Kraft Back vs. Grey Back Duplex Board: What is the Difference?
Home / Blog

Kraft Back vs. Grey Back Duplex Board: What is the Difference?

Understanding the Basics of Duplex Board

Among the most utilized types in the packaging industry, duplex boards are highly versatile and cost-effective. It has two layers of paper designed to be structured and smooth for high-quality prints. The outer coated white layer usually optimizes graphics and branding purposes, whereas the inner layer might have varied colors and material compositions; the most popular color for graying or Kraft brown.

Duplex boards are made available in quite a few types that are used for packaging. Yet, among them the two most commonly used are Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Board. Though both are workable in a vast majority of industries their dissimilarities relating to the composition, strength, appearance, and sustainability that distinguish these two types make them suitable for other kinds of packaging requirements.
 

What is the Kraft Back Duplex Board?

Kraft Back Duplex Board is also termed by names like "Kraft-lined" or "Kraft Back," which is a duplex board whose back side is the brown or light-brown side like Kraft paper. The paperboard is often created by laminating a recycled core of the paper between a top surface, which may be coated for printing, and a natural Kraft backing.


 

Characteristics of Kraft Back Duplex Board:

• Natural Appearance: The brownish colored, Kraft Back Duplex Board has a natural view at the back. This, therefore, gives it an ecological look and a feel that is naturally attractive to sensitive brands with its sustainability.
Strength and Durability: The Kraft layer provides its strength as part of the enhancement of durability. It is usually utilized for heavy-duty applications.

• Recyclability: The Kraft paper is highly recyclable; therefore, the kind of board usually translates to becoming much more environmentally-friendly.
 

What is the Grey Back Duplex Board?

Grey Back Duplex Board, or "Grey Board," is a duplex board whose reverse side is colored in a grey tone. Generally manufactured from recycled paper pulp, grey back duplex board is widely utilized in numerous industries, largely in packaging applications, due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility.


 

Characteristics of Grey Back Duplex Board:

• Cost-Effective: Gray Back Duplex Board is typically more inexpensive than Kraft Back, so they often like to use this to help create low-cost packaging.

• Smooth Surface: The top side is typically coated to make it printable. Because print design and branding is so important, the board will do a fine job in this regard.

• Grey Reverse Side: The gray back isn't as aesthetically pleasing as Kraft Back, but is acceptable in areas on the packaging that aren't going to be printed and won't be visible to the customer.
 

Key Differences Between Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Board

Applications and Uses of Kraft Back Duplex Board

Kraft Back Duplex Board may be used in almost any industry where packaging is needed to be strong and more durable or where use of sustainable material is a must. Examples include:

Premium Packaging: The natural brown backside of this material makes it perfect for eco-friendly or premium brands, especially food, cosmetics, or handcrafted items.

Heavy-Duty Products: The material is very strong so that it may also be ideal for products that require more protection during shipment. That would include electronics and industrial equipment.

Organic and Natural Product Packaging: Brands that deal in organic, green, or environmentally friendly products like the looks of Kraft Back and for being environment-friendly.
 

Applications and Uses of Grey Back Duplex Board

Grey Back Duplex Board is a product that is sold at a value-for-money proposition, and it has a whole host of applications in various kinds of industries:

Retail Packaging: In the retail business, it is used to pack clothes, shoes, or small household items.

Food Packaging: Grey Back is applied more as an outer packaging for foodstuffs, such as cereal box packaging or a snack pack.

General Consumer Goods: It is mainly picked up in consumer products including toys, stationery, or other low-quality electronics because of its cost-effectiveness and durability.
 

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Board will largely depend on intended application and budgetary constraints. However, if sustainability and brand perception are critical, Kraft Back Duplex Board is likely to be the better option because it has a natural appearance and eco-friendly connotations. If cost is the major issue and the packaging does not need to look premium, Grey Back Duplex Board provides an excellent value-for-money alternative.


 

Making the Right Choice for Your Packaging Needs

Select between Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Board based on one of the following criteria:

Budget: If budget is your concern, Grey Back Duplex Board is your more affordable choice.

Brand Image: If the brand message speaks of sustainability or high-end quality, Kraft Back Duplex Board makes a much more organic natural look-and-feel, more attractive to the more environmentally conscious or expectations of other high-class brands.

Product Type: Weight and nature of product must also be kept in mind. Heavy products require the strength and toughness of Kraft Back, while light products can be packaged in Grey Back.
 

Printability and Compatibility with Different Printing Techniques

While both Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Boards offer a good printing surface, there are differences:

Kraft Back: The brown side will most likely limit printing ability to the back, while the white face side of the front is very print-friendly in techniques such as offset or digital print. However, in case sustainability and eco friendliness are to be taken as key USPs, lesser printing can be preferred while letting the natural Kraft show up.

Grey Back: The top side is smooth coated and provides the Board with high print quality featuring vivid colors. This makes the Material suitable for packaging use where branding and aesthetic look are a must.
 

Conclusion

Edicon Paper Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Boards should be selected according to the needs of your packaging and preferences in your brand. For example, the Kraft Back Duplex Board excels at strong strength and has a natural brown finish. It would be ideal for brands that require a product to be both tough and environmentally friendly. Grey Back Duplex Board is an economical option made from recycled material, making it perfect for cost-effective applications without compromising on quality.

Edicon Paper offers a range of premium-quality duplex boards to meet a variety of packaging needs. Whether you want the ruggedness of Kraft Back or the price and environmental advantage of Grey Back, with our product, you're guaranteed reliable performance.
 

FAQs

1. Is Kraft Back Duplex Board more sustainable than Grey Back?

Yes, Kraft Back is often considered more sustainable due to its natural, biodegradable materials.
 

2. Which is more cost-effective, Kraft Back or Grey Back? 

Grey Back Duplex Board is generally more affordable than Kraft Back, making it a preferred choice for cost-sensitive applications.
 

3. Can Grey Back Duplex Board be used for food packaging? 

Grey Back is not typically used for direct food contact packaging, whereas Kraft Back may be more suitable for such uses due to its eco-friendly properties.
 

4. Is Kraft Back Duplex Board stronger than Grey Back? 

Yes, Kraft Back is generally stronger and more durable due to the Kraft paper layer.
 

5. Can both Kraft Back and Grey Back Duplex Boards be recycled? 

Yes, both types are recyclable, though Kraft Back is often seen as more eco-friendly due to its natural materials.