Putting corrugate to the test in the Olympic Village

REAL-WORLD CARDBOARD COMPRESSION TESTING IN PARIS

Is there anything more exciting than the Olympics? Every four years, the whole world comes together to watch the best athletes on the planet go head-to-head and toe-to-toe. We collectively revel in their triumphs, share in the heartbreak of defeat, and cheer on their Herculean efforts.

Back in 2021, when Tokyo was finally able to host the Games following a pandemic-driven delay, they made headlines by fitting out the competitors’ quarters with cardboard beds, with some suggesting they were designed to discourage, shall we say, extra-curricular athletics. Of the night-time variety. And it seems they’re making a comeback at the Paris Olympics, which kicked off this week.

According to organizers, the point of the (recyclable) beds is to make the Games more environmentally friendly. But some athletes are wondering, once again, if the aim isn’t to prevent them from doing anything but sleeping? To make sure the sweat stays on the field, if you will.

PAPER THAT PACKS A PUNCH—AND TAKES ONE, TOO

A bed made out of paper sounds like a clever way to foil the plans of any would-be midnight pairs events. But as you’re aware, here at Ernest we know a thing or two about cardboard. And if the Olympics abstinence society thinks cardboard beds aren’t up to the, uh, challenge—they’re sorely mistaken.

Ever since our very first Cardboard Chaos project, when we teamed up with Signal Snowboards to make a cardboard snowboard, we’ve been pushing the limits of what corrugate can do—and have done it. And believe us when we say, those beds can take whatever those athletes can throw at them. (Or, on them.)

To make sure corrugated packaging solutions are crush resistant, we conduct compression testing including edge crush tests, to show how much pressure a single wall of corrugated can handle before its compromised. We certainly hope Paris did some stress testing of their own, because we’re guessing there’s going to be some post-event compromising in the Olympic Village.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

If cardboard is strong enough to ride down the slopes, to wakesurf some serious waves, and to withstand the heavy hits of Stone Temple Plilots’ drummer Eric Kretz, you can bet your bottom dollar it can hold its own in Paris, where the athletes are already putting it to the test.

So go ahead, Olympians. Compression test away—may the best man (or woman…or both) win. Crush the competition, just not the beds. And if you’re in need of an Olympic-worthy packaging solution, we’re ready to help.