, reverse side brown Front side well suited for printing and finishing.

About the author

Lasse Harder

Learn More