Milestone for corrugated packaging

Corrugated packaging is celebrating its 130th birthday by looking to the future, according to the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) Corrugated Sector.

The packaging material was first developed in the United States for wrapping fragile items such as bottles. However, it was another American, Robert Thompson, who patented the machinery to produce corrugated board in 1882.

“This flexible material is now a state-of-the-art industry that protects more than 75 per cent of UK goods in transit and is the world’s favourite form of packaging,” says CPI’s director of packaging affairs Andy Barnetson. “However, it has evolved to meet the requirements of customers and government legislation for efficient and practical packaging solutions throughout the entire supply chain.

“Thanks to the industry’s significant investment in automation for greater efficiency and advanced printing techniques of up to six colours, corrugated packaging has been transformed from a simple box for conveying goods, to attractive shelf ready packaging with eye-catching promotional graphics.

“The industry has been keen to engage stakeholders and so has adopted technology that allows customers to place orders online at 24 hours notice and then being able to track them through to delivery.”