Recycled card, although made from recycled materials, is a solid, affordable product that will be most suitable for most small businesses; Below is a list detailing the key points to check prior to ordering your recycled card.
Understand Recycled Content Percentages
How Much Recycled Content Is In The Fibre? A product’s spec sheet can indicate a 70% recycled content product or a 90% recycled content product. The percent indicates the amount of fibre in the product that came from recovered paper, not necessarily how “green” it is. The remaining amount would be made up of virgin fibres that add strength and durability to the cardboard product.
Read the Flute Grade Carefully
When purchasing recycled stock, it is important to check the type of flute used. The most common is C-flute (recycled card in C-flute is usually the best ‘off the shelf’ option for general shipping boxes). Note that as recycled fibres are shorter than ‘virgin’ fibres, the stock can feel slightly ‘softer’ than comparable ‘virgin’ products. Request a sample before ordering large quantities of any recycled stock.
Ask for Burst and Crush Figures
When ordering recycled stock, check with your supplier for the ECT (Edge Crush Test) and Mullen burst figures for the stock. For heavier items, a minimum ECT of 32 lb/in is recommended.
Check the Certification Marks
Look for FSC or PEFC certification marks on the recycled cardboard packaging that you are thinking of purchasing. It is possible to check the credentials of any supplier of sustainable cardboard packaging online using the PEFC certification finder.
If you want Cardboard Packaging, //capscases.co.uk/services-2/sustainable-cardboard-packaging/ is a good place to start.
Know When to Specify Something Else
Recycled card is also more absorbent than Virgin card. As a result of this, recycled card is not suitable for items such as chilled products or bathroom products and are generally limited to packages weighing less than approximately 20 kg. For heavier packages and for certain applications it is recommended to use Virgin kraftliner or to apply a moisture resistant coating.
Save your products from potential damage by checking these details before you order. Even a few minutes could save you lots of time and distress in the long run.
