March 2011

Global Paperboard Considerations

U.S. packaging buyers have several viable choices in the specification of paperboard for folding carton applications. Substrates
such as Solid Bleached Sulfate, Coated Unbleached Kraft, Uncoated Kraft Boxboard, and Coated Recycled Paperboard dominate
the landscape. Each material tends to migrate toward certain market segments depending on the requirement for graphics,
product protection, filling line performance, and end use.

Domestic manufacturers including International Paper Company, MeadWestvaco, Georgia Pacific, Graphic Packaging, RockTenn,
Clearwater, Paperworks, and Caraustar currently supply these materials to converters who print, cut, fold, glue, and deliver
finished cartons to consumer packaged goods manufacturers for filling and distribution.1 These suppliers are well endowed
with capable manufacturing, sales, service, and support.

Could it be, however, that there’s a blade of greener grass on the other side? Occasionally there may be legitimate justification
for considering global sources of paperboard. Thinking locally/sourcing globally can have its allure, but in considering
the pros and cons of imported paperboard, it is important to gain an understanding of global substrates and how they
compare to familiar domestic materials.

Paperboard Substrates

SOLID BLEACHED SULFATE

In North America, Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) accommodates the highest quality graphics for personal care, medical, media, and
tobacco packaging. This grade is known as SBB (Solid Bleached Boxboard) in Europe and elsewhere. The European grade code for this
product is GZ as shown in Table 1. It is manufactured in a single ply in North America but in multiple plies elsewhere.

SBS and other virgin grades are common in North America but otherwise not so common. Slow growing fiber in Scandinavia and
elsewhere in the world constrains the supply of wood for papermaking purposes. It may take 65 years or more to grow pulpwood in
northern climes, yet with warmer weather and longer seasons in the U.S., a managed crop of trees can be grown in a fraction of that time.
Consequently, Europe and other international markets favor a grade know as Folding Boxboard (FBB) as a pseudo substitute for SBS.

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 Global Paperboard Nomenclature
Euro
US Grade Full Name A.K.A. Euro Title Variations Description
Code

Solid Bleached Coated Bleached Board,

SBS SBB GZ
Sulfate C1S or C2S

Coated Recycled CCN, CCNB, GD (duplex Coated White Lined

CRB WLC GD1, 2, 3
Board Grey Back board) Chip - Grey Back
Coated White Lined
" " " White Back GT GT (triplex) GT1, 2, 3
Chip - Cream or White Back
Coated White Lined
CKB Coated Kraft Back CCKB
Chip - Kraft Back
Coated Unbleached
CUK CNK, SUS Coated SUB GN GN4 Coated Unbleached Board
Kraft
Coated FBB - Mechanical Pulp,
FBB Folding Boxboard GC GC GC1
White Back
Duplex, Manilla Coated FBB - Mechanical Pulp,
" " " " " GC2
Back Cream Back
Euro Codes: G = coated Z = bleached virgin chemical pulp C = virgin mechanical pulp
N = unbleached virgin chemical pulp T = recycled w/white or cream back D = recycled w/grey back

Table 1 – Folding Carton Paperboard Nomenclature

Folding Boxboard
The European grade code for FBB is GC. The print surface can be just as smooth and bright as SBS, yet rather than bleached
chemically pulped hardwood fiber, FBB employs mechanical, semi-mechanical, or thermo-mechanical groundwood pulp beneath
a white top liner. These fibers may be bleached or unbleached and the back may be white (GC1) or manila colored (GC2).
FBB has several advantages and a few disadvantages to SBS. The advantages may include density, brightness, and yield. Groundwood
fiber is less dense (weighs less) than kraft chemical pulp. Therefore, at a given basis weight the sheet is thicker. This additional
thickness enhances stiffness in the finished carton. European standards allow for optical brightening agents such as florescent dyes
to be used in paperboard coatings for food grade paperboard packaging. This can result in exceptional brightness with some of the
GC1 products. For the papermaker, there is a yield advantage in the manufacturing of FBB. Finally, with groundwood pulping,
the natural adhesive found in trees stays with the cellulose fiber, so twice as much volume of raw material results from a given ton
of wood as compared to the kraft chemical pulping process.
Disadvantages include a loss of tear strength, internal strength, and colorfastness. Even though an FBB carton of similar weight
is thicker and stiffer, it tends to be more brittle and less elastic. The residual lignin in groundwood fiber tends to rapidly yellow
with exposure to UV light, therefore these grades may not be suitable for outdoor applications. FBB compression strength can
be quite good, however, and with the proper cutting, creasing, and gluing, successful results can be achieved.

