Why is Cardboard so strong?

Summary

Episode Summary: "Why is Cardboard So Strong?"
Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
Release Date: April 2, 2025

Who Smarted? continues its tradition of blending humor with education in the episode titled "Why is Cardboard So Strong?" Hosted by Jenny and the Trusty Narrator, this episode takes listeners on an enlightening journey through the world of cardboard, uncovering its history, composition, and surprising modern applications. Designed to captivate young minds and delight parents and teachers alike, this episode exemplifies why Who Smarted? is a beloved resource for educational entertainment.

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1. Setting the Scene: Moving with Cardboard

The episode kicks off with Jenny and the Trusty Narrator preparing for a move, surrounded by various cardboard boxes. Jenny humorously categorizes her belongings, including a box labeled for her frog's clothing and accessories.

Jenny [00:04]: "Okay, this box is for kitchen stuff, and this box is for bathroom stuff. And this box here is for all my frog's clothing and accessories."

This playful setup introduces the central theme—cardboard—and its versatility in everyday life.

2. The Humble Beginnings of Cardboard

Transitioning from their moving woes, Jenny and the Trusty Narrator delve into the origins of cardboard. Jenny enlightens listeners about cardboard's long history, tracing its invention back to China in the 1500s.

Jenny [03:07]: "Cardboard in its simplest form was invented in China in the 1500s, and it was made out of pulp back then, just like it is today."

She clarifies the difference between types of pulp, emphasizing that paper pulp—crushed wood chips mixed with water, flattened and dried—is the foundation of cardboard.

Jenny [03:17]: "Paper pulp is basically crushed up wood chips mixed with water, which is then flattened and dried."

3. Evolution of Corrugated Cardboard

The discussion advances to the 1700s in France, where a thin type of cardboard was developed by a student to strengthen playing cards.

Jenny [04:11]: "Go fish. I guess he got sick of playing card games with those thin, loose paper cards."

This innovation led to the creation of corrugated cardboard, characterized by its ridges and grooves, which significantly enhance its strength and durability.

Jenny [04:56]: "Corrugated cardboard is extremely common nowadays, and I'm pretty sure all your smarty pants have seen it before."

The Trusty Narrator engages listeners with a quiz format, reinforcing learning through interaction.

Trusty Narrator [04:37]: "What do you think corrugated means? Is it A, something that's shaped into ridges and grooves, B, something that's fireproof, or C, something that can be folded? If you said A, you're right."

4. From Strength to Convenience: The Cardboard Box Revolution

Jenny highlights the pivotal moment in 1871 when Albert Jones patented single-sided corrugated cardboard designed for packaging fragile items like glass bottles and lanterns.

Jenny [07:35]: "The pre made cardboard box was invented by a Scottish fella named Robert Guyer. And the really great thing about it was that it could be folded flat, stored flat and shipped out flat."

This invention revolutionized shipping and storage, making cardboard boxes a staple in the industrial age. The Trusty Narrator humorously remarks on the timing of this innovation.

Trusty Narrator [09:09]: "Nice try Jenny, but sliced bread wasn't invented until 1928, which means cardboard boxes were the hottest thing since before sliced bread."

5. Cardboard in the Industrial Revolution

As the Industrial Revolution surged, the demand for efficient packaging solutions soared. Jenny explains how cardboard adapted to mass production needs, facilitating the transportation of a wide array of products beyond fragile items.

Jenny [09:20]: "Not just fragile glass, but food and just about anything else they could fit in the box."

This adaptability cemented cardboard’s place in global commerce and daily life.

6. Paperboard vs. Corrugated Cardboard

Differentiating between types of cardboard, Jenny introduces paperboard—a single-layered, smooth variant used for products like tissue and cereal boxes.

Jenny [10:19]: "Paperboard is a type of cardboard, but basically paperboard is one layer as opposed to two or more. And it's smooth, unlike corrugated cardboard."

An interesting historical tidbit reveals how Kellogg's pioneered the use of paperboard for cereal packaging in 1906, allowing for branding and advertising directly on the box.

Jenny [10:53]: "They could print their name right on the box, allowing them to package and advertise their product simultaneously."

