Materials & Finishes Guide
The material you choose affects how your packaging looks, feels, and protects your product. This guide covers the most common packaging materials, coatings, and special finishes available for custom packaging in Canada.
Packaging Materials
Packaging materials range from lightweight paperboard for retail shelves to heavy corrugated board for shipping protection. The right choice depends on your product weight, display needs, and budget.
SBS (Solid Bleached Sulphate)
C1S or C2S
Weight: 250–400 GSM
Premium white paperboard with a smooth, bright surface. Coated on one side (C1S) or both sides (C2S) for high-quality printing and vivid colours. The industry standard for retail folding cartons. Excellent print surface produces sharp graphics and consistent colour reproduction.
Kraft Paperboard
Brown kraft, natural kraft
Weight: 250–400 GSM
Unbleached, natural brown paperboard made from wood pulp. Has a distinctive earthy, organic appearance. Strong and durable with a natural texture. Printing on kraft is possible but colours appear slightly muted compared to white board — designs that embrace the natural brown tone work best.
White Kraft
Bleached kraft
Weight: 250–400 GSM
A bleached version of kraft paperboard that combines the strength of kraft with a clean white surface. A good middle-ground option — more affordable than SBS with better print quality than natural kraft. Slightly less smooth than SBS but suitable for most retail applications.
Recycled Paperboard (GRB)
Grey recycled board, chipboard
Weight: 300–500 GSM
Made from post-consumer recycled paper pulp. The core is grey (visible on the uncoated side) with a white-coated surface for printing. An affordable and sustainable option. Print quality is good but not as vibrant as SBS. Often used when sustainability credentials are a priority.
Corrugated Board
Fluted cardboard
Weight: E-flute (1.5mm), B-flute (3mm), or combined
Layered material with a fluted (wavy) inner layer between flat linerboards. The fluting provides cushioning and structural strength. Much sturdier than paperboard — used when products need protection during shipping. E-flute is thin enough for direct printing and is commonly used for mailer boxes and e-commerce packaging.
Rigid Board (Chipboard)
Set-up box, greyboard
Weight: 1000–2000 GSM (1–2mm thick)
Very thick, dense board that does not fold — it is cut, wrapped, and assembled into a permanent box shape. Used for luxury and high-end packaging such as phone boxes, perfume boxes, and jewellery boxes. The board is typically wrapped in printed paper, fabric, or specialty material. Significantly more expensive than folding carton but creates a premium unboxing experience.
Coatings & Laminations
A coating or lamination is applied over the printed surface to protect the artwork and enhance the look and feel. Every coating changes how the box looks, feels, and holds up to handling.
Matte Lamination
Soft, velvety, non-reflective
A thin plastic film applied to the surface for a smooth, non-reflective finish. Gives a soft, sophisticated look and feel. Provides excellent protection against scratches, moisture, and scuffing. The most popular finish for premium packaging.
Relative cost: $
Gloss Lamination
Shiny, vibrant, high-impact
A thin plastic film that creates a shiny, reflective surface. Makes colours appear more vivid and saturated. Provides strong protection against moisture and handling. A good choice when you want bold, eye-catching packaging.
Relative cost: $
Soft-Touch Lamination
Velvety, luxurious, tactile
A specialty lamination that creates a velvety, tactile surface that feels like suede. Customers notice the texture immediately when they pick up the box. Creates a strong premium perception. Popular for cosmetics, fragrances, and luxury products.
Relative cost: $$
AQ (Aqueous) Coating
Subtle sheen or matte
A clear, water-based coating applied across the entire printed surface. Dries quickly and is eco-friendly. Provides basic protection against fingerprints and light scuffing. Less dramatic than lamination but more affordable. Available in gloss or matte.
Relative cost: $ (most affordable)
UV Coating
High-gloss, hard finish
A clear liquid coating cured with ultraviolet light for a hard, durable finish. Can be applied as a flood coat (entire surface) or as spot UV (specific areas only). UV coating is thicker and more protective than AQ coating.
Relative cost: $$
Special Finishes
Special finishes add visual and tactile impact to your packaging. These are applied in addition to your base coating and can make specific elements of your design stand out.
Spot UV
High visual contrast, premium feel
A glossy UV coating applied to specific areas of the design — typically logos, text, or graphics — while the rest of the surface remains matte. Creates a striking contrast between shiny and matte areas. Often combined with matte lamination for maximum effect.
Foil Stamping
Luxury, elegance, shelf impact
Metallic foil is pressed onto the surface using a heated die. Available in gold, silver, copper, rose gold, holographic, and other colours. Adds a luxurious metallic accent to logos, text, or borders. Can be combined with embossing for a raised metallic effect.
Embossing
Tactile, dimensional, premium
A die presses the material from behind to create a raised area on the surface. Adds a three-dimensional, tactile element that customers can feel. Often used for logos, text, or decorative patterns. Can be done with or without ink (blind embossing).
Debossing
Subtle, refined, understated luxury
The opposite of embossing — a die presses into the surface to create an indented area. Creates a subtle, understated effect that feels refined and high-end. Commonly used for logos and brand names on minimalist packaging designs.
Die-Cut Window
Product visibility, customer confidence
A section of the carton is cut away and optionally covered with a clear film to let customers see the product inside. Common in food packaging, cosmetics, and toys. Builds customer confidence by showing the actual product. Window shapes can be custom — circles, squares, or brand-specific shapes.
Perforation
Convenience, easy opening, functionality
A series of small cuts in the material that allow easy tearing along a specific line. Used for tear strips, easy-open features, hang tabs, or sections that separate. Adds functionality to the packaging without additional components.