What is Greyboard
Greyboard, also known as grey board or chipboard, is a type of thick, sturdy paperboard made from 100% recycled materials, typically wastepaper, cardboard, and other packaging materials. It is characterized by its grey colour due to the paper fibres used in its production. The board is the same grey colour through the board and on both sides. Shades can differ from batch to batch, as a result of the 100% recycled materials that are used to create the product. Greyboard is renowned for its strength, durability, and rigidity, making it an ideal material for various applications.
Greyboard, the right choice for the environment.
Did you know that greyboard, paper and cardboard packaging is the most recycled material in the EU, with an 83% recycling rate? More than ever, companies and consumers alike are favouring greyboard materials and joining the movement towards a circular bioeconomy.
By opting for renewable greyboard from sustainably managed forests, you too can make the shift away from plastics and help reduce CO2 emissions. One of the most sustainable packaging materials available today, greyboard is a low carbon, non-fossil based and renewable alternative to plastic with one of the highest recycling rates. What’s more, greyboard packaging appeals greatly to today’s eco-conscious consumers.
More and more companies are opting for paperboard packaging to protect their products while taking advantage of the host of benefits it brings to their brands and to the environment.
Uses of Greyboard
Packaging Industry:
Greyboard is widely used in packaging for its protective qualities, especially for items like cosmetics, electronics, and luxury goods. It provides a strong base for boxes, displays, and other packaging materials.
Crafts and Model Making:
Due to its stiffness, greyboard is popular in craft projects, such as backing for paintings and prints, box making, and model building.
Stationery and Bookbinding:
It is used in book covers, folders, calendars, and as a base for writing pads.
Display Boards:
Greyboard is used to create display boards for retail stores and can be processed into cartons and crates.
What thickness of greyboard do I need?
The thickness of greyboard significantly impacts its usability, as it determines the material’s strength, rigidity, and suitability for specific applications. Here’s how thickness influences its use:
Structural Integrity
Thicker greyboard provides greater strength and rigidity, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications like packaging for fragile or heavy items, bookbinding for large hardcover books, and creating durable boxes.
Protective Qualities
Thicker boards (e.g., 2–4 mm) offer better protection against wear, tear, and impact, which is essential for high-end packaging or archival materials.
Versatility in Crafting
Thin greyboard (e.g., 1–2 mm) is easier to cut and shape, making it suitable for lightweight crafts, model-making, and backing for smaller prints or notebooks.
Aesthetic and Design Features
Thicker boards are better suited for embossing, debossing, or other premium design elements without compromising strength. This makes them popular in luxury packaging and bookbinding.
Weight Considerations
While thicker boards are stronger, they are also heavier, which may increase shipping costs or limit their use in lightweight projects.
In summary, the choice of greyboard thickness depends on the intended application: thinner boards for lightweight projects and thicker boards for durability and structural needs.
Greyboard thickness – Debunking guide
Microns and millimeters are both units used to measure the thickness of greyboard products, with microns being a much smaller unit of measurement.
1 millimeter (mm) is equal to 1000 microns (μm). This means that:
500 microns = 0.5 mm
1000 microns = 1 mm
1500 microns = 1.5 mm
In the context of greyboard products:
A 750 micron greyboard sheet is 0.75 mm thick.
A 1500 micron greyboard is 1.5 mm thick.
A 2000 micron greyboard is 2.0 mm thick.