7. Innovative Modern Uses of Cardboard

After a brief ad interruption, the episode explores contemporary and unconventional applications of cardboard that showcase its enduring versatility.

a. Cardboard Pallets

Jenny introduces cardboard pallets, marveling at their strength and sustainability.

Jenny [15:25]: "These days, there's companies making shipping pallets out of corrugated cardboard, and believe it or not, they can hold almost 10,000 pounds or 4,536 kilograms of weight."

She underscores the environmental benefits, noting that cardboard pallets use 80% less raw materials than traditional wooden pallets and emit significantly less CO₂ during production.

Jenny [16:01]: "Making pallets out of cardboard uses 80% less raw materials than wood emits way less CO2 emissions when it's being produced and can be 100% recycled."

b. Cardboard Beds at the Paris Olympics

In a surprising twist, Jenny reveals that cardboard beds were utilized at the 2024 Paris Olympics to promote sustainability.

Jenny [16:34]: "At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the beds the athletes slept on were actually made of corrugated cardboard."

These beds were not only 100% recycled after the games but also demonstrated cardboard's capability to support substantial weight, catering to athletes' diverse needs.

Jenny [17:15]: "And every one of those 16,000 cardboard beds were 100% recycled after the Olympics."

8. Conclusion: The Strength and Versatility of Cardboard

As Jenny and the Trusty Narrator complete their move, they reflect on the remarkable properties of cardboard, blending factual insights with their signature humor.

Jenny [18:37]: "Ribbit. Um, Trusty, did you accidentally pack my frog?"

Trusty Narrator [18:44]: "Whoops. I'll get him."

This lighthearted exchange reinforces the episode's theme, showcasing how something as simple as cardboard can be both strong and versatile, integral to everyday tasks and innovative solutions alike.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jenny [03:07]: "Cardboard in its simplest form was invented in China in the 1500s, and it was made out of pulp back then, just like it is today."

• Trusty Narrator [04:37]: "What do you think corrugated means? Is it A, something that's shaped into ridges and grooves, B, something that's fireproof, or C, something that can be folded? If you said A, you're right."

• Jenny [07:35]: "The pre made cardboard box was invented by a Scottish fella named Robert Guyer. And the really great thing about it was that it could be folded flat, stored flat and shipped out flat."

• Jenny [15:25]: "These days, there's companies making shipping pallets out of corrugated cardboard, and believe it or not, they can hold almost 10,000 pounds or 4,536 kilograms of weight."

• Jenny [16:34]: "At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the beds the athletes slept on were actually made of corrugated cardboard."

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Conclusion

The "Why is Cardboard So Strong?" episode of Who Smarted? masterfully combines storytelling, factual information, and humor to explore the multifaceted nature of cardboard. From its historical roots to its modern-day applications, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of why cardboard remains an essential material in various industries and everyday life. This episode not only educates but also entertains, embodying the essence of Who Smarted? as the go-to educational podcast for curious young minds and their families.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for Whosmarted.

[Jenny]

Okay, this box is for kitchen stuff, and this box is for bathroom stuff. And this box here is for all my frog's clothing and accessories.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry, did you say frog as in ribbit? Ribbit?

[Jenny]

Yep, that's right.

[Trusty Narrator]

And your frog has clothing and accessories?

[Jenny]

Oh, yeah. And as you can see, it's the biggest box. Ribbit.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay. Hey, smarty pants, as you can hear, I'm helping my friend Jenny, a very proud frog owner, move. And if I'm being honest, I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. I mean, there are literally cardboard boxes everywhere, and we've got to fill all of them up with everything from books to shampoo bottles to frog necklaces.

[Jenny]

Good thing cardboard is so strong and durable. I learned all about cardboard at the Container Store when I went to pick up these moving boxes.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. And also. Oh, you know what that means, don't you, Jenny?

[Jenny]

Um, I'm going to be able to move all my stuff.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, that too. But it was about a year ago when I tricked my Smarty Pants listeners into thinking we were gonna do a super boring episode on cardboard. It was April Fool's Day, you see.

[Jenny]

I see.

[Trusty Narrator]

But as crazy as it sounds, a lot of smartypants said they wanted to know about cardboard. So it looks like we're going to do a super boring episode on cardboard for real.

[Jenny]

Boring cardboard? Oh, cardboard isn't boring at all. In fact, it's actually quite fascinating.

