what is a carton

A carton is a box or container usually made of cardboard, liquid packaging board, paperboard, or corrugated fiberboard. Cartons are used in packaging for various products such as food, pharmaceuticals, hardware, and many others. Folding cartons are usually combined into a tube at the manufacturer and shipped flat to the packager, while tray styles have a solid bottom and are often shipped as flat blanks and assembled by the packager. Some cartons are self-erecting, and high-speed equipment is available to set up, load, and close the cartons. In addition to packaging, cartons can also refer to a drawing on heavy pasteboard or paperboard used as a life-size design for the manufacture of a tapestry. Finally, cartons can also refer to a container of waxed paper or plastic in which liquids, such as milk, are sold.