Is Cardboard Made from Pulp?

Cardboard is one of the most common packaging materials and is closely linked to paper pulp. Here is an overview of how a molded pulp box is made from paper pulp.

Paper Pulp is the Raw Material

• Cardboard is made from molded pulp box derived from recycled paper waste and plant cellulose.
• The pulp is mixed with water and may contain wood fibers for stiffness.
• binders like starch are added to the wet pulp mixture.
• This pulp mixture is then formed into cardboard sheets and dried.

Types of Cardboard Pulp

Pulp Processing Methods

• There are three main methods for processing molded pulp box into cardboard:
• Wet-laid: Pulp is dispersed in water and then drained through a mesh to form a sheet.
• Dry-laid: Fibers are aligned mechanically without water to form the sheet.

• Molded: Pulp is pressed into shapes for products like molded pulp packaging.

Sustainable Cardboard from Paper Pulp

• Optimal sustainability comes from recycled molded pulp box and minimal processing.
• Recycled cardboard has a lower carbon footprint than virgin wood pulp sources.
• Unbleached kraft cardboard is better than chemically-bleached white cardboard.
• Wet-laid methods use less energy than dry-laid cardboard production.

Understanding that cardboard is derived from paper pulp helps guide sustainable choices in cardboard packaging materials.