Lightweight your packaging by using containerboard components in the optimal strength for your end use. Here's how to test tensile strength, burst strength and short span compression (SCT).
Containerboard grades and how to go lighter
Facts about containerboard grades and the possibilities for lightweighting. These things can help make your packaging solutions lighter, with a strength to rely on.
Containerboard grades
In our strive to make eco-friendly, lightweight containerboard components, we have studied and compared the different paper grades available on the market. Here's an overview based on CEPI's market definitions.
Virgin-based containerboard components
The expression virgin-based or fresh fibre containerboard, has traditionally been used for kraftliner and semi-chemical fluting.
Kraft paper is defined as “paper or paperboard whose fibre content has no less than 80% fibers obtained by the chemical sulfate or soda processes”. It is made with chemical pulp made from softwood and hardwood.
Semi-chemical fluting is divided into two subgrades, semi-chemical 1 and semi-chemical 2. Semi-chemical 1 is the strongest grade and generally contains more than 80% semi-chemical primary fibres. Using semi-chemical pulp generally leads to stronger components than when using recycled-based pulp.
However, there is now another fresh fibre based paper on the market, our new fresh fibre fluting medium Holmen INNR.
Source: CEPI, European list of corrugated base papers.
Recycled-based containerboard components
Recycled-based containerboard components normally consist of recycled liner, also called testliner, and recycled fluting medium in different grammages.
Testliner is a predominantly recycled fibre-based paper, which can be classified from 1-4 depending on their burst index and SCT values. Testliner 1 is the strongest and testliner 4, is the weakest medium allowed to be called testliner.
Recycled medium fluting comes in grammages from 100 g/m2 and up. Within this category there are four subgrades; Medium 2, Medium 1, Medium high performance 1 and Medium high performance 2. Medium high performance 2 is the strongest and Medium 2 is the weakest.
Lightweight recycled medium (LWM) is a predominantly recycled fibre-based paper, that comes in grammages below 100 g/m2. It can be used for low flute hights in lightweight containerboard and for packaging that doesn't require a lot of strength.
Source: CEPI, European list of corrugated base papers.
Three ways to lower carbon dioxide emissions
- Lightweight the input materials
- Choose components made with lower CO2 emissions per tonne
- Choose nearby suppliers or opt for climate smart transports
Find your contact
Holmen Paper UK
Daniel Barrett
Commercial Director
United Kingdom
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Paper Product Development
Jan Andersson
Paper Development Manager
Sweden
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