Should I choose white board or kraft?

Choose SBS for clean colour

Say your carton has food photos, pale colours and small type. SBS is often the easier start. Its white surface lets colour show without fighting a brown base. But SBS does not tell you everything. Weight, coating, structure and finish still matter. Ask for a sample close to the carton you plan to make.

• You want a bright white base
• The artwork uses many colours
• Small details matter
• You want a clean folding carton

Choose kraft when the paper should show

Picture a black mark on warm brown board. The fibre is part of the design. Dark inks and bold shapes work well. Light colours may need white ink underneath, adding cost and a print step. Brown board is not proof of sustainability. Check the fibre, coating, barrier and recovery information before making a claim.

Test the actual shape and weight

A small tuck box and large food carrier need different board. Build the real dieline and add the product. Check corners, locks, glue areas and panels. Does it bow or tear? More thickness may help, but it will not fix a poor structure. Adjust the shape before simply buying heavier board.

Tell the board what it will face

Will the carton meet grease, moisture, heat or refrigeration? Will food touch it? A coating or barrier changes performance, appearance and recovery options. Test the finished carton, not a plain swatch. If one flavour is oily and another dry, do not assume one test covers both.

What SBS does well

SBS suits photos, pale colours, small reversed type and wide colour ranges. Coated and uncoated surfaces print differently. Do not approve colour from a laptop. Ask for a physical proof or close production sample. Fold it and inspect the edges. A flat sheet does not show the whole package.

Let kraft look like kraft

Kraft often looks best with fewer inks, open space and strong shapes. Let the brown surface work. If a brand colour must stay bright, ask about white ink, cost and registration limits. Do not print fake paper texture over real kraft. The board already has character.

Use the same test for both

Make SBS and kraft samples with the same dieline, similar thickness and artwork scale. Fill both. View them under customer lighting. Check print contrast, scuffs, folds and cut edges. A fair test stops colour preference from hiding a performance difference.

Save more than the words “SBS” or “kraft”

Record the supplier, grade, thickness, coating, print process and barrier. Keep the approved carton with the artwork. Similar board names can behave differently. If a substitute appears, compare and test it. “Equivalent” is a claim to check, not a reason to skip the test.