Boxes are the
greatest
invention since the lightbulb.
They also do a great job
protecting
lightbulbs.
* Cushions products throughout the supply chain
* Stacking strength helps to stabilize contents
* Using innovative designs, boxes can be right-sized to any product
Before a product makes its way into the hearts and minds of consumers, it has to arrive in perfect condition. Corrugated packaging combines structural rigidity with cushioning qualities to protect contents from damage. One of the reasons it works so well is found in its basic construction, which uses a middle layer of fluting to absorb impact.
Architects have known for thousands of years that a curved arch is the strongest way to span a given space. The inventors of corrugated fiberboard applied this same principle to paper when they put arches in the corrugated medium. These arches are known as flutes, and they enable corrugated to resist bending and pressure from all directions.
These flutes are little engineering marvels and a key to corrugated’s protective qualities. The arches form rigid columns, capable of supporting a great deal of weight while cushioning the container’s contents. The flutes also serve as insulators, providing some product protection from sudden temperature changes.
Combining high-tech engineering and the versatility to custom-design every package for its particular contents and shipping requirements, corrugated’s cushioning quality is matched by its stacking strength, preventing damage in transit.
Find more information on flutes and package design in the Fibre Box Handbook, available for purchase here.
Corrugated packaging is a clean, single-use container that can reduce the transfer of harmful bacteria from one shipment to the next. This, too, has been proven in multiple scientific studies. Recent research has been conducted by third-party university professors and affiliated laboratories, and included a field survey and controlled laboratory studies that investigated and provided evidence to support the cleanliness of corrugated packaging. See more below:
Watch Videos from the Experts
Corrugated is the Safer Alternative
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Corrugated is a sustainable solution
Corrugated Packaging Delivers
Meet the corrugated experts
Single-use packaging is best
Call to action to improve safety
Monetary effect on the industry
Why was this resarch undertaken?
Available Research
Microbial Risk Assessment
- Assessing the Potential of Single-Use Corrugated and Multi-Use Plastic Containers to Harbor and Transfer Microbial Load
- Assessing the Potential of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPC) to Harbor and Transfer Microbial Loads
- Research on Cleanliness of Multi-Use Reusable Plastic Containers (RPC) – Summary of Findings
RPC Sanitation Testing & Research
- Microbiological Standards for RPCs within Produce Grower Facilities – I
- Microbiological Standards for RPCs within Produce Grower Facilities within Ontario and Quebec – II
- Assessment of General RPC Cleanliness as Delivered for Use in Packaging and Distribution of Fresh Produce
- Microbiological Status of RPCs – A Follow up Field Study
- Evaluation of RPC surface cleanliness using rapid Adenosme Triphosphate (ATP) Bioluminescence
- Management of Reusable Plastic Crates in Fresh Produce Supply Chains – A Technical Guide
Corrugated Sanitation Testing & Research
- 2018_Box_Cleanliness_Assessment_Report
- Microbiological Status of Corrugated Containers – 2017 Annual Review Study
- Field Study to Assess the Microbiological Status of Corrugated Containers and Other Produce Storage and Shipping Containers Upon Delivery at the Customer Location
- Microbiological Status of Corrugated Containers – First Annual Review Study
- Effectiveness of Time and Temperature Profile of Corrugation to Eliminate Microbial Loads – Version I (2015)
- Effectiveness of Time and Temperature Profile of Corrugation to Eliminate Microbial Loads – Version II (2016)
Extended Shelf Life
Biofilms and Attachment Research
- Biofilm Formation in Food Industries: A Food Safety Concern
- Unraveling Microbial Biofilms of Importance for Food Microbiology
- Assessment of Salmonella spp. Attachment to Reusable Plastic Containers Based on Scanning Electron Microscopy and BAX PCR
- A review of Sanitizer Efficacy on Salmonella Biofilms on Reusable Plastic Container Coupons
- Efficacy of Sanitizers to Remove Attached Cells from Reusable Plastic Container Coupons
Pathogen Transfer Research
- Biofilm Formation by Listeria Monocytogens on Stainless Steel Surface and Biotransfer Potential
- Pathogen Transfer Risks Associated with Specific Tomato Harvest and Packing Operations
- Growth, Reduction and Survival of Bacteria on Tomatoes
- Outbreaks of Foodborne Diseases Associated with Tomatoes
- Transfer Potential of Salmonella Between Tomato Cartons and Tomatoes
- Ecology of Salmonella and Microbial Contamination in Postharvest Table Shell Egg Production
Food Safety
experts
Steven Ricke, PhD
Director, Center for Food Safety Institute of Food Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas
Maryann Sanders
Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist / Microbiologist, Haley and Aldrich
Trevor Suslow, PhD
Produce Safety Specialist, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Keith Warriner, PhD
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Director, University of Guelph
Industry
experts
Dennis Colley
President & CEO, Fibre Box Association
John Mullinder
Executive Director, The Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC)
Allen Kirkpatrick
Executive Director, Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association (CCCA)
Sergio Farfán
Executive Director, National Association of Manufacturers of Corrugated and Solid Fiber Boxes and Packaging in Mexico (ANFEC)