Packaging glossary

The words we use every day at the factory, defined the way we would explain them across the table.

If a term you need is missing, ask us. We will add it, and answer the question that came with it.

A

Accordion fold: A run of parallel folds that alternate direction, so the sheet opens and closes like a bellows. Used for inserts and leaflets that need several panels in a small footprint.
Acrylic coating: A clear water-based acrylic layer applied over print to protect it from scuffs and smudging. Available in gloss, satin and matte.
Advent calendar box: A box divided into numbered compartments, one opened each day in the run-up to a holiday. Common in chocolate, beauty and fragrance, built as a rigid or folding structure with a door or drawer for each day.
Anti-counterfeiting label: A label carrying a feature that is hard to copy, such as a hologram, a serial code or a tamper pattern, used to prove a product is genuine.
AQL (acceptable quality level): An inspection standard that sets how many defective units a sample drawn from a batch may contain before the batch fails. The sample size and the limit both scale with the size of the order.
Aqueous coating: A water-based clear coat applied on press over the ink. It dries fast, protects the print and comes in gloss, satin and matte.
Artwork: The final print-ready design file for a package, usually built in Illustrator on top of the dieline, with fonts, images and color references in place.
Artwork proof: A copy of the final artwork laid on the dieline and sent for sign-off before anything goes to press. It confirms content and position; color is confirmed separately on a printed proof.
Augmented reality (AR) packaging: Packaging printed with a marker or code that opens digital content through a phone camera, such as an animation or a product story.
Auto-lock bottom box: A folding carton whose base is pre-glued so it snaps locked the moment the carton is opened. Faster to set up than a tuck bottom and stronger under weight. Also called a crash-lock bottom. Folding cartons
Automatic bottom box: Another name for an auto-lock bottom box: a folding carton with a pre-glued base that locks itself when the carton is opened. Folding cartons

B

Bagasse packaging: Packaging molded from bagasse, the fiber left after sugarcane is pressed. Compostable, and common for food trays and clamshells.
Bakery bag: A paper bag for bread and pastry, usually grease-resistant, sometimes with a window or perforations so baked goods can breathe.
Barrier coating: A coating that slows moisture, grease or oxygen moving through paper or board. Used on food packaging and on boards that sit against fatty products like chocolate.
Biodegradable packaging: Packaging made from materials that break down through natural biological processes. How long that takes depends on the material and on where it ends up.
Blister pack: A pocket of formed clear plastic that holds a product against a printed card backing.
Bold packaging design: Design built on strong color, oversized type or an unusual structure so a product stands out on the shelf.
Booklet: A small bound or folded booklet packed with a product, carrying instructions, ingredients or the brand's story.
Box sleeve: A paper or board band that slides over a box. It lets one box carry seasonal or limited-edition artwork without reprinting the box itself.
Bulk packaging: Packaging that holds many units or a large volume together, for wholesale, storage or transport.
Butt cut label: Labels cut edge to edge on the roll, with no gap between them.

