Cardboard boxes have served varied purposes throughout the years. Some are basic and some are imaginary. Some are recreational and some are business. They started out as a basic design. These days they have evolved significantly. They have multiple purposes.

Well Known Uses

They’re usually used to move items. People use them for packing and moving to different towns and homes. Sometimes they’re used for shipping products from warehouses to businesses. This keeps our local and national economy alive. They’re shaped into a rectangle or square, so they’re easy to load into a cargo truck and stack. The products are then successfully delivered to their destination. They’re even used by families for shipping gifts to one another. Christmas is one of the most common times of year for this. Without them, there’d be nothing to wrap!

Lesser Known Uses

There’s a running joke that the child likes the box more than the toy itself. It’s an accurate joke for a reason. Kids love to make playhouses and draw windows, chairs, or tables on the inside. They’ll draw flowers and grass on the outside to look like a yard. Other children imagine them as rockets or time machines. The imagination is endless in children. These containers have always been a part of that.

Types

Companies make different types of boxes for different uses. Some are shiny and colorful. Some are big, small, short, or tall. Many companies will print their logo on the box to make sure the receiver knows where it comes from. There are even some companies that put extra graphic designs on their boxes for added professionalism and flare. You can find some that are warmly decorated for Christmas or other holidays. There are also dividers in some of them. This is a great and simple way to keep glass or fragile items from touching each other and breaking.

Other Many Uses

They’re also used in mechanic shops across the country. Most of the time they’re flattened out. The mechanic can lay on them for any reason. They use them for changing oil most of the time. They’re used for any purpose that requires them to get underneath a car. Many times, they’re used for storing our unwanted objects. Sometimes people can’t afford a dresser, or maybe they just don’t have room for one. They can be used for storing clothes. Many people also use these boxes to store their sports equipment, tools, or unwanted storage in their garage. It’s a cheaper alternative to buying a ton of plastic tubs. They wear out after a while, but cardboard does last for a while.

History of the Boxes

What are cardboard boxes made of and where did they come from? Cardboard is not a material itself. It’s made of cardstock, paperboard and regular paper. They can also contain corrugated cardboard on the inside. This serves to reinforce the box to help it to carry more weight. They’ve been around for almost two hundred years! They’re convenient. More people are starting to recycle, so I don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.