Packaging procurement involves a specialized vocabulary that suppliers use fluently but that can be opaque to buyers, particularly those sourcing custom packaging for the first time. Misunderstanding terminology leads to misspecified orders, incorrect quotes, and products that do not perform as intended.
This glossary defines 50 of the most important terms in packaging procurement, organized by category for practical reference.
Material Terms
BoPET
Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate. A polyester film manufactured by stretching PET resin in two perpendicular directions, aligning polymer chains and enhancing strength, clarity, and barrier properties.
The base material for Mylar bags. BoPET films have outstanding dimensional stability, low permeability to gases and moisture, and excellent printability.
Chipboard / Greyboard
Dense, compressed board manufactured from recycled paper and cardboard fiber, used as the structural substrate in rigid box construction.
Typically specified in grams per square meter (GSM) or millimeter thickness. Standard chipboard for packaging ranges from 1,200 GSM (approximately 1.5mm) to 2,400 GSM (approximately 4mm).
Corrugated Medium
The fluted (wave-formed) layer sandwiched between flat linerboards in corrugated cardboard.
The flute geometry, classified as A, B, C, E, or F flute by height, provides structural rigidity and cushioning through arch mechanics. C-flute is the most common for standard shipping boxes.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter)
Standard measurement of paper and board weight/thickness. Higher GSM = heavier, thicker, more substantial material.
Standard copy paper is approximately 80 GSM; coated art paper used in rigid box wraps is typically 128–157 GSM; chipboard substrate for rigid boxes is 1,200–2,400 GSM.
Kraft Paper
Paper manufactured from wood pulp using the kraft pulping process, producing strong, unbleached (brown) paper with good folding endurance and tear resistance.
The unbleached appearance is the source of the ‘natural’ aesthetic associated with kraft packaging.
Laminate / Lamination
A layer of film applied to a substrate surface through heat and pressure to provide protection, barrier properties, or aesthetic effects.
Common laminates: gloss film (clarity and protection), matte film (soft appearance), soft-touch (tactile velvet texture), aluminum foil (barrier laminate for Mylar bags).
Linerboard
The flat outer layers of corrugated cardboard (the layers between which the corrugated medium sits).
Typically kraft paper, virgin kraft produces the strongest linerboard; recycled content linerboard is more sustainable but may be lower strength.
Mil
A unit of measurement equal to 1/1000th of an inch (0.0254mm), used to specify the thickness of plastic films and foils.
Mylar bag constructions typically specify total film thickness in mil: 3.5 mil, 5 mil, 7 mil. Higher mil = thicker, more puncture-resistant, more premium feel.
EVOH
Ethylene vinyl alcohol. A plastic polymer with exceptional oxygen barrier properties, used as an inner layer in multi-layer flexible packaging constructions where aluminum foil is not desired (transparent barrier films). EVOH barrier performance degrades in high humidity environments.
Barrier Performance Terms
OTR (Oxygen Transmission Rate)
The rate at which oxygen passes through a packaging material, measured in cc/m²/day at standard conditions.
Lower OTR = better oxygen barrier = longer shelf life for oxygen-sensitive products. Foil-laminate Mylar bags achieve OTR below 0.1 cc/m²/day; standard kraft pouches may be 50–200+ cc/m²/day.
MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate)
The rate at which water vapor passes through a packaging material, measured in g/m²/day. Critical for moisture-sensitive products including dried foods, supplements, and hygroscopic powders. Also called WVTR (water vapor transmission rate).
Hermetic Seal
A seal that is completely airtight, preventing any gas or moisture exchange between the package interior and exterior.
Achieved through heat sealing on Mylar and flexible packaging. Critical for products requiring defined shelf life performance.
Print and Finish Terms
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black). The four-color printing process that reproduces the full color spectrum through halftone dot patterns of four base inks. Standard for most commercial packaging print.
Colors are specified as percentages of each channel (e.g., 100C/0M/0Y/0K = pure cyan).
Pantone (PMS)
Pantone Matching System. A proprietary standardized color system that specifies colors as pre-mixed ink formulations, enabling precise, consistent color reproduction across print runs and substrates.
