SBS vs. FBB: How to Choose the Most Suitable Packaging Board

Introduction

In the premium packaging board market, SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) and FBB (Folding Box Board) are two widely used mainstream paperboard types. Both offer excellent printability and packaging strength, and are applied across food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. However, they differ significantly in raw material composition, performance characteristics, weight and cost, and environmental attributes. Understanding these differences helps companies select the most suitable solution based on product positioning and market demand.

1. Differences in Raw Materials and Structure

SBS

Raw Materials: 100% bleached chemical pulp (virgin fibers), typically a blend of softwood and hardwood pulp.

Structure: Single-layer structure with dense, uniform fiber distribution; both front and back sides are highly white.

Features: Pure, fine texture with an elegant visual appearance.

FBB

Raw Materials: Multi-layer composite structure—top layer of bleached chemical pulp, middle layer of mechanical pulp, and bottom layer of bleached or unbleached pulp.

Structure: White coated front; back side may be off-white or natural color.

Features: Middle mechanical pulp increases bulk and stiffness while reducing production costs and weight.

2. Surface Quality and Printability

SBS offers exceptional smoothness and brightness, perfectly reproducing fine details with high color saturation. Ideal for high-end packaging such as luxury gift boxes, premium chocolate boxes, and limited-edition products.

FBB provides good print quality suitable for most everyday packaging needs. However, due to coarser fibers in the mechanical pulp layer, surface smoothness and delicacy are slightly lower than SBS, making it better suited for mid- to upper-range consumer products.

3. Strength and Stiffness

SBS: Medium stiffness, dense fiber structure, strong foldability—ideal for packaging that requires repeated opening/closing or intricate folding. At the same thickness, it feels heavier and more solid.

FBB: High stiffness with lightweight properties, offering an excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio. Its thicker feel supports three-dimensional packaging such as food boxes and frozen food containers.

4. Weight and Bulk

SBS: Higher density and weight, lower bulk; suitable for packaging emphasizing a premium tactile feel.

FBB: Higher bulk and lighter weight, reducing logistics and shipping costs without compromising stiffness.

5. Typical Applications

SBS:

High-end cosmetics and perfume packaging

Premium food and confectionery gift boxes

Pharmaceutical packaging boxes

High-quality printing labels and greeting cards

FBB:

Cereals, biscuits, chocolate, and other mass-market food packaging

Frozen food boxes

Personal care and daily chemical product packaging

Mid- to high-end FMCG folding cartons

6. Cost and Sustainability

SBS: Fully chemical pulp production involves higher energy and raw material costs, resulting in higher prices. It can be FSC certified, recyclable, and produced with chlorine-free bleaching for environmental compliance.

FBB: Incorporating mechanical pulp increases yield, reduces wood consumption, and lowers energy use, making it more cost-effective and eco-friendly. It also supports recyclability and environmental certification.

7. Selection Recommendations

Choose SBS if your brand targets the high-end market, requires excellent printing precision and color reproduction, and aims to convey a premium tactile experience.

Choose FBB if you want to maintain packaging stiffness and appearance while reducing weight, transportation costs, and enhancing environmental advantages.

China Paper offers a full range of SBS and FBB products, with customizable grammage, coating options, environmental certifications, and printability testing, providing packaging solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, and cost efficiency.