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Kraftliner vs testliner: which do you choose best?

3min read 03/08/2020

There is a lot to say about boxes. In the past, for instance, we looked at which padding is best to use and how best to close a box. What we have not yet looked at is the material a cardboard box is made of. That too is worthwhile. In this article we will therefore look at the differences between two popular types: kraftliner and testliner. Which do you choose best?

1. How is cardboard constructed?

Cardboard is made of several layers of paper glued together. This makes cardboard very strong and much heavier. You can only officially talk about cardboard when it weighs 180 g/m² or more. Anything lighter falls under the heading of ‘paper’.

Back to cardboard now… With corrugated cardboard (used for making boxes), the outside and/or inside is surrounded by a paper layer: kraftliner or testliner. Both types differ greatly in their composition and therefore in their quality. We highlight these particular differences below.

Samenstelling van karton met kraftliner of testliner

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2. Kraftliner versus testliner

Supersterke kraftliner Voordelige testliner
Super strong: derived from the German word for strong ‘kraft’. Budget-friendly : testliner is cheaper than kraftliner.
Made of virgin wood pulp, supplemented by a percentage of recycled material. This makes the paper fibres longer and firmer. Made of 100% recycled material. This makes the paper fibres shorter and less sturdy.
Water-repellent: the paper fibres lie very close together and therefore hardly allow any moisture to penetrate.
Tear-resistant thanks to the random positioning of the long, elastic paper fibres.
Suitable for packaging heavy goods + low-temperature and/or high-humidity environments. Suitable for easy use + with low-value goods.

Besides boxes, kraft liner is also used for lining paper bags. This makes them much sturdier, allowing them to last longer. You then have a choice of two types of kraft liner. On the one hand, you have plain kraft: this has an even, smooth texture. On the other hand, there is dyed kraft. This has a striped or ribbed structure that provides a bit more cachet.

Effen of gevergeerd kraftpapier

Are kraftliner and testliner environmentally friendly?

Both variants are particularly sustainable. Because they are made of paper, they can easily be reused, composted (on an industrial level) or recycled. Did you know that cardboard can be recycled up to 10 times? So a discarded box can perfectly get another life as a carrier bag or newspaper.

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3. How does kraftliner/testliner affect your packaging?

The impact on your entire packaging cannot be underestimated. Although only a thin layer of paper, it can sometimes make or crack the protection of your products. Kraft paper is the strongest variant that is recommended in most circumstances. Among other things, it is much more resistant to cold and moisture – and let those be precisely two weather phenomena we often have to deal with here in the Netherlands. Good to know: at RAJA, boxes are lined with kraft liner as standard. So you always have the best quality in your hands.

When we talk about tapes, we also see a clear difference between kraftliner and testliner. Testliner is made of short recycled paper fibres: these create an uneven surface, making it harder for the tape to adhere. With kraftliner, we see a completely different story. The paper fibres are newer and longer, making the surface more flattened. This gives the tape’s adhesive a chance to adhere much better. So for a sturdy closure, kraft is the way to go.

Tapegebruik bij kraft of testliner

The difference between kraftliner and testliner should hold no secrets for you by now. Time then to put the cardboard box further under the magnifying glass. In our follow-up article, see what lies beneath the layer of kraft or testliner and which corrugated types a box is made of. Are your boxes already on the right wavelength?

Read more: how to choose the right corrugation for cardboard?
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