Packaging glossary: the trade terms, in plain English

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A

Artwork sign-off

Your written approval of the final print files. EU delivery is typically from around 15 days after this point.

B

Bleed

Extra artwork that runs past the cut line, so no white edge shows if the cut moves slightly.

Box compression test (BCT)

A test that presses a finished, empty box to measure how much weight it can carry in a stack.

C

Caliper

The thickness of a sheet of board, usually measured in millimetres or microns.

CMYK

The four process ink colours (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) used to print full-colour images.

Corrugated board

Board made from a wavy fluted layer glued between flat liners. Light, strong and the standard material for shipping boxes.

D

Debossing

Pressing a design into the board so it sits below the surface.

Die-cut

Cut to a custom outline with a shaped steel cutting die, rather than cut and slotted from a sheet.

Dieline

The flat drawing of a box showing every cut, fold and glue area. Artwork is laid out on it before printing.

Double wall

Corrugated board with two fluted layers and three liners, for heavier products and taller stacks.

E

Edge crush test (ECT)

A test of how much load corrugated board can take on its edge before it buckles. A guide to stacking strength.

Embossing

Raising a design above the surface of the board so it can be felt as well as seen.

Empty space ratio

Under the EU packaging regulation, the share of a pack that is empty. From 1 January 2030 it must be 50% or less for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging.

F

FEFCO code

A four-digit code for a box style from the international catalogue kept by FEFCO, the European federation of corrugated board manufacturers.

Flexo print

Flexographic printing with flexible plates, straight onto corrugated board. Efficient for logos, solid colours and text.

Flute

The wavy middle layer of corrugated board. The flute letter (A, B, C, E or F) indicates its thickness.

Foil

Metallic or coloured foil pressed onto the board with heat, for a shine that ink cannot give.

Folding boxboard (FBB)

A paperboard grade made to be scored and folded without cracking. The most common board for folding cartons.

Folding carton

A box made from paperboard rather than corrugated board, typical on shop shelves.

FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council certification system for responsibly managed forests. FSC-certified board is available from us on request.

G

Grammage (gsm)

The weight of paper or board in grams per square metre. Paperboard is generally heavier than 250 gsm.

I

Insert

A fitting inside the box that holds the product still, such as a partition, pad or die-cut holder.

K

Kraft

Strong paper made from virgin wood fibre, often used for liners where strength or moisture resistance matters.

L

Lamination

A thin film applied over print for protection and a gloss, matt or soft-touch feel.

Liner

The flat paper sheets on the outside of corrugated board.

Litho-laminated

Artwork printed by offset lithography onto paper, then laminated onto corrugated board for photographic quality.

M

Mailer box

A die-cut box that folds from one flat piece, usually with a tuck-in lid, made for courier delivery.

Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

The smallest run a supplier will produce. At EasyPak it is 10,000 pieces per design.

P

Pantone

A standard colour matching system. Pantone references help printers match brand colours accurately.

Per design

One combination of size, structure and print. Each different size or print is a separate design.

PFAS

A group of man-made chemicals. The EU packaging regulation restricts PFAS above set limits in food-contact packaging from 12 August 2026.

PPWR

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, applying generally from 12 August 2026.

R

Recycled content

The share of a material that comes from recycled sources rather than new raw material.

Right-sizing

Designing a pack around the product so it uses no more board, space or void fill than it needs.

Rigid box

A premium box built from thick, stiff board wrapped in printed or textured paper. It does not fold flat.

S

Single wall

Corrugated board with one fluted layer between two liners. The standard for most shipping boxes.

Soft-touch

A coating or lamination with a velvety feel in the hand.

Solid bleached board (SBS)

Paperboard that is clean white through its whole thickness, used for food, cosmetics and premium packs.

Spot UV

A raised gloss coating on selected areas only, used to make a logo or detail stand out.

V

Void fill

Material that fills empty space in a box to stop the product moving. Right-sizing reduces how much you need.

W

White-lined chipboard (WLC)

Recycled paperboard with a white printing surface, economical for many retail cartons.

Want the detail behind these terms? Read the packaging guides, or put them to work in the spec builder.