Packaging materials explained, for brands that buy.

Choosing a packaging material is the first decision in any custom packaging project, and it drives almost everything that follows: the minimum order quantity, the unit price, the printing methods available and how the finished piece feels in a customer's hands. This page explains the materials we source most often for product brands, in plain language, so you can arrive at a supplier conversation already knowing what to ask for.

Kraft paper is the natural starting point for small brands. It is affordable, prints beautifully in single-colour or foil, and its warm, unbleached surface reads as honest and handmade — ideal for bakeries, florists and gift shops. Corrugated board, with its fluted inner layer, is the structural workhorse: it protects products in transit and can be printed with your logo from the very first order. Rigid board, built up in 1.5–3 mm thicknesses, is what gives luxury gift boxes their weight and crisp corners, and it pairs well with foil stamping, embossing and magnetic closures.

Beyond paper, glass suits candles, diffusers, syrups and beverages where the product itself should be visible; coated art papers carry full-colour photography for cards and sleeves; and fabric wraps such as furoshiki bring a reusable, gift-like quality to premium sets. Finishing matters as much as the base material — foil stamping, spot UV, soft-touch lamination and custom ribbon each add a different signal, and our job as a sourcing desk is to match the combination to your quantity and budget. Below is a quick reference to the materials we handle most often; every project is different, so treat the figures as a starting point and ask us for a complete quote.