G.I.F.C.O. – Italian Group of Corrugated Cardboard Manufacturers
The Gruppo Italiano Fabbricanti Cartone Ondulato (G.I.F.C.O.) is the Italian National Association of Graphic, Paper Converting, and Processing Industries. It brings together companies that produce corrugated cardboard and is part of Assografici.
Approximately 500 box manufacturers also belong to G.I.F.C.O. as Converting Members; although they do not produce corrugated board themselves, they purchase it mainly from G.I.F.C.O. manufacturers and convert it into packaging [source: www.gifco.it].
Membership in the association also allows use of the Resy trademark.
Line Justification ( Giustificazione)
A typographic term referring to text aligned on both the left and right sides. The width of the composed text block is referred to as line justification.
Embossing – Embossed Paper ( Carta Goffrata)
A finishing process in which a decorative raised pattern is pressed into paper using specially designed calenders. Embossed papers, lacking smoothness, can only be printed with specific techniques.
Graphics
A branch of visual communication dealing with artistic design. In packaging, it refers to the conceptualization, study, and design of the visual appearance of packaging, following the structural design and material definition stages.
Grammage ( Grammatura)
The weight of one square meter (m²) of paper or board, expressed in grams (g/m²).
Materials are typically classified as follows:
Paper: up to 160–180 g/m²
Cardstock: up to 500 g/m²
Board: over 500 g/m²
For corrugated cardboard — a semi-finished product composed of multiple layers — the grammage of each component must be specified. Since standard grammages are used, they are typically indicated with codes that define the overall specification.
Grüne Punkt (Green Dot)
The Grüne Punkt (Green Dot) is a logo indicating that the packaging producer (or importer) participates in a private system for the collection and disposal of packaging waste (Duales System Deutschland GmbH – DSD).
Originally established in Germany under the Töpfer law, the symbol certifies that the producer (or importer) has covered the cost of packaging disposal. Through PRO Europe (Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe), which was licensed by the German DSD in 1995, the system has been extended to 32 countries, including Italy.
Although Italy's CONAI is a member, the symbol is not yet officially used on Italian products not intended for export.