[Trusty Narrator]

Really? I find that a little hard to believe.

[Jenny]

Oh, but it's true.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, I guess we're about to find out. And I apologize in advance, smartypants. I can't imagine anything more boring than cardboard. But on the other hand, I am curious. Who invented cardboard and what's it made of? And how is it so strong? And what other stuff is made from cardboard besides boxes?

[Jenny]

Great questions, trusty. I can help you with that. Right after you help me tape up this super long box. There. That should hold my cross country skis.

[Trusty Narrator]

All right, smarty pants, get ready for another big whiff of science and history on who smarted? Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted? All right, Jenny, let's talk all about dry, crusty, stale, boring old cardboard. First things first. Where did it come from? And who came up with it?

[Jenny]

Well, cardboard in its simplest form was invented in China in the 1500s, and it was made out of pulp back then, just like it is today.

[Trusty Narrator]

Pulp? Like those stringy things I sometimes find in my orange juice?

[Jenny]

No, not that kind of pulp. Paper pulp. Paper pulp is basically crushed up wood chips mixed with water, which is then flattened and dried.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right. You can't make boxes out of orange juice pulp.

[Jenny]

Oh, and get this. In 1700s France, a thin type of cardboard was developed by a student for a rather, hmm, specific purpose.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hmm, smarty pants, what do you think this French student perfected his thin cardboard for? Was it A, to make the base for a board game, B, to make a jigsaw puzzle, or C, to strengthen playing cards? If you said C, you're right.

[Jenny]

Go fish. I guess he got sick of playing card games with those thin, loose paper cards.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, that would be annoying. Plus, you could never build a house of cards unless the cards were nice and sturdy.

[Jenny]

Ah, so true, Trusty. But the cardboard he invented wasn't corrugated cardboard. That was yet to come. Oh, and it was a game changer.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ooh, new word time, smartypants. What do you think corrugated means? Is it A, something that's shaped into ridges and grooves, B, something that's fireproof, or C, something that can be folded? If you said a something that's shaped into ridges and grooves, you're right.

[Jenny]

Corrugated cardboard is extremely common nowadays, and I'm pretty sure all your smarty pants have seen it before. If you've ever seen an average cardboard box, you've seen corrugated cardboard. Ah.

[Trusty Narrator]

But next time you find yourself with a cardboard box, take a closer look and you'll see what makes it corrugated.

[Jenny]

Yep. Between those two layers of flat cardboard, on any given side of the box, there's an inside layer of cardboard made up of ridges and grooves.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ooh, okay. Yeah, I can see it on this big frog box. But what's the big deal about corrugated cardboard? What made it such a game changer?

[Jenny]

Well, the reason corrugated cardboard is such a big deal is because those ridges and grooves you see actually strengthen the cardboard quite a lot and make it way stiffer. And the air inside the ridges makes it an excellent material for transporting fragile items. Like. Aw, this crystal bowl my nana gave me.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. Now that you mention it, I've seen many a corrugated cardboard box labeled fragile with pictures of delicate drinking glasses on the side.

[Jenny]

Exactly. But when corrugated cardboard was first invented in 1856, it initially had a very different use.

[Trusty Narrator]

What do you say, smarty pants? What do you think the very first corrugated cardboard in the late 19th century was used for? Was it for a building toy cars? B, Strengthening top hats. Or C, used for firewood.

[Jenny]

If you said B strengthening top hats, you're right.

[Trusty Narrator]

Really? Top hats? Like the kind the Monopoly guy wears?

[Jenny]

Yep, that's what I said.

[Trusty Narrator]

Interesting. Who would have thought plain old cardboard would be used in something so fancy?

[Jenny]

Schmancy, trustee. And you thought cardboard was boring? Corrugated cardboard was invented in England by 2 Edwards, Edward G. Healy and Edward E. Allen. And top hats were all the rage in London at the time. Having them strengthened with corrugated cardboard made them stronger and last longer. And it also meant they could be even taller.

[Trusty Narrator]

And you know what they say, the taller the top hat, the bigger the headache.

[Jenny]

No one says that.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, I just made it up. Not my best or my worst.

[Jenny]

Anyway. Corrugated cardboard wasn't actually used for making cardboard boxes to pack and ship things in until 1871. That's when a guy in New York City named Albert Jones patented a single sided corrugated cardboard. And this time it was to be used to package and ship glass bottles and glass lanterns.

