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Types of cardboard


The difference between cardboard and paper lies primarily in their load-bearing capacity. Cardboard is multi-layered and usually coated only on one side (most commonly matte), whereas paper is coated on both sides (matte or glossy) and consists of a single layer. Their intended use also differs: paper is used for commercial purposes such as brochures, folders, catalogues and magazines, while cardboard is mainly used for packaging.

At Jamnik, we manufacture packaging from solid and corrugated cardboard. Solid cardboard is significantly sturdier than corrugated cardboard. Due to its density and single-layer structure, it has a high load capacity and resistance to various stresses. Therefore, it is used for packaging, folders, covers, and other products that require greater strength.

Solid cardboard has a smooth and flat surface, allowing for easy printing, drawing or gluing. Its rigid structure provides high stability and stiffness. This means it retains its shape and does not easily deform under loads or under pressure. It is generally less sensitive to moisture than corrugated cardboard. Its density and smooth surface make it less prone to moisture absorption, helping to preserve its properties and strength.

Corrugated cardboard consists of at least two layers and can go up to five or even seven layers. The first outer layer is smooth, while the inner layer is corrugated, which is where its name comes from.

Layers of Corrugated Cardboard


Open 2-layer corrugated cardboard

Closed 3-layer corrugated cardboard

Open 4-layer corrugated cardboard

The shape of the corrugations, or flutes, and the spacing between them can vary depending on the desired strength and rigidity of the cardboard. At our company, we make F, E and B flutes. EE, EF or EB flutes may also be used in exceptional cases.

F flute (approx. 1.1 mm)

E flute (approx. 1.3 mm)

B flute (approx. 3.0 mm)

EB flute (approx. 4.5 mm)

Printing can be done directly onto corrugated cardboard (flexographic printing), or a lower-weight cardboard (typically 230 g) can be printed and then laminated onto either two-layer or multi-layer corrugated cardboard. This is called laminated cardboard.

Below are the cardboard groups we use most often in the production of our cartons. We have included key information on their areas of application, material composition, and specific properties and characteristics.

1 - SBS/GZ

Single-sided or double-sided bleached cardboard

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
High-quality cardboard Postcards 100% cellulose Front side whiteness 95%
Glossy whiteness Book covers Reverse side whiteness 93%
Superior performance Brochures Recyclability** – confirmed
Exceptional smoothness Folders Compostability**** – confirmed
Calendars
Premium-quality chocolate packaging
Cosmetics packaging

2 - GC1

Cellulose cardboard

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
Consistent quality Chocolate and confectionery packaging 86% cellulose Front side whiteness 92%
Excellent printability Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging Pigment coating 14% Reverse side whiteness 91%
Very smooth surface Cosmetics and personal care product packaging Recyclability** – confirmed
High whiteness Electronics packaging
High gloss Other non-food packaging
Good creasing properties

3 - GC2

Cellulose cardboard with a cream reverse side

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
High level of rigidity Dry food packaging 90% cellulose Front side whiteness 87%
Excellent yield (lower gram weight, higher bulk compared to GC1) Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging) Pigment coating 10% Recyclability** – confirmed
Very good printability Chocolate and confectionery packaging Biodegradability*** – confirmed
Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging
Cosmetics packaging and personal care product packaging
Other non-food packaging

4 - GT4

Recycled cardboard
(brown reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
Kraft brown reverse side Dry food packaging 30% cellulose Front side whiteness 79%
High level of rigidity Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging) PIW* 20% Recyclability* – confirmed
Good printability Fruit and vegetable packaging PIW* 20% Biodegradability*** – confirmed
Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging) Pigment coating 10%
Packaging for detergent (in powdered form)

5 - GT2

Recycled single-sided coated cardboard
(white reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
Good brightness Dry food packaging 20% cellulose Front side whiteness 80%
High level of rigidity Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging) PIW* 50% Reverse side whiteness 72%
Excellent printability Fruit and vegetable packaging PCW* 20% Recyclability** – confirmed
Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging) Pigment coating 10% Biodegradability*** – confirmed
Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging
Cosmetics packaging and personal care product packaging

6 - GD2

Recycled cardboard
(grey reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS COMPOSITION PROPERTIES
High level of rigidity Dry food packaging 10% cellulose Front side whiteness 80%
Good printability Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging) PIW* 20% Recyclability** – confirmed
Fruit and vegetable packaging PCW* 60% Biodegradability*** – confirmed
Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging) Pigment coating 10%
Shelf-ready packaging

