Products
Serving Portland, Oregon and the metro area
Referral service. Quotes come from partner suppliers.
Some partner suppliers may offer reconditioned boxes. Here is what reconditioning generally involves and what to ask before you order.
A reconditioned box is a used box that has been cleaned up or repaired so it can serve again. Reusing a box avoids making a new one, and a box that is a little worn may still have useful life left in it.
Portland Boxes does not recondition boxes. We are a referral service, and some partner suppliers may offer them; availability varies. This page is a general guide, and methods differ from one supplier to another. If you are interested, mention reconditioned boxes in your request and ask what is available.
Not every box goes through every step. These are the kinds of work the term usually covers across the industry.
Boxes are usually looked over first to separate those worth the effort from those better off recycled. Moisture damage and crushed walls are common reasons to reject a box.
Old shipping labels, barcodes and loose tape are generally removed or covered, so a box does not carry old routing information.
Surface dust and dirt can be wiped away. Cardboard is absorbent, so stains and odors do not always come out.
Small tears can be taped, and corners or flaps may be reinforced. This suits limited damage, not boxes with weakened walls.
Boxes are flattened or set up again. Some suppliers may also cut boxes down to a shorter height, which involves new scores and flaps.
Boxes are usually grouped by size and condition before sale. Terms used to describe condition differ, so ask what a supplier means by them.
What you might see on a used box, what reconditioning can sometimes do about it, and what to ask.
Old labels, barcodes and tape left over from earlier shipments.
Labels removed or covered, with a surface that takes new tape and labels.
Ask whether old barcodes are removed or covered, as a visible barcode can confuse carrier scanners.
A flap torn along the fold, so the box does not close properly.
A taped or reinforced flap that closes, though a repair may be visible.
Ask whether bottom flaps have been repaired, since these carry the load when a box is lifted.
Corners that have lost their stiffness through crushing or dampness.
Reinforced corners, in some cases. Heavily softened boxes may just be recycled.
Ask how the boxes will stack, because corners carry most of the load in a stack.
Scores that have softened through repeated use, so a box sits out of square.
A box that folds and squares up more cleanly, where this is possible.
Ask for a sample if squareness matters, for example on packing machinery.
Holes in the wall from forklifts, sharp objects or impacts.
Small holes may be patched, but larger damage usually means the box is retired.
Ask whether patched boxes are in the lot, and avoid them for heavy or fragile goods.
When a partner supplier follows up, these questions will help you find out whether its boxes suit your use.
Every box that goes around again is one less box to make. Reusing a box avoids making a new one, which is why reuse is usually considered ahead of recycling for boxes that are still sound.
It has limits, though. Cardboard wears with handling, and a repair does not make a box new. If a box would put your product at risk, recycling it is the better call. Corrugated cardboard is widely recycled, so a retired box can still go on to be useful.
Test with your product
Storage is less demanding than shipping
Corners carry the load
Retire worn boxes
There is no single standard for these terms. Use these rough descriptions as a starting point, and ask each supplier what its terms mean.
Generally cleaned up with labels removed or covered, and little or no structural repair. Often the closest to a plain used box.
Has had minor work, such as taped flaps or reinforced corners. Often considered for internal shipments, storage and moves.
Cut down from a larger box, with new scores and flaps. Can be useful when an exact standard size is hard to find.
A general comparison to help you decide what to ask for. If you are unsure, request quotes on more than one option.
| Consider | Reconditioned | Used | New |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | A used box with some work done | A used box as it comes | Made to order or from stock |
| Appearance | Varies, repairs may show | Varies, old print may show | Clean and consistent |
| Strength | Ask for the rated capacity | Ask for the rated capacity | Usually stated by the maker |
| Sizes | Depends on what is available | Depends on what is available | Wide choice, custom possible |
| Reuse | Avoids making a new box | Avoids making a new box | Can be recycled after use |
| Pricing | By quote | By quote | By quote |
General answers. A partner supplier can tell you about its specific boxes.
It is a used box that has been cleaned up or repaired so it can be used again. What is done varies by supplier, so ask what a specific box has had done.
No. We are a referral service. Some partner suppliers may offer reconditioned boxes, and availability varies.
Do not assume so. Any stamp on a box applies to it as made. Ask the supplier for the rated capacity, and test a sample with your product.
Some suppliers may be able to do this. Ask a partner supplier; availability varies. Note that cutting can change how a box performs.
Timing depends on the partner supplier and the job. Include your date in your request and the supplier can tell you what is possible.
Tell us the sizes, quantity and use you have in mind. We will pass your request to partner suppliers. Availability varies.