[Trusty Narrator]

Now we're talking.

[Jenny]

Needless to say, it caught on. As I mentioned before, the corrugation made the cardboard more strong and more durable for transporting all sorts of fragile things. But it was still being made as sheets of cardboard you had to wrap around the things you were packing. The pre made cardboard box didn't come onto the scene until 1879.

[Trusty Narrator]

You mean the kind of boxes we're using now to help with your big move?

[Jenny]

Exactly. The pre made cardboard box was invented by a Scottish fella named Robert Guyer. And the really great thing about it was that it could be folded flat, stored flat and shipped out flat. You just had to assemble it into a box right before using it. This made it very convenient and very popular. These cardboard boxes became the hottest thing since, oh, I don't know, sliced bread.

[Trusty Narrator]

Nice try Jenny, but sliced bread wasn't invented until 1928, which means cardboard boxes were the hottest thing since before sliced bread.

[Jenny]

Nice one, trustee. And right around the time the cardboard box was invented, the industrial revolution was in full swing. People were moving from villages and towns to cities in order to work in factories, which meant things were being mass produced like never before. And folks started to realize that these fabulous new cardboard boxes could be used to transport just about anything. Not just fragile glass, but food and just about anything else they could fit in the box.

[Trusty Narrator]

Like necklaces for your pet frog.

[Jenny]

Ribbit. Of course, as thrilling and exciting and totally not boring corrugated cardboard was, it wasn't the only cardboard in town.

[Trusty Narrator]

It wasn't?

[Jenny]

Nope. For example, we've also got paperboard.

[Trusty Narrator]

What's paperboard?

[Jenny]

Well, it's a type of cardboard, but basically paperboard is one layer as opposed to two or more. And it's smooth, unlike corrugated cardboard. It's used for things like tissue boxes and cereal boxes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, I see. So it's like a thinner, smoother, glossier cardboard.

[Jenny]

Yeah, exactly. And speaking of cereal, did you know Kellogg's cereal was the very first cereal company to put their cereal into a paperboard box?

[Trusty Narrator]

I didn't know that. Did you, Smartypants?

[Jenny]

It happened in 1906. And the added bonus was that they could print their name right on the box, allowing them to package and advertise their product simultaneously.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smartypants, true or false? Kellogg's cereal boxes used to have the plastic bag part on the outside instead of the inside. It might sound crazy, but it's true.

[Jenny]

Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

A heat sealed bag of wax paper used to be wrapped around the outside of the cereal box while the actual cereal was just loose inside the paper ward box. Pretty weird if you ask me. But eventually they began putting the plastic bag inside the paper box. Much better for keeping my cereal crisp and fresh. But Jenny, I have another question. Aside from boxes, top hats, playing cards and tissue and cereal boxes, is cardboard used for any other stuff? Perhaps some stuff our smarty pants wouldn't expect it to be used for?

[Jenny]

Oh, great question, trusty. It turns out there are a few unusual uses for cardboard that have gotten pretty popular lately.

[Trusty Narrator]

Fantastic. And we'll find out what they are right after this short break. And a word from our sponsors. Have you ever had that moment where your kiddo looks up at you from the kitchen table, frustrated, stuck on their homework and you want so badly to help them, but you just can't. Not because you don't care, but because school is different now. Math looks like a foreign language, the grammar rules have changed. Not to mention you're juggling five other things and dinner is burning. Every parent I know has been here. That's why I want to tell you about something that can make your life easier. Ixl. It's an online learning program that helps your child with math, English, science and social studies from Pre K to 12th grade. But while that would be enough, what makes it extra special is how it adapts to your child. It figures out what they need and guides them gently toward mastery. And Just like WhoSmarted, IXL makes learning fun, your kids get instant feedback and even earn rewards. So if you're trying to set your child up for success, then set them up with IXL. It works and it's fun. And now, who smarted? Listeners get 20% off when you sign up today at ixl.com smarted that's ixl.com smartid 20% off. So you can get the most effective learning program out there at the best price and be the helpful parent that you were meant to be. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Smarty pants, it's quiz time. If you wanted to start a business, share your ideas with the world, or finally launch your site about history's weirdest inventions, what is the smartest way to do it? Is it A, shouting your message from the top of a volcano? B, training an army of synchronized skywriting parrots? Or C, building a sleek, professional website with Squarespace. If you said C, congratulations, you win the Internet. With Squarespace's design intelligence, you can build a beautiful website in minutes. No coding, wizardry, or secret handshake required. Want to sell stuff? Squarespace payments lets you accept Apple Pay, Klarna, and even credit cards. And because social media runs the universe, Squarespace seamlessly connects your site to Instagram, YouTube, and more, so your fans or future customers can easily find you. Start your free trial [e-mail] smarted and when you are ready to launch, use code smarted to save 10% on your first website or domain. Now who's ready to make history? Now back to who smarted? All right, another box. Done. But besides boxes, what are some other unusual uses for cardboard?