C

C1S paper (coated one side): Paper or board coated on the printed face and left uncoated on the reverse.
C2S paper (coated two sides): Paper coated on both faces, for sharp print on both sides of the sheet.
Cardboard: The everyday name for both paperboard and corrugated board. The trade avoids the word because it covers materials that behave very differently.
Clamshell packaging: A one-piece pack whose two halves are joined by a hinge and close over the product, usually in clear plastic or molded fiber.
CMYK printing: Full-color printing built from four process inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black, the K. Brand colors that must be exact are usually printed as a separate Pantone ink instead.
Coating: Any layer applied over a printed or unprinted surface to protect it or change how it looks and feels, from varnish and aqueous coat to UV.
Cold seal packaging: Flexible packaging sealed by pressure with a cohesive adhesive rather than heat. Used for products that heat would damage, chocolate bars in particular.
Collapsible rigid box: A rigid box built to fold flat for shipping and storage, then open into its full shape. It keeps the board weight of a rigid box at a fraction of the freight volume, and often closes with a magnet. Rigid setup boxes
Confectionery packaging: Packaging for chocolate, sweets and pastry. It has to protect a fragile product, stay food safe and often hold each piece in its own cavity. Chocolate packaging
Corrugated box: A box made from corrugated board: a fluted paper layer glued between flat liners. The flutes give it the strength to ship.
CTP (computer to plate): Platemaking in which the artwork is imaged straight onto the printing plate, with no film in between.
Cushion pad (for chocolate): A soft pad, usually paper or foam, laid over or under chocolates so the pieces do not move or scuff in transit. Chocolate packaging
Custom die-cut packaging: Packaging cut to a shape drawn for one product, using a steel-rule die made for that shape.
Custom inserts: A fitting cut to the product so it holds still in transit and presents well when the box opens. Made from board, paper, foam or molded pulp. Inserts and fittings
Custom packaging: Packaging designed and made for one brand and one product, from structure and size to material and finish. What we make
Customs inspection: An examination of goods by customs authorities to check them against their declarations and the rules before clearance.

D

Debossing: Pressing a mark into the surface so it sits below the paper. It shows best on thick, soft, uncoated stocks, where the impression holds a crisp edge.
Demurrage: A charge for leaving a container at a port or terminal beyond the free time allowed.
Die cut: Cutting board or paper to shape with a steel-rule die, which cuts, creases and perforates in a single pass.
Dieline: The flat technical drawing of a package, showing every cut, crease, glue area and bleed. The artwork is built on top of it and the cutting die is made from it.
Digital sample: A rendering or digital mock-up of a package, used to review a design before anything physical is made.
Display box: A box built to present product at retail, often with an open front, a window or a tear-away panel.
Double-wall corrugated: Corrugated board with two fluted layers between three liners, used for heavy or fragile shipments.
Drawer box: A rigid box made of an outer sleeve and an inner tray that slides out, often pulled with a ribbon or a thumb notch. Common in jewelry, chocolate and fragrance. Rigid setup boxes
Drop test: A transit test in which a packed box is dropped from set heights onto its faces, edges and corners to check that it protects what is inside.
Duplex board: Board with a coated white top for print and a grey or brown recycled back. Widely used for folding cartons. Folding cartons
Dust flaps: The small side flaps on a folding carton that fold in under the main closure flap and close the gaps at the corners. Folding cartons

E

E-commerce packaging: Packaging designed to survive parcel shipping and still open well at the customer's door.
E-flute: A fine corrugated flute about 1.5 mm thick. Thin enough to print and fold neatly, strong enough for mailers.
Eco-friendly packaging: A broad term for packaging chosen to reduce environmental impact through its material, its recyclability or its weight. The specific claim behind the label is what matters.
Edge crush test (ECT): A measure of how much force corrugated board takes on its edge before it crushes. It predicts how well boxes stack.
Embossed foil: Foil stamping and embossing combined, so the mark is raised and metallic at once. Done in one hit with a combination die, or in two passes.
Embossed logo: A logo raised in relief by embossing, blind or combined with ink or foil.
Embossing: Pressing a mark up from behind so it stands raised on the surface, using a matched pair of male and female dies.
EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate): A dense, flexible foam used for cut inserts. It holds a crisp cavity edge and absorbs shock. Inserts and fittings
Extended producer responsibility (EPR): Regulation that makes the brand putting packaging on the market pay for its collection and recycling. EPR laws for packaging now apply in several US states and across Europe.