Coated Unbleached Kraft and Uncoated Kraft Boxboard

Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK) isn’t widely manufactured outside of the U.S., however competitive products may
be sourced from Scandinavia and South America. The European grade code for this product is GN. Uncoated Kraft
Boxboard (UKB) is a niche product, truly unique to North America. The closest approximation outside the U.S. is
uncoated recycled board, made from 100% old corrugated containers.
Coated Recycled Board
Coated Recycled Board (CRB), a.k.a. CCNB, is a dominant product worldwide. It is known internationally as White Lined
Chip, Grey Back, and Duplex Board. The European grade code for this product is GD and a white backed version of this
grade is known as Triplex, or GT. As in North America, recycled paperboard is formed on a wide variety of forming equipment
at varied speeds and sizes, from narrow cylinder forming machines to wide, high speed multi-fourdrinier systems. Some of the
products are quite impressive in quality, others are rather poor.

Global Paperboard Specifications

Global paperboard specifications differ from those in North America using a combination of ISO, ASTM, CEN, BS, DIN,
and TAPPI test standards.2 Regardless of the caliper or grade, basis weight is expressed in grams per square meter (gsm)
and caliper is expressed as “thickness,” measured in microns. In Europe, smoothness is often measured with a Bendtsen
instrument and/or the Parker Print Surf Test. Stiffness may be expressed as “Bending Stiffness” as measured by DIN standards,
“Bending Moment” as measured by the Taber test, or “Bending Resistance” as measured by the L&W test. Color is
expressed with CIE standard vs. L.a.b. for domestic products. These tests don’t always correlate with U.S. standard test
practices. Fortunately, many board manufacturers publish product specifications with U.S. and metric values, and most
supplier websites offer English as an alternative to the native language.

Terminology differences go beyond caliper vs. thickness. In the U.K., rolls of paperboard are called “reels” and reels
from the paper machine are known as “rolls.” In Latin America small rolls are referred to as “spools” and in China,
they are “bobbins.” In Asia, any coated paperboard product is referred to as “white board.”

Advantages and Disadvantages

An advantage of working with global supplies of paperboard under the right conditions may be an opportunity for true cost savings.
International products are often certified by the Forest Sustainability Council (FSC) which is preferred in some markets and
geographic locations over SFI certification, more common to North America. Fortunately, multiple chain-of-custody certification
of paperboard products that include FSC is increasing in the United States.

When exchange rates are favorable, paperboard can be delivered to U.S. locations at truly competitive prices. The quality can be
as good as and sometimes superior to that of U.S. counterparts. The manufacturing tolerances are often tight and print surfaces
can be quite good. Many global paperboard products are manufactured to a lower density than American counterparts, thus
providing a weight advantage and stiffness benefit. Finally, fibers from Scandinavia and tropical fibers from South America and
Indonesia may contribute unique appearance and performance attributes to the finished carton.

The downside risks of importing paperboard include source of supply, long lead times, large minimum orders, potential service
issues, and exchange rate volatility. There can be a fear of the unknown and the uncertainties of transacting with an overseas
supplier. Some international manufacturers have U.S. representation, others broker their products through domestic merchants,
and some North American producers have mill operations in other countries. Replacement of defective paperboard is often swift
with domestic products but could be problematic with global substrates. Websites are improving but are often still not intuitive
enough or user-friendly. Changing capacity rates, prices, backlogs, and product allocation are challenges to the entire industry, yet
viable alternative sources of supply can and do exist.

