When to pick Kraftliner
Pick kraftliner when the box crosses borders, holds food, stacks on a humid pallet, or carries heavy contents. Its long virgin fibers give it the burst and moisture resistance that survive warehouse conditions, export transit, and cold-chain humidity. Kraftliner is also the default for food-contact outer liners because its fiber stream is free of recycled ink and mineral-oil residues that regulators like BfR in Germany limit. If your buyer specifies burst strength above 500 kPa or ring crush above 200 N, you need kraftliner.
When to pick Testliner
Pick testliner when the box ships domestically, has a short working life, and cost is the driver. A Testliner 2 at 140 g/m² gives you most of the strength of a kraftliner at 15 to 25% lower price per tonne. For e-commerce direct-to-consumer shipping, retail-ready cases, and domestic distribution in dry markets, testliner is the pragmatic default. Recycled content is also a point in testliner's favor for sustainability-focused brands.
The decision in one paragraph
Default to testliner unless the end use demands more. If the box travels long distances, contacts food, or holds more than 20 kg in humid storage, step up to kraftliner, or use a hybrid build with a kraftliner outer ply and testliner inner ply. The hybrid is the most common corrugated stack in Europe because it balances performance and cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is testliner always cheaper than kraftliner?
Yes, typically 15 to 25% cheaper per tonne. The gap widens when virgin pulp prices rise and narrows during OCC shortages.
Can testliner carry food?
Only with a barrier layer or a specific food-contact grade. Recycled fiber can contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons that regulators like BfR in Germany limit.
Which is more sustainable?
Testliner has a lower carbon footprint per tonne because it skips the virgin pulping step. Kraftliner uses FSC or PEFC certified virgin fiber and is recyclable multiple times.
Can you mix them in one box?
Yes. Hybrid corrugated builds with kraftliner outer and testliner inner are standard in Europe. The outer ply handles abrasion and stacking; the inner ply contributes compression strength at lower cost.