F

Flap box: A box closed by a hinged flap, often held shut by a magnet in rigid construction. Rigid setup boxes
Flat bottom bag: A bag with a square base that stands upright on a shelf. Used for coffee, tea and dry goods.
Flat handle (paper bag): A flat paper strip glued inside the top of a bag as its handle. Common on takeaway and kraft bags. Luxury paper bags
Flat pack: Packaging shipped and stored flat, then assembled where it is filled.
Flexible packaging: Packaging made from film, foil or paper that takes the shape of what it holds: pouches, wraps, sachets and bags.
Foam inserts: Cut or molded foam that holds a product in place. Common for heavy glass and electronics. Inserts and fittings
Foil lamination: A metallic film laminated across a whole sheet, so the entire surface reads as metal and can be printed over.
Foil stamping: Transferring a thin foil onto paper with a heated die and pressure. Gold and silver are standard, alongside colors, matte and holographic foils. On a textured paper the press needs more pressure to fill the grain. How we build
Folding carton: A box cut and creased from a single sheet of paperboard, shipped flat and folded into shape. Also called a folding box. Folding cartons
Frustration-free packaging: Packaging that opens without tools and without excess material.
FSC-certified paper: Paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from responsibly managed forests, traced through every step of the supply chain.

G

Gift box: A box made for presenting a product as a gift, usually rigid, often with a fitting and a lid that lifts away. Rigid setup boxes
Glassine paper: A thin, smooth, translucent paper that resists grease and air. Used as interleaving and for wrapping pastry.
Gloss lamination: A clear glossy film laminated over print to protect it and deepen the color.
Gloss UV coating: A clear coat cured instantly under ultraviolet light, giving a high, hard shine.
Gravure printing: Printing from engraved metal cylinders. Suited to long runs on film and fine papers, with rich, even solids.
Greyboard: Dense board made from recycled fiber. It is the core of a rigid box, hidden under the wrap paper, and its thickness decides how the box feels in the hand. Rigid setup boxes
GSM (grams per square meter): The weight of paper or board per square meter. A useful guide to thickness, although two papers of the same gsm can differ in bulk and stiffness.
Gusset: A folded side or base panel that lets a bag or pouch expand.

H

Handle cut: A hand hole die-cut directly into a box or bag.
Hang tag: A tag attached to a product with string or a loop, carrying the brand, the price or care details. Fashion packaging
Heat seal: Closing packaging by melting a sealing layer with heat and pressure. Standard on pouches and film.
Hexagon box: A six-sided box, rigid or folding. The shape stiffens the walls and stands out among rectangles.
Holographic foil: A foil with a diffraction pattern that shifts color as the light moves.
Honeycomb board: Paper honeycomb cells sandwiched between liners. Light, very stiff, and used for protective inserts and pallets.
Hot stamping: Another name for foil stamping: foil transferred onto the surface with a heated die and pressure. How we build
Hybrid packaging: Packaging that combines different materials, such as board with a film window.

I

In-house prototyping: Building samples in the same facility that will produce the order, so changes are made quickly and judged on the production board itself. How we build
In-mold labeling (IML): Placing a printed label inside the mold so it fuses with a plastic container as the container forms.
Injection molding: Forming plastic parts by injecting molten plastic into a closed mold.
Inner packing: The smaller packs or units grouped inside a master shipping carton.
Insert: Anything placed inside a box to hold, separate or present the product. When it is cut to the product, it is usually called a fitting. Inserts and fittings
Insert tray: A tray, usually board or molded fiber, cut with a cavity for each item. Inserts and fittings
Insulated packaging: Packaging that holds temperature in transit, using insulating liners with cold packs. Standard for chocolate shipped in summer.
Inventory management: Tracking packaging stock and scheduling deliveries so supply keeps pace with production.
ISO standards: International standards published by the International Organization for Standardization, covering quality systems, test methods and materials.

J

J-hook: A hook-shaped retail fixture from which hang-packed products are displayed.
Jet printing (inkjet): Digital printing that sprays fine droplets of ink onto the surface. Used for short runs, variable data and coding.
Jewelry box: A small rigid box for rings, earrings and necklaces, usually wrapped in paper or fabric and fitted with a cut insert or a pad. Rigid setup boxes
Jig (packaging assembly): A fixture that holds parts in exactly the same position every time, so hand assembly is fast and identical across a run.
JIT (just-in-time) inventory: Ordering and receiving packaging only as production needs it, to keep storage low.
Jute bag: A bag woven from jute fiber. Strong, coarse and reusable.

