THE INNER STRENGTH OF CARDBOARD
If you could fold a piece of paper in half 42 times, it would reach the moon*. It’s one of those classic ‘did you know?’ claims that blows minds and prompts people to get out their calculators and do the sums. But it’s true.
Throughout history, paper and cardboard have helped to provide new possibilities, and sustainably sourced cardboard is now helping us at Coca‑Cola provide new solutions to packaging challenges.
The recyclable paperboard packaging solution is known as KeelClip™**, which we’ve implemented across our product range of four, six and eight packs. It’s comprised of a top paperboard that cans clip into and a central cardboard ‘keel’ that stabilises and helps hold the pack together.
And you may ask, how is it possible that a thin piece of cleverly folded paperboard can be strong enough to carry six cans of soft drinks?
When it comes to KeelClip™ and other new paper-based packaging technologies, designers are, in a sense, applying the centuries-old wisdom of origami and kirigami to modern problems. Creations that take advantage of cutting and folding methods in paperboard packaging result in strong tools capable of being mass-produced at larger scale.
Keelclip™ has now been introduced in more than 20 countries in Europe, including across the island of Ireland, and supports our mission to continue optimising the packaging materials we use.
* https://boundlessbrilliance.org/brilliant-blog/foldingpapertothemoon
**KeelClip is a trademark of Graphic Packaging International, LLC
