Glossary of B2B Packaging, Logistics, Compliance & Sustainability Terms
This glossary defines the essential structural, materials, testing, logistical, and manufacturing terminology used across our high-performance corrugated packaging solutions. Understanding these terms is key to optimizing your protective packaging strategy.
Structural & Materials Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Primary Packaging | The packaging that directly contains the product (e.g., a bottle, jar, or foil pouch). Its main function is to protect and preserve the item. |
| Secondary Packaging | The layer that holds multiple primary packages together and is used for branding and display (e.g., a cardboard box holding 12 individual snack bags). |
| Palletisation | The process of stacking goods onto a pallet (a flat transport structure) for ease of handling, storage, and shipping using forklifts. |
| BCT (Box Compression Test) | A measure of a corrugated box's resistance to compression forces. It predicts how much stacking weight a box can withstand before crushing, crucial for heavy loads and high-stack storage. |
| ECT (Edge Crush Test | A measure of the corrugated board’s edgewise compressive strength. It indicates the maximum force a corrugated structure can withstand, parallel to the flutes, and is the key indicator of stacking strength. |
| Flute | The wave-shaped layer of paper that is glued between the inner and outer liners of a corrugated board. Different flute sizes (A, B, C, E, F) offer varying degrees of thickness, cushioning, and crushing resistance. |
| Single-Wall | Corrugated board made of one layer of fluting glued between two flat linerboards. Commonly used for light-to-moderate weight products. |
| Double-Wall | Corrugated board made of two layers of fluting and three linerboards. Offers significantly higher stacking strength and puncture resistance for heavy or fragile items. |
| Export Grade | Corrugated board consisting of heavy grade fluting and linerboards. Used for the heaviest, largest, or most sensitive products, often replacing wood crates in industrial applications. |
| V-Board (or L-Profile) | Pre-formed angled cardboard used to reinforce the corners and edges of palletized loads, dramatically increasing stack strength and protecting against strapping damage. |
| Inner Liner (Facing) | The flat paper layer glued to the inside of the corrugated fluting. |
| Basis Weight | The weight of the paper materials (liners and flutes) measured in pounds per thousand square feet (MSF). Higher basis weights usually mean stronger board. |
Manufacturing & Corrugator Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chop | The final cutting process on the corrugator or converting machine that cuts the corrugated sheet to its exact final length as it comes off the production line. |
| Slit | The action of cutting the corrugated board width-wise into multiple, narrower lanes, typically done by rotary slitters to achieve the required board width before it is cut to length. |
| Dapple | A visual defect in the corrugated board where the glue pattern is uneven, causing a speckled or "dappled" appearance on the surface. This indicates inconsistent adhesive application and can compromise bond strength. |
| Die-Cut | A box style or process where the corrugated sheet is cut into a specific, often intricate, shape using a cutting die. This process is used for specialized packaging designs, self-locking boxes, and internal fitments. |
| Flexography (Flexo) | The most common printing process used on corrugated board, utilizing flexible photopolymer plates to transfer ink. Ideal for high-speed, cost-effective printing of branding and shipping marks. |
| Scoring | The process of creating creases or folds in the corrugated board, which facilitates clean and accurate folding of the box during the assembly process. |
Logistics & Fulfilment Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Dimensional Weight (often shortened to DIM Weight). | A calculation used by carriers (like FedEx, UPS) to determine shipping charges based on the package's volume rather than its actual weight. The formula is typically $(L \times W \times H) / \text{DIM Factor}$. |
| Cubic Utilisation | A metric measuring the efficiency of packaging design. It calculates the percentage of a shipping container or truck’s volume that is filled with actual product (versus empty air or excessive packaging). |
| Fulfillment | The entire process from when an order is placed to when the product is delivered to the end customer, including picking, packing, and shipping. |
| Dunnage | Material used to fill empty spaces within a box (void-fill) or to secure and protect goods during transit (e.g., air pillows, foam, crumbled paper). |
| Freight Class | A classification (ranging from 50 to 500) used for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipping. It is based on density, handling, liability, and stowability, and heavily influences the shipping cost. |
| Shipper’s Declaration | Documentation required for packages containing hazardous materials (HazMat) or restricted goods, certifying that the contents are packaged and labeled according to regulatory standards. |