This background serves as a framework for introducing some specific global sources of coated paperboard
supply on a regional/country-wide basis. The list is not all-inclusive but does identify the most significant
producers of coated paperboard for folding carton applications.
 Global Folding Carton Paperboard
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTS
excluding USA
Canada and Mexico SBS CRB CUK FBB
Cascades and Strathcona produce CRB, and Tembec

GD duplex

GT triplex
Producer

Location
operates the only North American FBB mill from

GN4

GC1

GC2
Quebec, Canada. Fiber supplies for Canadian mills are

GZ
provided by sources of Black Spruce,3 White Spruce,
Jack Pine, Hemlock, and Aspen. Recycled paperboard
is produced by two sizeable mills in Mexico – Ponderosa Cascades Canada X X

N. America
and Smurfit Kappa. These mills procure old corrugated Strathcona Canada X

containers, old newsprint, and mixed waste from varied Tembec Canada X
sources as raw material. Ponderosa Mexico X X
Smurfit Kappa Mexico X X

ASIA

China
Nine Dragons China X
No paper industry in the world has exploded quite like
that in China. Since 2000, China’s paper production has
tripled and in 2008, China overtook the U.S. to become
the world’s largest producer. 88% of the companies are
small, yet three major players stand apart from the rest.
Despite global overcapacity, China’s paper industry has
added an average of 26% new capacity every year since Asia Pulp & Paper China X X X X
2004.4 Sources of fiber to fuel this growth originate
largely from imported recycled fiber and pulp, although
the Chinese government has been investing heavily in new
plantation projects over the past decade such that China’s
plantation forest area has increased from 46.7 million
Asia

hectares to 64.5 million hectares from 2000-2010.5

Sun Paper / IP China X X
Dominant paperboard producers include Nine Dragons
(CRB), Asia Pulp & Paper (SBS, CRB & FBB), Sun
Paper/International Paper Company (CRB & FBB),
and Chenming (FBB). A multitude of medium and
small local companies in 12 provinces contribute the
balance of mostly CRB products.
Chenming China X

Taiwan
Taiwan has five mills producing CRB paperboard.
These include Yueng Foong Yu, Kuan Yuan, Shihlin,
Yuen Foong Yu Taiwan X X
Tung Chi, and Cheng Loong.
Kuan Yuan Taiwan X
Shihlin Taiwan X X
Tung Chi Taiwan X
Cheng Loong Taiwan X X
 Global Folding Carton Paperboard
PRODUCTS
excluding USA
SBS CRB CUK FBB

GD duplex

GT triplex
Producer

Location
South Korea

GN4

GC1

GC2
CRB suppliers in South Korea include Hansol, Daehan,

GZ
Seha, and Shinpoong. Additionally, Hanchang has
some SBS capacity as well as CRB.
Hansol S. Korea X
Japan
Daehan S. Korea X X
Japan mills provide a mix of grades. By far, the
largest conglomerate is Oji Specialty Paper (SBS & Hanchang S. Korea X X
CRB). Additional coated cartonboard comes from
Seha S. Korea X
Mitsubishi (SBS), Nippon Daishowa (SBS &
CRB), and Rengo (CRB & FBB). Shinpoong S. Korea X

Oji Japan X X
India
Notable board producers in India include NR Agarwal Mitsubishi Japan X
(CRB), ITC (CRB & FBB), JK Paper (CRB), Gayatrishaki Nippon Daishowa Japan X X
(CRB), Murli Industries (SBS, CRB & FBB), Rainbow
(CRB), and West Coast (CRB). Adding to the mix are Rengo Japan X X
many tiny, locally owned paper mills entirely dedicated Asia Pulp & Paper Indonesia X
ASIA

