Brown vs. White Shipping Boxes: Which is Better?
As an e-commerce retailer, you might wonder what's the difference between brown and white shipping boxes? Is there a difference at all?
The answer to the question of which is better, brown or white shipping boxes, may be more complex than you think.
Brown Shipping Boxes
Brown shipping boxes, also known as kraft shipping boxes, are made of plain brown corrugated cardboard. They provide an environmentally friendly option for sustainable businesses and unique benefits, like hiding scuffs acquired during transit. However, their main drawbacks are their perceived “cheapness” and their inability to hold true ink colors.
Pros of Brown Shipping Boxes
- Damage and wear during transit are less obvious
- More affordable than white shipping boxes
- Usually made of 60%-100% recycled materials
- Brown boxes are desirable for their perceived all-natural and eco-friendly feeling in some audiences
Cons of Brown Shipping Boxes
- Some audiences see brown boxes as cheap
- Brown boxes will not deliver the same bright, true ink color as white boxes
- Brown boxes limit the colors you can use when printing
White Shipping Boxes
White paper usually indicates that the paper is virgin—aka not recycled. Virgin paper is great for printing, but it’s not environmentally friendly. However, many audiences perceive white boxes as clean, hygienic, or luxurious, which can encourage customers to become repeat buyers.
If you want colored shipping boxes, including black shipping boxes, then you’ll need to start with a white shipping box.
Pros of White Shipping Boxes
- Great for clean, crisp printing for improved branding and high-contrast designs
- White boxes are desirable for their perceived luxury and hygienic feeling in some audiences
- Any colored boxes will likely be white shipping boxes
Cons of White Shipping Boxes
- Less environmentally friendly option
- More expensive than brown shipping boxes
- Some audiences see white boxes as unnatural, bleached, and environmentally harmful
- White boxes often arrive looking scuffed and beat up when not protected with a polyethylene bag or other cover during delivery
Which is Better: Brown or White Shipping Boxes?
The answer to which is better, brown or white shipping boxes, truly depends on your audience and your business model.
If your audience cares about the environment more than luxury or your boxes are traveling far, brown shipping boxes are the best container.
If you’re willing to protect your white boxes in transit and your audience cares about a luxury experience, then white shipping boxes could be better for your business.
And, if you’re looking to make a statement, you might even want to consider using black mailer boxes or black shipping boxes, which can feel luxurious without getting dirty during transit.
Shop all that and more at UCanPack.com!
Sources:
https://customboxesnow.com/blog/white-shipping-boxes-pros-and-cons/