Quality & Compliance Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) | A leading global standard ensuring food safety, quality, and operational criteria in the manufacturing, processing, and packaging supply chain. Essential for packaging used in the food, retail, and consumer industries. |
| FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification | A globally recognized certification ensuring that the paperboard and wood materials used in packaging come from responsibly managed forests, promoting environmentally sound and socially beneficial forestry. |
| ISO 9001 | An international standard specifying requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS), indicating that the packaging supplier adheres to stringent quality controls. |
| ISTA Testing (International Safe Transit Association) | A series of standardized lab tests that simulate the vibration, compression, and drops that a package experiences in the supply chain to ensure product protection. |
| Sustainability (in Packaging) | Designing and using packaging materials that minimize environmental impact, including maximizing recyclable or recycled content and ensuring efficient disposal or reuse. |
| UN/DOT Rating | A certification (often seen as a long code) indicating that a packaging solution meets the specific regulatory requirements for shipping hazardous materials, as defined by the United Nations or the Department of Transportation |
Sustainability & Eco-Design Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Circularity / Circular Economy | An economic model designed to keep materials in use for as long as possible, eliminating waste by redesigning products, logistics, and business models for reuse and recycling. This is the goal of modern packaging. It mandates designing packaging that is easy to recover and reprocess, moving away from the traditional 'take-make-dispose' linear model. |
| Eco-Design | The practice of integrating environmental considerations into the entire product development process, aiming to minimize adverse impacts throughout the product’s lifecycle (from raw material extraction to disposal).This is PackMentor’s core design approach, focusing on reducing material, simplifying structures, and maximizing recyclability from the outset. |
| Lightweighting | The strategic reduction of material weight (e.g., board thickness, plastic gauge) in packaging structures while maintaining or improving performance and protection. Directly reduces TCO by lowering material costs and cutting freight emissions/costs. We use testing (ECT/BCT) to verify performance. |
| Mono-Material | Packaging made from a single type of material (e.g., 100% paper or 100% PET plastic) rather than multiple layers or mixed components.Essential for recyclability. Mono-materials are much easier for automated recycling facilities to sort and reprocess, meeting Circularity goals. |
| TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) | A financial metric that calculates the total cost of a packaging solution across its entire lifecycle, including material price, freight costs, warehouse space, waste/damage rates, and EPR fees. PackMentor’s focus. Cheaper material does not mean lower TCO; optimizing weight and design often delivers greater long-term savings. |
Compliance & Testing Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) | A global policy approach where producers are given significant financial and/or physical responsibility for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.This is the primary financial and data burden for brands selling globally. Compliance requires detailed reporting on material type and tonnage sold. |
| PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) | The proposed European Union regulation that will replace the existing Directive, introducing new mandatory targets for recycled content, recyclability, and reuse across all EU member states.This is the future regulatory risk. Compliance is essential for market access in the EU and will require significant material portfolio adjustments. |
| REACH | Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. An EU regulation governing the use of chemical substances and requiring suppliers to ensure materials are safe for human health and the environment. Critical for Material Safety. Non-compliance can lead to recalls and fines, severely damaging brand reputation. |
| FCM (Food Contact Materials) | Any material intended to come into contact with food, requiring rigorous testing and compliance to ensure no unsafe substances migrate into the food product. Non-negotiable for food/beverage sectors. We provide the documentation and assurance that materials meet FDA/EU FCM standards. |
| ECT / BCT | Edge Crush Test / Box Compression Test. Standard laboratory tests used to measure the stacking strength and material performance of corrugated board. Essential for Structural Testing to ensure packaging protects products during transit and warehousing, preventing damage and costly claims. |
| ISTA | International Safe Transit Association. A globally recognized organization that sets standards and protocols for packaging performance testing to simulate real-world transport hazards. Provides independent, verifiable proof that your packaging design can withstand the rigors of your supply chain |
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