to CRB production, some with as few as 3 or 4 metric

tons of annual capacity.6 Fajar Surya Wisesa Indonesia X
Papyrus Sakti Indonesia X
Indonesia & Thailand
Unlike other Asian countries with few fiber sources of Thai Union (SCG) Thailand X X

virgin fiber, Indonesia has the potential for abundant Gayatrishaki India X X
forest lands. Tragically, huge tracts of the old growth
forest land have been destroyed through illegal logging ITC India X X X X

and deforestation. There are fourteen mills in this JK India X X

region manufacturing SBS, FBB, and varied capacities
Murli Industries India X X
of CRB. The dominant producers are Asia Pulp and
Paper (CRB & FBB), Fajar Surya Wisesa (CRB), and NR Agarwal India X X
Papyrus Sakti (CRB). Thailand has one notable mill
Rainbow India X X
producing CRB, Thai Union Paper - SCG.
West Coast India X X

OCEANIA
Amcor Australia X X X
Oceania

Australia & New Zealand

Two organizations producing coated paperboard supplies
in this region include Amcor in Australia (CRB & FBB) Carter Holt NZ X X X
Harvey
and Carter Holt Harvey, New Zealand (CRB & FBB).
 Global Folding Carton Paperboard
PRODUCTS
excluding USA
SBS CRB CUK FBB

GD duplex

GT triplex
Producer

Location
EUROPE

GN4

GC1

GC2
GZ
Scandinavia
Large quantities of all coated paperboard grades originate
Sweden,
from Scandinavia, for regional consumption and Stora Enso Finland X X X X
global export. Sizeable conglomerates include Stora
M-real Finland X X
Enso (SBS, CRB and FBB), M-real (FBB), Korsnäs
(SBS, CUK & FBB), Iggesund (SBS), and Billerud Iggesund Sweden X

(SBS). Others include Fiskeby (CRB), Cascades (FBB), Korsnäs Sweden X X X

Pankaboard (SBS & FBB), and Glomma Papp (SBS). Fiskeby Sweden X

Cascades Sweden X X
Germany, Austria, & Switzerland
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have five notable Pankaboard Oy Finland X X
suppliers including Mayr-Melnhoff (CRB & FBB), Glomma Papp Norway X
Weig (CRB), Smurfit Kappa (CRB), Reno de Medici Billerud Sweden X
(CRB), and Buchmann (CRB & FBB).
Germany,
Mayr-Melnhoff Switzerland, X X X X
France, U.K., & Netherlands Austria
Coated board mills in France, U.K. and the Netherlands Weig Germany X X
include Iggesund (FBB), Cascades (FBB), Kaysersberg Smurfit Kappa Germany X X
(CRB), and Mayr-Melnhoff (FBB).
Reno de Medici Germany X X
Europe

Italy Buchmann Germany X X

Reno de Medici (CRB) is the dominant player in Italy, also Iggesund U.K. X X
served by Cartiera (CRB & FBB) and Mel S.A. (CRB). Cascades France X X

Kaysersberg France X
Poland, Slovenia, Serbia,
Ukraine, & Russia Mayr-Melnhoff Netherlands X X
International Paper Company has a formidable presence Reno de Medici Italy X X X X
in Poland producing FBB, Mayr-Melnhoff manufactures
Cartiera Italy X X X
in Slovenia (CRB, FBB) and Umka operates a CRB
mill in Serbia. Three smaller mills manufacture FBB Mel S.A. Greece X X

and CRB in Poland and the Ukraine. KPK and International Poland X X
Paper
Kamenskaya produce CRB in Russia.
Mayr-Melnhoff Slovenia X X X
Spain and Portugal Umka Serbia X X
Stora Enso, Paprinsa, and Reno de Medici have
KPK Russia X
CRB mills in the Iberian Peninsula in Spain and
Prado operates a mill in Portugal producing small Kamenskaya Russia X

quantities of SBS, CRB, and FBB. Stora Enso Spain X X

Reno de Medici Spain X X X X X

Prado Portugal X X X X X
 Global Folding Carton Paperboard
PRODUCTS
excluding USA
SBS CRB CUK FBB