[Jenny]

Okay, so let me ask you this, trusty do you know what a pallet is?

[Trusty Narrator]

A pallet, like one of those flat, wooden square bases that you put heavy things on in order to lift them with a forklift or a palette, like what a painter holds that has little globs of paint on it.

[Jenny]

The first one.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. Well, yes, I know what that is. They're big and heavy and wooden.

[Jenny]

Okay, so what would you say if I told you they can be big and light and made of cardboard?

[Trusty Narrator]

I wouldn't say anything. I would ask the whoa girl to come say whoa. But could that really be true? Could a palette made of cardboard hold tons and tons of stuff on it?

[Jenny]

The answer is yes. These days, there's companies making shipping pallets out of corrugated cardboard, and believe it or not, they can hold Almost, get this, 10,000 pounds or 4,536 kilograms of weight.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, wow. Corrugation might be the coolest thing since before and after sliced bread.

[Jenny]

Plus, making pallets out of cardboard uses 80% less raw materials than wood emits way less CO2 emissions when it's being produced and can be 100% recycled. Not to mention it's super lightweight and easy to carry. Good luck picking up a regular pallet.

[Trusty Narrator]

Not even gonna try. What else you got, Jenny?

[Jenny]

Hmm? Oh, yeah. Did you know that cardboard played a big role in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris? Bonjour, mon ami.

[Trusty Narrator]

It did? Is there a new competition I didn't know about? Cardboard boxing track and folded cardboard. A cardboard diving board?

[Jenny]

Uh, no, not quite. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the beds the athletes slept on were actually made of corrugated cardboard.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, um, okay. Cardboard beds. Why?

[Jenny]

Well, it was mostly a matter of sustainability. There's a lot of athletes competing at the Olympics, so buying so many beds that would only be used for a few weeks and then thrown away would have a pretty negative environmental impact.

[Trusty Narrator]

Good point. Hey, smartypants, how many cardboard beds do you think were at the Olympics? 10,000. 16,000? 20,000? If you said 16,000, gold medal for you.

[Jenny]

And every one of those 16,000 cardboard beds were 100% recycled after the Olympics.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, I get the environmentally friendly part, but is a cardboard bed really strong enough to hold the weight of a muscly Olympic athlete?

[Jenny]

It sure is. Remember those cardboard pallets we talked about earlier could hold £10,000? Cardboard is tough. Plus, the length of the Olympic beds was even adjustable to account for the super tall athletes.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's pretty cool. But were they, you know, comfy?

[Jenny]

That depends on who you ask. The cardboard did, of course, have a mattress on top. Some athletes liked the bed. Others found them a bit too hard.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, I think I'll stick to my big, soft, fluffy, non cardboard bed for now. By the way, it looks like we've packed the last of your things.

[Jenny]

Wow, we sure have. Aw, thanks for your help, Trusty. I couldn't have done it without you.

[Trusty Narrator]

Or cardboard, which is totally not boring.

[Jenny]

Ribbit. Um, Trusty, did you accidentally pack my frog? Ribbit.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoops. I'll get him.

[Jenny]

Ribbit.

[Trusty Narrator]

A big shout out to Benjamin in Christiana, Tennessee. Thanks so much for smarting with us. We're so glad you love learning new things, singing along to the theme song, and best of all, you think the trusty narrator is pretty funny. Well, that all makes me pretty happy. This episode. Cardboard was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Aaron Yeaman and Jerry Colber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Audio production.