1 - SBS/GZ

Single-sided or double-sided bleached cardboard

CHARACTERISTICS

High-quality cardboard

Glossy whiteness

Superior performance

Exceptional smoothness

APPLICATIONS

Postcards

Book covers

Brochures

Folders

Calendars

Premium-quality chocolate packaging

Cosmetics packaging

COMPOSITION

100% cellulose

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 95%

Reverse side whiteness 93%

Recyclability** – confirmed

Compostability**** – confirmed

2 - GC1

Cellulose cardboard

CHARACTERISTICS

Consistent quality

Excellent printability

Very smooth surface

High whiteness

High gloss

Good creasing properties

APPLICATIONS

Chocolate and confectionery packaging

Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging

Cosmetics and personal care product packaging

Electronics packaging

Other non-food packaging

COMPOSITION

86% cellulose

Pigment coating 14%

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 92%

Reverse side whiteness 91%

Recyclability** – confirmed

3 - GC2

Cellulose cardboard with a cream reverse side

CHARACTERISTICS

High level of rigidity

Excellent yield (lower gram weight, higher bulk compared to GC1)

Very good printability

APPLICATIONS

Dry food packaging

Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging)

Chocolate and confectionery packaging

Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging

Cosmetics packaging and personal care product packaging

Other non-food packaging

COMPOSITION

90% cellulose

Pigment coating 10%

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 87%

Recyclability** – confirmed

Biodegradability*** – confirmed

4 - GT4

Recycled cardboard
(brown reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS

Kraft brown reverse side

High level of rigidity

Good printability

APPLICATIONS

Dry food packaging

Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging)

Fruit and vegetable packaging

Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging)

Packaging for detergent (in powdered form)

COMPOSITION

30% cellulose

PIW* 20%

PIW* 20%

Pigment coating 10%

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 79%

Recyclability* – confirmed

Biodegradability*** – confirmed

5 - GT2

Recycled single-sided coated cardboard
(white reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS

Good brightness

High level of rigidity

Excellent printability

APPLICATIONS

Dry food packaging

Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging)

Fruit and vegetable packaging

Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging)

Pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging

Cosmetics packaging and personal care product packaging

COMPOSITION

20% cellulose

PIW* 50%

PCW* 20%

Pigment coating 10%

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 80%

Reverse side whiteness 72%

Recyclability** – confirmed

Biodegradability*** – confirmed

6 - GD2

Recycled cardboard
(grey reverse side)

CHARACTERISTICS

High level of rigidity

Good printability

APPLICATIONS

Dry food packaging

Frozen food packaging (including as secondary packaging)

Fruit and vegetable packaging

Beverage packaging (as secondary packaging)

Shelf-ready packaging

COMPOSITION

10% cellulose

PIW* 20%

PCW* 60%

Pigment coating 10%

PROPERTIES

Front side whiteness 80%

Recyclability** – confirmed

Biodegradability*** – confirmed

*PCW – post-consumer waste

*PIW – post-industrial waste

**Recyclability – processing of used, waste materials into new products; recycling reduces the amount of waste that otherwise takes up valuable space in landfill sites, reduces the consumption of natural raw materials that are otherwise needed to make new products, and saves water and energy.

***Biodegradability – the degree to which microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) can decompose a substance, which should mean that the decomposition residues are non-toxic; does not mean that waste can be thrown into compost but must still be properly separated.

****Compostability – material can be composted when its biological decomposition is in accordance with the conditions (temperature, humidity, time) found in composting facilities.

Two-layer corrugated cardboard

Composition

F flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / F flute
Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g
Average flute height 1 mm

E flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / E flute
Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g
Average flute height 1.4 mm

B flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / B flute
Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g
Average flute height 2.8 mm

Three-layer corrugated cardboard

Composition

F flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / F flute / Brown or white inner layer
Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
Average flute height 1.1 mm

E flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / E flute / Brown or white inner layer
Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
Average flute height 1.6 mm

B flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / B flute / Brown or white inner layer
Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g
Average flute height 3.00 mm

Two-layer corrugated cardboard

Composition

F flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / F flute

Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g

Average flute height 1 mm

E flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / E flute

Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g

Average flute height 1.4 mm

B flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / B flute

Gram weight: 140 g / 100 g

Average flute height 2.8 mm

Three-layer corrugated cardboard

Composition

F flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / F flute / Brown or white inner layer

Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g

Average flute height 1.1 mm

E flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / E flute / Brown or white inner layer

Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g

Average flute height 1.6 mm

B flute
(brown / white)

Brown or white outer layer / B flute / Brown or white inner layer

Gram weight: 120 g / 125 g / 120 g

Average flute height 3.00 mm

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