K

Kiss cut: A cut through the top layer of a label sheet that leaves the backing intact.
Kraft bag: A paper bag made from kraft paper, natural brown or bleached white. Luxury paper bags
Kraft board: Board made from kraft pulp, strong for its weight, usually with a natural brown face.
Kraft lamination: Kraft paper laminated onto board to give it a natural brown face.
Kraft paper: A strong paper made by the kraft pulping process, recognizable by its brown color when unbleached.

L

Label: A printed piece of paper, film or fabric applied to a product or a pack.
Lamination: Bonding a film or a sheet onto paper or board. A film laminate protects and changes the surface; a paper laminate adds a face or stiffness.
Laser cutting: Cutting or engraving with a laser instead of a die. Suited to fine patterns and to samples, since no tool is needed.
LDPE (low-density polyethylene): A soft, flexible plastic used for bags, films and squeeze tubes.
Leaflet: A single printed sheet packed with a product.
Letterpress printing: Printing from a raised surface pressed into the paper, leaving the image slightly bitten into a soft sheet.
Linerboard: The flat paper facing on either side of corrugated board.
Lithography (offset litho): Printing from a flat plate on which image areas hold ink and the rest repels it. The ink is offset onto a rubber blanket and from there onto the sheet.
Logistics: Planning and running the movement and storage of goods from production to delivery.
Luxury packaging: Packaging whose materials, structure and finish match a premium product. In practice that means heavy board, real papers, a precise fit and finishes that hold up to handling. What we make
Luxury paper bag: A bag built from heavy paper, with a reinforced top fold and base, cord or ribbon handles, and finishes such as foil or emboss. Luxury paper bags

M

Magnetic closure: A closure using thin magnets set into the board under the wrap, so a flap or lid shuts with a soft pull. Rigid setup boxes
Mailer box: A self-locking corrugated box that ships without tape, often printed inside and out.
Matte finish: Any finish that diffuses light instead of reflecting it.
Matte lamination: A matte film laminated over print. It flattens shine and protects the surface, and replaces the feel of the paper with the feel of the film.
Metallic foil: Foil with a mirror-like metallic surface, gold and silver being the most common.
Micro-flute: Very fine corrugated board, such as E, F or N flute, thin enough for retail boxes that need both print quality and strength.
Mock-up: A physical or digital model of a package used to review the design before production. A physical mock-up on the real materials is the reliable way to judge it.
Molded pulp: Recycled paper fiber molded into trays, inserts and shells. Recyclable and compostable. Inserts and fittings
Monochrome printing: Printing in a single ink. On a strong paper, with foil or emboss alongside, one color can carry a whole design.
MOQ (minimum order quantity): The smallest quantity a manufacturer produces of a given item in one run. It reflects setup, tooling and material minimums.
Mullions (partition inserts): Interlocking board dividers that split a box into cells. Inserts and fittings
Multi-depth box: A corrugated box with extra score lines so it can be cut down to several heights.
Mushroom-based packaging: Packaging grown from mycelium, the root structure of fungi, inside a mold. Used as a compostable alternative to foam.

N

Natural kraft: Unbleached kraft paper, left in its own brown.
Neck box: A rigid box whose base carries a raised inner wall, the neck, onto which the lid closes. The lid meets the base flush, with the neck showing as a band between them. Rigid setup boxes
Nesting: Designing parts so they stack inside one another, saving space in storage and freight.
Non-woven bag: A reusable bag made from bonded fibers rather than woven cloth.
Notch: A small cut in the edge of a pack, such as a tear notch on a pouch or a thumb notch on a box.

