Corrugated Cardboard throughout History

Cardboard boxes are industrially prefabricated boxes, primarily used for packaging goods and materials. Cardboard boxes do not have a fluted inner layer like a corrugated container does. A corrugated shipping container is one type of cardboard box that is a combined paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated medium and one or two flat liner – boards. Today, corrugated packaging is one of the most sought-after solutions when it comes to custom packing materials, but that wasn’t always the case.

Corrugated Cardboard Timeline

The first commercial paperboard (not corrugated) box was produced in England in 1817 by Albert Jones of New York City, known as the “father of the corrugated board,” who used it to wrap bottles and glass chimney lanterns. This original form consisted of pleated paper with a single liner sheet on one side. In 1874, Oliver Long added another liner sheet and patented his improvements (this is currently the corrugated box we know and use today). By the early 1900s, wooden crates and boxes were being replaced by corrugated paper shipping cartons.

Corrugated Cardboard Uses

Corrugated boxes are used frequently for packing, storing and ship products to factories, warehouses and retail stores but they can be used for more! Other uses for the corrugated cardboard include: moving, floor protectors for painting, gift packaging, displaying grocery store items, fire starter, and even spaceships and body armor for your kids.
Single wall corrugated sheets are great to use as a layering pad on pallets to disperse weight and keep tops of products dust-free during storage. Hughes stocks a wide variety of regular slot cartons and corrugated boxes to fit all your shipping needs. Find out how to choose the right box for your product in our recent blog post.

Cool Corrugated Cardboard Facts

• Paper recyclers call used corrugated boxes “old corrugated containers” or “OCC.”
• More than 95% of all products in the United States are shipped in corrugated boxes.
• Corrugated paperboard accounts for more than half of all the paper recycled in the US.
• Special die-cut shapes have almost endless designs and uses. Hughes’ die cut boxes can be printed in up to 4 colors.

Hughes offers corrugated boxes in sizes that range from as large as 30”x20”x20” to as small as 4”x4”x4”. See our chart for all the options.

Stock Up with Hughes

Hughes distributes all types of custom corrugated boxes; our variety makes Hughes the best choice for one-stop shopping at competitive prices. For help choosing the best corrugated boxes and packaging for your needs contact a Hughes Sales Representative for assistance.