Brand colors specified as Pantone numbers (e.g., PMS 286 C) will match regardless of the printer used.
Foil Stamping
A print finishing technique in which metallic or pigmented foil is applied to a substrate surface through heat and pressure via a custom die.
Creates metallic accents (gold, silver, holographic) on packaging that cannot be replicated by conventional ink printing.
Embossing / Debossing
Embossing creates a raised dimensional impression on a substrate surface; debossing creates a recessed impression.
Both are achieved through matched male/female dies pressed against the substrate. Common in rigid box wraps for logo and brand elements.
Soft-Touch Laminate
A matte film laminate that creates a distinctive velvety tactile surface on packaging. Associated with luxury and premium product categories.
More expensive than standard matte or gloss laminates but delivers a materially different hand-feel that communicates quality.
Flexographic Printing
A printing process using flexible photopolymer plates carrying raised image areas, which transfer ink to the substrate as it passes through the press.
The standard print method for corrugated boxes and flexible packaging at commercial volumes. Produces lower line-screen quality than offset but is cost-effective at scale.
Digital Printing
Printing directly from digital files without physical plates, using inkjet or electrophotographic technology. Enables short run lengths at acceptable unit cost, variable data printing, and fast turnaround.
The enabler of low-MOQ custom packaging. Print quality has converged substantially with offset for most packaging applications.
Construction and Format Terms
Die-Cut
A production process in which a custom steel-rule die cuts packaging components to specific shapes from flat material. Die-cutting is used to create custom box shapes, window cutouts, handle cutouts, and non-rectangular packaging forms.
Gusset
An expansion panel at the bottom or sides of a pouch or bag that allows it to expand when filled and stand upright. Bottom-gusset pouches create a flat base for stand-up display. Side-gusset pouches expand laterally for higher volume capacity.
Stand-Up Pouch (SUP)
A flexible pouch format with a bottom gusset that allows the filled pouch to stand upright on retail shelves. The dominant format for supplement, food, cannabis, and coffee pouches in U.S. retail. Available with zipper reclosure, tear notch, and window options.
Bleed
The extension of artwork beyond the intended cut line, ensuring that after cutting, no unprinted white edges appear at package margins. Standard bleed is 3mm (approximately 1/8 inch) on all sides.
Score
A pressed crease line on paperboard or corrugated material that creates a defined fold line. Scoring is applied before folding to ensure clean, accurate folds without cracking the substrate surface.
Commercial and Supply Chain Terms
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The minimum number of units a supplier will produce in a single order run. MOQs reflect fixed production setup costs amortized across the run.
Lower MOQs typically mean higher per-unit costs; higher volume orders enable lower per-unit pricing.
Lead Time
The time from order placement (or artwork approval) to delivery of finished goods. Custom packaging lead times vary by format and volume: corrugated 2–3 weeks, Mylar bags 3–6 weeks, rigid boxes 4–8 weeks.
Always confirm lead time against your required in-hands date before approving production.
Dieline
A technical template showing the flat layout of a packaging component, including cut lines, fold lines, and bleed areas. Provided by the supplier to the buyer’s designer as the artwork canvas. Working within the approved dieline is required to ensure the finished artwork fits the production tooling.
ISTA Testing
International Safe Transit Association testing protocols that validate packaging performance against simulated transit hazards (vibration, shock, compression, temperature cycling). ISTA 2A and ISTA 3A are the most common standards referenced in e-commerce packaging specifications.
SDS / TDS
Safety Data Sheet / Technical Data Sheet. Documentation provided by material suppliers detailing chemical composition, safety information, and performance characteristics of packaging materials. Relevant for compliance verification and food safety documentation.
This glossary covers the most common terms encountered in packaging procurement. As your packaging knowledge deepens, additional technical terms, particularly in barrier science, print quality measurement, and structural testing, will become relevant.
Alpha Global Packaging’s team is available to clarify specifications and guide material selection across Rigid, Kraft, Cardboard, and Mylar formats.