O

ODM (original design manufacturer): A manufacturer that designs and produces a product which another company then sells under its own brand.
OEM (original equipment manufacturer): A manufacturer that produces to another company's design, for sale under that company's brand.
Offset printing: The standard method for printed packaging. Ink moves from a plate to a rubber blanket and then onto the sheet, giving sharp detail and accurate color on long runs.
On-demand printing: Digital printing in exactly the quantity needed, without plates.
One-piece folder (OPF): A corrugated box cut from one sheet that folds around a flat product.
Opening mechanism: The feature that opens a pack, such as a tear strip, a perforation, a ribbon pull or a zipper.
OPP (oriented polypropylene): A polypropylene film stretched for clarity and strength. Used for wraps and windows.
Ornamental embossing: Embossing used for a pattern or a texture across a surface rather than a single mark.
Outer carton: The shipping carton that holds a number of finished packs.
Outsert: A folded leaflet attached to the outside of a pack.
Overprinting: Printing on top of an already printed surface, for batch codes, dates or versions.
Overrun: Units produced beyond the ordered quantity, to allow for setup and spoilage on a run.

P

Pantone (PMS): The Pantone Matching System: numbered, standardized ink colors used to specify a brand color exactly.
Paper rope handle: A twisted paper cord handle glued inside the top of a bag. Luxury paper bags
Paperboard: Paper made thick and stiff enough to fold into boxes. Folding cartons are cut from it. Folding cartons
PEFC: The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, an international forest certification that, like FSC, traces fiber back to managed forests.
Perforation: A line of small cuts that lets material tear or fold along a set path.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate): A clear, strong plastic used for bottles, trays and windows.
Pillow box: A small folding carton with curved ends that close by pressing in, giving it a pillow shape.
Plant-based bioplastics: Plastics made from renewable sources such as corn or sugarcane. Some compost in industrial facilities; others behave like conventional plastic.
PMS coated vs. uncoated: Pantone publishes every color twice, C for coated paper and U for uncoated, because the same ink looks brighter on a coated sheet and softer on uncoated stock, where it sinks into the fiber. Specify the version that matches your paper.
Polybag: A plastic bag used to protect a product in storage and transit.
Polypropylene (PP): A tough, light plastic used for containers, caps and films.
Pressure-sensitive label (PSL): A self-adhesive label that sticks under pressure, supplied on a backing liner.
Primary packaging: The packaging in direct contact with the product, such as the bottle, the jar or the wrapper.
Printing proof: A printed sample used to approve color and content before the run. A press proof or a drawdown on the actual paper shows color most accurately.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride): A rigid or flexible plastic once common in blisters and windows, now widely replaced by PET.

Q

QR code: A two-dimensional code that opens a web page or other content when scanned with a phone.
Quality control (QC): Checking materials and finished packaging against the agreed standard during and after production.
Quality inspection: A structured check of a sample from a batch against the specification and an agreed defect limit. See AQL.
Quantity per carton (QPC): The number of units packed in one shipping carton.

R

Recyclable packaging: Packaging that can be collected and processed back into material. Whether it counts as recyclable depends on the materials combined and on local collection.
Recycled content: The share of a material made from recovered fiber or plastic, either post-consumer or pre-consumer.
Retail-ready packaging (RRP): A shipping case that opens into a shelf display without repacking. Also called shelf-ready packaging.
Returnable packaging: Durable packaging sent back after use to be filled again, common between factories.
Reusable packaging: Packaging made to be used more than once. A rigid box worth keeping is the most familiar example. Rigid setup boxes
Reverse tuck end (RTE) box: A folding carton whose top flap tucks in from the front and bottom flap from the back. Standard for cosmetics and small goods. Folding cartons
Rigid box: A box that does not fold flat, built from greyboard wrapped in paper or fabric. Rigid setup boxes
Rigid foam insert: A dense foam insert cut to the product, usually polyethylene or polyurethane. Inserts and fittings
Rigid setup box: The full name for a rigid box: board walls set up and wrapped at the factory and shipped assembled. Base and lid are cut to a tolerance that decides how slowly the lid comes away. Rigid setup boxes
Roll-fed labeling: Applying labels to containers from a continuous roll at line speed.
Round edges box: A rigid box with rounded corners and edges, which takes careful wrapping to stay smooth. Rigid setup boxes

