Cigarette packing materials are essential for protecting cigarettes,extending their shelf life,and conveying brand messages.Here are some common types:
Paper-based Materials
• Cardboard/Paperboard：This is the most widely used material for the outer packaging of cigarette boxes.It is cost-effective,lightweight,and easily customizable through printing and embossing,allowing for effective branding and information display.However,it has limited resistance to moisture and other environmental factors,which may restrict its use in certain regions or situations where higher durability is required.
• Cigarette Paper：It is a special kind of paper used for wrapping the tobacco in cigarettes.The production technology of cigarette paper is unique and complex,with only a few countries in the world capable of producing it.It has specific properties such as low ash content,good combustion characteristics,and the ability to control the burning rate of the cigarette.
• Tipping Paper：This is the paper used as the outer packaging of filter cigarette tip sticks.It is in direct contact with the smoker's lips,so the printing ink and coating must be non-toxic and meet food hygiene standards.It also needs to have a certain degree of water resistance and wet strength.Tipping paper can be divided into printing tipping paper and coating tipping paper.Printing tipping paper,produced through the gravure printing process,has a beautiful surface and good leveling,making it suitable for medium and high-end cigarettes.Coating tipping paper,processed by the coating method,has simpler production but inferior surface pattern quality and leveling properties compared to printing tipping paper,and is often used for low-grade cigarettes.
Foil-based Materials
• Aluminum Foil Paper：It plays a crucial role in cigarette packaging by providing excellent barrier properties against moisture,light,and air.This helps to preserve the freshness and flavor of the cigarettes.Aluminum foil paper also adds a premium touch to the packaging,enhancing its appearance and appeal.It is commonly used as an inner liner in cigarette packs and has good adaptability to packaging machinery,maintaining high production efficiency even on high-speed machines.
• Metallized Paper：This material combines the benefits of paper and foil by applying a thin layer of metal coating to the paper surface.It offers enhanced barrier properties,ensuring minimal moisture transfer and extending the shelf life of cigarettes.Metallized paper is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional foil liners as it reduces the amount of aluminum used in packaging while still providing effective protection.
Film-based Materials
• BOPP Film：Cigarette packaging film,often made of BOPP(Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)film,is a high-grade material used for wrapping cigarette packs.Compared to ordinary packaging films,it has lower heat sealing temperature,better barrier performance,high transparency,and uniform thickness.The development trend of BOPP film for cigarette packaging is towards being rigid and thin,with high gloss,high stiffness,high antistatic level,wide heat sealing temperature range,low haze,low friction coefficient,and consistent shrinkage in both horizontal and vertical directions.Different types of BOPP films are used for various packaging purposes,such as heat-shrinkable film for high-end cigarette packaging,tolerant film suitable for different types of packaging machines,and high-speed film specifically designed for high-speed packaging machines.
• Cellulose-based Films：These films,made from wood pulp or other plant sources,are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional foil liners.They offer superior barrier properties against moisture and oxygen,helping to protect the cigarettes and maintain their quality.The use of cellulose-based films reduces the reliance on non-renewable materials and contributes to the overall sustainability of cigarette packaging.
Other Materials
• Inner Frame Paper：It is cut and shaped in the cigarette packer machine and embedded in the inner cigarette pack.It provides additional support and protection to the cigarettes,ensuring they remain intact during transportation and handling.
• Easy Tear Tape：This tape provides an easy unpacking solution for cigarette packs.It allows consumers to easily open the package without causing damage to the cigarettes or the packaging itself.
• Tobacco Tax Stamp：In many countries,tobacco tax stamps are affixed to cigarette packs to indicate that the appropriate taxes have been paid.These stamps are usually made of adhesive paper and are designed to be tamper-evident,ensuring that the cigarettes are sold legally and the tax revenue is collected properly.
