Which companies make cardboard boxes?

Cardboard boxes are the most popular type of packaging material, and are commonly used for house moving, storage or shipping, and they are useful for both businesses as well as the public. There are many different types of cardboard box, and you can buy them in almost any size and shape. They are eco friendly, and are mostly made from recycled paper and are fully recyclable too. If you need some boxes in the near future, you might be wondering which companies manufacture cardboard boxes, or where you can buy some at an affordable price with high quality strength.

The packaging industry

-          The industry chain of supply is made up of several different layers and specialist companies. Some companies operate the whole supply chain, while others specialise in specific areas.

-          The process starts with paper and recycled paper, which comes mostly from paper mills which are located around Europe. There are not many paper mills in the UK, and almost all of the paper used to make boxes is sourced from Europe.

-          Next you have cardboard box manufacturers, which specialise in the actual manufacture of boxes. There are many of these located in the UK, and the reason that companies are able to make boxes in the UK cost effectively is because the majority of the production process is completed by machinery. These manufacturers rarely wholesale or sell boxes directly to businesses or the public, they tend to supply packaging distributors which are based around the country.

-          Finally you have box distributors. They have warehouses located around the UK, and they buy packaging in huge quantities from the manufacturers and supply businesses and the public. Some of these operate online while others are a little more old fashioned. From these distributors you can usually purchase any number of boxes in any number of sizes, and the more that you buy the cheaper the price per box becomes.

Which companies manufacture boxes?

-          The largest box manufacturer in the UK is DS Smith. They have several paper mills in Europe that they own, and they actually make the boxes in the UK. They have a website selling those boxes too, but the prices are not particularly competitive and they do not offer smaller quantities.  They are large suppliers to distributor companies.

-          Westbury packaging is another box manufacturer, based in Wiltshire. They are smaller than DS Smith but provide high quality boxes. You can buy their boxes from distributors.

-          R H Fibreboard is another box maker, providing specialist boxes for specialist companies such as shoemakers with shoe boxes for example.

-          Kingfisher is another box manufacturer based in Wellington, Somerset. They are one of the biggest in the country, and supply box distributors who sell to the public and businesses.

-          Most of these companies only manufacture the boxes, and you cannot buy directly from them. You need to buy from box distributors instead.

Finding the right box distributor

-          Although you cannot always purchase directly from the manufacturers, you can buy boxes from specialist distributors located around the country.

-          Many of these operate online, which makes the process easy for you. They will list the different types and sizes of box available, along with the discounted rates you can get for bulk purchase. You can easily make a decision about which boxes you require, and you can buy smaller quantities to test them as well.

-          It is important to find a distributor which specialises in the type of supply that you need. For example, there are distributors which specialise in packaging for people who are moving house, such as house moving boxes, and they supply the very best types of packaging for people moving in the UK. This enables you to buy the correct types of box and quantity of box for your house move.

-          If you are a business looking for large quantities of a very specific size of box so that you can send your products to customers, then you would be better going to a distributor which specialises in business to business boxes. They will offer lower prices for large quantities.

-          If you are a small business, then it might be better to go for the distributors offering smaller quantities of boxes, because this enables you to buy the small amount that you need to begin with, which won’t tie up too much of your cash in unwanted boxes.

-          To actually find the right distributor, a quick Google search is usually the best method. Don’t just look at the first option; make sure you compare prices and details from many different suppliers. After all, if the distributor doesn’t have a website in 2021, then they are probably not worth contacting.

-          Delivery lead times are another factor that you will have to consider. Sometimes the larger distributors won’t hold much stock, and will have huge lead times for you to wait until you get the boxes you need. Smaller distributors might hold more stock and have boxes ready to send to you with next day delivery, so they are often the best choice.

-          The quality of the boxes can vary quite dramatically from one supplier to another. You will only find this out via trial and error, so you may have to test a number of suppliers before you find the best one.

Conclusion

-          If you are a small business, or a member of the public looking for moving boxes, then it is best to buy boxes from a distributor which offers smaller quantities of boxes. Although the prices might be slightly higher, it means that your money won’t be wasted on buying lots of unwanted boxes in large quantities.

-          If you are a larger business, then buying from a distributor which specialises in large quantities is the best option because you will get lower prices for larger quantities. You have less flexibility this way, but if you are established and larger, then it shouldn’t matter.