S

SBS (solid bleached sulfate): A bright white paperboard made from bleached virgin fiber throughout. It prints sharply and folds cleanly. Folding cartons
Shrink sleeve: A printed film sleeve that shrinks around a container under heat, giving print all the way round.
Shrink wrap: A plastic film shrunk tightly around a product or a bundle with heat.
Single-wall corrugated: Corrugated board with one fluted layer between two liners.
Sleeve packaging: A band or tube of board or film that slides over a pack. See box sleeve.
Slip sheet: A thin sheet used under a load in place of a pallet.
Soft touch lamination: A matte film with a velvet-like surface, laminated over print. Being a plastic film, it replaces the feel of the paper underneath with its own.
Spot UV: A clear UV coating printed only on chosen areas, so a mark shines against a matte surround.
Sustainable packaging: Packaging designed to reduce environmental impact over its life, through material choice, reuse, recyclability or simply less material.

T

Tamper-evident seal: A seal that shows clearly once a pack has been opened.
Tear notch: A small cut on the edge of a pouch where tearing starts.
Telescoping box: A two-piece box whose lid slides down over the base, fully or part of the way. Rigid setup boxes
Thermoforming: Heating a plastic sheet and forming it over a mold. Used for trays, blisters and inserts.
Tin box: A box made from tin-plated steel. Durable, and often kept and reused.
Tissue paper: Thin, light paper used to wrap a product inside the box, often printed with the brand.
Triple-wall corrugated: Corrugated board with three fluted layers, for very heavy loads.
Tuck end box: A folding carton closed by flaps that tuck into the body at top and bottom, in straight or reverse versions. Folding cartons
Two-piece box: A box made of a separate base and lid. In rigid construction the lid may cover the base fully or part of the way. Rigid setup boxes

U

Uncoated paper: Paper without a surface coating, so its fiber and texture stay visible. Ink sinks in and reads softer, which is why uncoated Pantone references exist.
Underprinting: Printing a layer, usually white, beneath the main colors so they read correctly on foil, film or dark stock.
UV coating: A clear coating cured instantly by ultraviolet light. Hard, durable and usually high gloss.
UV printing: Printing with inks cured instantly by ultraviolet light, which makes it possible to print on plastic, metal and glass.

V

V-cut box: A rigid box whose board is grooved in a V before folding, giving sharp, square edges. Rigid setup boxes
Vacuum forming: A thermoforming method that draws heated plastic onto a mold with suction.
Varnish: A clear ink applied on press over the whole sheet or in spots, in gloss, satin or matte.
Vent hole: A small hole that lets air or gas escape from a pack.
Void fill: Material that fills the empty space in a shipping box so the contents do not move.

W

Water-activated tape (WAT): Gummed paper tape activated with water. It bonds into corrugated board and shows clearly if removed.
Wax-coated paper: Paper coated with wax to resist moisture and grease.
Whiteboard: Paperboard with a white printing surface, used for folding cartons. Folding cartons
Window box: A box with a die-cut opening, usually backed with clear film, that shows the product.
Window patch: The clear film glued behind a box window.
Woven bag: A bag woven from polypropylene tape. Strong, and used for heavy goods.
Wrap-around label: A label that circles the whole container.

X

X-ray inspection: Scanning packed products with X-rays to find foreign objects or missing pieces.

Y

Yield: The number of finished pieces cut from a sheet or a roll. Laying the dieline out efficiently raises the yield.

Z

Zero waste packaging: Packaging designed so nothing goes to landfill, through reuse, recycling or composting.
Zipper seal: A resealable plastic zipper on a pouch or bag.

Now put the words to work.

Tell us what goes inside and we will tell you which of these terms your box needs. A physical sample follows, on the stock you will actually run.

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