GD duplex

GT triplex
Producer

Location
SOUTH AMERICA

GN4

GC1

GC2
GZ
Brazil
Brazil has an active paper industry fueled by abundant
sources of water and fast growing species of Eucalyptus, Suzano Brazil X X
South American Pine, and Araucaria. On a six-year
Klabin Brazil X X
rotation, trees to fuel the paper industry growth are
planted. Suzano is developing a plantation base of Papirus Brazil X X X X
250,000 hectare in the states of Piauí and Tocantins in
IBEMA Brazil X X X
northeast Brazil. In Mato Grosso do Sul there is a major
plantation expansion and two other pulp producers are
South America Miguel Forte Brazil X X
also planting to support future mills.7 Notable SBS and
FBB producers include Suzano and Klabin; Papirus Bonet Brazil X
and IBEMA produce CRB and FBB, and a set of
Cibrapel Brazil X
smaller mills producing CRB include Miguel Forte,
Bonet, Cibrapel, and Ramenzoni. Ramenzoni Brazil X X

Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, & Peru Cartulinas CMPC Chile X X X

Chile has a major presence in SBS and FBB markets
Interpack Argentina X
with Cartulinas CMPC. Others include CRB board
producers Interpack in Argentina, Smurfit Kappa in Smurfit Kappa Venezuela X
Venezuela, and Panasa in Peru.
Panasa Peru X X X

AFRICA
Mondi S.A. X X
S. Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Tunesia, &
Zimbabwe
Africa

As a continent, Africa generally lacks primary resources

for papermaking; however, two exceptions are Mondi
in South Africa (CRB & FBB) and International Paper International Morocco X X
Company in Morocco (CRB). Additional CRB mills Paper

exist in Egypt, Tunesia, and Zimbabwe.

Table 2 – Global Folding Carton Paperboard

Searching for alternative sources of raw material can be challenging but the potential rewards are worthwhile.
It is especially exciting when the research and investigation culminate in a successful solution.
Written By: Dan Malenke
Dan Malenke is an accomplished training manager with extensive coast-to-coast and international experience in
developing and directing technical seminars for the printing and packaging industries. His career includes 20+ years
with a Fortune 500 company, 9 years university teaching experience, and accumulated work in production.

ABOUT ZUMBIEL CONSUMER PACKAGING DIVISION

We are Zumbiel Packaging, one of the largest privately held paperboard packaging producers in the United States. In our
$400 billion industry, we know that your package is often the most important contact with your customers; it must convey
your values as well as inspire and energize your brand.

Our team of skilled and extensively trained associates is dedicated to providing you with unique packaging solutions that meet
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For more information please contact Zumbiel Consumer Packaging Division

at sales@zumbiel.com or 513-531-3600.

References
1) Malenke, Daniel G., “A Comparison of Folding Carton Substrates and Appropriate Applications”, Brand Packaging, April, 2010 http://www.brand
packaging.com/Articles/Case_Studies/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000805552
2) Kirwan, Mark J., “Paper and Paperboard Packaging Technology”, Blackwell Publishing, 2005, pg. 313.
3) Staff, “Black Spruce, The Pulpwood of Choice”, The Working Forest, March, 2009 http://www.workingforest.com/black-spruce-the-pulpwood-of-
choice/
4) Haley, Usha C.V., “No Paper Tiger – Subsidies to China’s Paper Industry from 2002-09”, EPI Briefing Paper #264, June, 2010 http://epi.3cdn.net/
c443db127fe143cdb9_obm6iidwt.pdf
5) Skilton, David, “The Changing Landscape of China’s Domestic Forestry Section”, Market Outlook, New Forests Pty. Limited, Dec., 2010
6) RISI, Lockwood-Post Directory, 2009
7) Flynn, Bob, “Pulpwood Plantations in Brazil: the Key to the Future”, RISI, http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Pulpwood-plantations-in-Brazil-the-
key-to-the-future.html

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