Cardboard is a generic term for heavy paper-based products that can range from a thick paper known as paperboard to corrugated fiberboard, which is made of multiple plies of material. The raw material of cardboard is cellulose, which is obtained from wood pulp. The process of making cardboard involves the following steps:

1. Pulping: The wood chips are reduced to cellulose fibers through a pulping process. These fibers are mixed with water and turned into a slurry.

2. Forming: The slurry is then formed into flat sheets of paper, which are then cut and trimmed to the desired size.

3. Lamination: The flat sheets of paper are then laminated together with an adhesive to create a thicker, more rigid material.

4. Corrugation: For corrugated cardboard, the laminated sheets are then fed through a machine that corrugates the middle layer, creating a wavy pattern that provides additional strength and cushioning.

The composition of corrugated cardboard consists of a paper pulp material, which is predominantly made from timber. However, it can also be created using recycled woodchips and shavings leftover from lumber mill waste. The board itself is made from a combination of two sheets of paper called liners that are glued together with an adhesive to a corrugated inner medium, otherwise called a fluting.

Cardboard is considered to be an environmentally friendly packaging material since it is made from renewable and responsibly managed forests or recycled paper. Additionally, cardboard is highly recyclable, with most cardboard boxes and packaging made from recycled paper, reducing the demand for virgin materials and decreasing landfill waste.