Cardboard box
Specialists in industry seldom use the term cardboard because it does not denote a specific material. The word may refer to card stock, corrugated fiberboard, or paperboard. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon or printing upon. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers and drying them into flexible sheets. Paperboard is generally thicker than paper, usually over 0.25 mm or 10 points. ISO standards define paperboard as having a basis weight above 224 g/m2. Corrugated fiberboard consists of a fluted medium and one or two flat liner boards. The flute gives these boxes much of their strength. Shipping containers made from this material are sometimes called cartons or cases.
The first commercial paperboard box appeared in England in 1817. Marketing Communications Volume 6 reported that the oldest known box-making business formed in Great Britain about that year. Cardboard box packaging was also made in Germany during 1817. An existing design from that era was produced for a board game called The Game of Besieging. These early items were relative luxuries at the time. Cardboard boxes were developed in France around 1840 for transporting Bombyx mori moth eggs. Silk manufacturers relied on these containers for more than a century. The Valréas area became a major industry hub for cardboard box manufacture.
Corrugated paper was patented in England in 1856. It was initially used as a liner for tall hats. Albert L. Jones of New York City received a patent for single-sided corrugated board on the 20th of December 1871. He used the board for wrapping bottles and glass lantern chimneys. A machine for producing large quantities of corrugated board was built by G. Smyth in 1874. Oliver Long improved upon Jones's design later that same year. Long invented corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides. This construction is corrugated cardboard as we know it today. The first corrugated cardboard box manufactured in the US appeared in 1895. By the early 1900s, wooden crates were being replaced by paper shipping cartons.
Robert Gair invented the pre-cut cardboard or paperboard box in 1890. He was a Brooklyn printer and paper-bag maker during the 1870s. An accident led to his discovery while printing an order of seed bags. A metal ruler normally used to crease bags shifted position and cut them. Gair realized he could make prefabricated boxes by cutting and creasing in one operation. Applying this idea to corrugated boxboard became straightforward when the material arrived around the turn of the twentieth century. Flat pieces manufactured in bulk folded into boxes easily. This method allowed for efficient production of packaging materials.
A common cliché states that children quickly become bored with expensive new toys. They often play with the box instead. Children enjoy playing inside boxes using their imagination. Calvin from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes imagined a cardboard box as a time machine. So prevalent is the reputation as a plaything that a box entered the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2005. It stands as one of very few non-brand-specific toys honored with inclusion. A toy house made from a large cardboard box now resides at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. The Metal Gear series video games features a running gag involving a cardboard box item.
Living in a cardboard box is stereotypically associated with homelessness. However, Melbourne architect Peter Ryan designed a house composed largely of cardboard in 2005. More common uses include small seatings or little tables made from corrugated cardboard. Merchandise displays made of cardboard are often found in self-service shops. These structural applications demonstrate versatility beyond simple packaging. Architects have explored ways to build functional spaces from these materials. The design challenges involve ensuring stability and safety for occupants.
Mass and viscosity of enclosed air help absorb energy of oncoming objects. In 2012, British stuntman Gary Connery safely landed via wingsuit without deploying his parachute. He landed on a high crushable runway built with thousands of cardboard boxes. This landing zone absorbed the impact of his fall. The limited stiffness of boxes allows them to crush under pressure. Engineers utilize this property to create safe environments for extreme stunts. The event demonstrated how everyday materials can solve complex engineering problems.
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Common questions
What is the difference between paper and cardboard box materials?
Paperboard is generally thicker than paper, usually over 0.25 mm or 10 points. ISO standards define paperboard as having a basis weight above 224 g/m2.
When did the first commercial cardboard box appear in England?
The first commercial paperboard box appeared in England in 1817. Marketing Communications Volume 6 reported that the oldest known box-making business formed in Great Britain about that year.
Who invented corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides?
Oliver Long improved upon Albert L. Jones's design later that same year. Long invented corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides which is corrugated cardboard as we know it today.
Why was the cardboard box added to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2005?
A toy house made from a large cardboard box now resides at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. It stands as one of very few non-brand-specific toys honored with inclusion.
How did Gary Connery use cardboard boxes during his 2012 wingsuit landing?
He landed on a high crushable runway built with thousands of cardboard boxes. This landing zone absorbed the impact of his fall and demonstrated how everyday materials can solve complex engineering problems.