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Danpla sheet and corrugated cardboard both serve as warehouse floor liners, box dividers and protective layers in transit. Danpla costs 5-8 times more upfront than cardboard, but it can be reused 50-100 times instead of 1-3 times - making the real cost per use 5-10 times lower. This article breaks down the numbers so your business can make the right call based on actual operating needs.
Author: Le Van Thang, Director of ICD Viet Nam - 15 years of experience in industrial packaging materials.
Direct comparison: danpla vs corrugated cardboard
The table below summarises the 8 most important criteria when choosing between the two materials.
| Criterion | Corrugated cardboard | Danpla PP 4 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price (1220 x 2440 mm sheet) | 8,000-15,000 VND/sheet | 55,000-75,000 VND/sheet |
| Average number of uses | 1-3 uses | 50-100 uses |
| Cost per use | 5,000-15,000 VND | 550-1,500 VND |
| Water and moisture resistance | Poor - goes limp after 2-4 hours of moisture | Good - does not absorb water |
| Industrial oil and grease resistance | Poor - soaks through immediately, disintegrates | Good - wipes clean |
| Weight (standard sheet) | 700-900 g (3-layer type) | 1,750-2,200 g |
| Printability | Good - direct offset and flexo printing | Requires UV ink or corona treatment |
| Recyclability | Recyclable (paper) | 100% recyclable (PP plastic) |
3-year total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
Real-world example: a factory needs 500 floor liner sheets with periodic replacement. Cost of each material over 3 years:
| Item | Corrugated cardboard | Danpla PP 4 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Initial purchase (500 sheets) | 5 million VND | 35 million VND |
| Replacement frequency | Every 2-3 weeks (500 sheets/run) | Once a year (replace 5-10% damaged sheets) |
| Material cost over 3 years | ~275 million VND | ~41 million VND |
| Waste disposal cost | High (wet cardboard, hard to recycle) | Low (PP is recyclable) |
| Total TCO over 3 years | ~280 million VND | ~42 million VND |
| Savings with danpla | - | ~238 million VND (85%) |
Payback period for danpla in this example: approximately 5-6 months. After that, every month saves 6-7 million VND compared to continuous cardboard use.
When to choose danpla
Wet environments or frequent water exposure: Cold rooms, washing areas, open-air warehouse floors - cardboard rots within hours while danpla is unaffected.
Multiple reuses in an internal loop: Component box dividers, product sorting trays, fixed pallet floor liners - danpla lasts 3-5 years while cardboard survives only 1-3 uses.
Easy cleaning required: Food, pharmaceutical and electronics industries - danpla wipes clean with water or alcohol; cardboard retains odours and harbours bacteria.
High labour cost: If each cardboard replacement takes 15-30 minutes of labour (folding, cutting, disposing), the labour savings from danpla add up significantly after a few months.
When to choose corrugated cardboard
Single-use outbound packaging: Export shipments and last-mile consumer deliveries - danpla cannot be recovered, the upfront cost is higher, and there is no economic advantage.
Complex multicolour printing: B2C retail packaging printed offset in multiple colours is cheaper and better quality on cardboard than UV printing on danpla.
Limited initial budget: Startups or small orders where long-term volumes are uncertain - cardboard allows low-cost trials without large capital commitment.
Complex shaped boxes: Cardboard glues, folds and forms complex three-dimensional shapes more easily than danpla. Multi-compartment boxes and special structural designs typically call for cardboard.
ICD Viet Nam danpla reference specifications
| Parameter | Danpla 3 mm | Danpla 4 mm | Danpla 5 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (g/m2) | 400-500 | 600-700 | 800-950 |
| Compressive strength (kPa) | 1.5-2.0 | 2.5-3.5 | 3.5-5.0 |
| Price range (VND/1220 x 2440 mm sheet) | 40,000-55,000 | 55,000-75,000 | 75,000-100,000 |
| Primary application | Light packaging, signage | Boxes, dividers | Heavy trays, pallet floors |
See also: Standard danpla sheet sizes and danpla price list updated 2026.
Related articles
| What is danpla? Construction, types and full specifications | Danpla sheet applications in manufacturing | View all danpla products at ICD Viet Nam |
Frequently asked questions about danpla vs corrugated cardboard
1. Can danpla fully replace cardboard in a warehouse?
Danpla replaces cardboard in internal applications such as floor liners, dividers and returnable containers. For outbound packaging delivered to end consumers, cardboard is still needed because recovery costs are high and packaging shapes are more varied.
2. How many sheets qualify for a volume discount?
ICD Viet Nam offers a discount from 50 sheets upward. Orders of 200 sheets or more receive a special wholesale quotation. Contact us directly for a price list based on your actual quantities.
3. How do I calculate how many danpla sheets to order?
Measure the area to be lined or the number of boxes to be made, then add 10-15% for cutting waste. ICD Viet Nam provides free calculation support if you supply drawings or required dimensions.
4. Can used danpla be recycled?
Yes. PP danpla is 100% recyclable - sell it to a plastic scrap collector or return it to ICD Viet Nam for processing. Current buyback price is approximately 3,000-6,000 VND/kg depending on the market.
ICD Viet Nam Industrial Production Company Limited
North: Floor 3, Thang Long A1 Building, Bau Hamlet, Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi - 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186
South: 551/212 Le Van Khuong, Tan Thoi Hiep, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City - 098 6784 186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn · Zalo: Chat on Zalo now
Send your dimensions and required quantity and ICD will provide a danpla quotation and calculate the number of sheets needed for your application at no charge.
