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Current Processing & Delivery Time: 5-7 Business Days on Printed Products.
Current Processing & Delivery Time: 5-7 Business Days on Printed Products.

What is "Coro"?

Coro. Corrugated plastic. Cor-plastic. Coroplast. This sign and plastic sheeting material has many names and even more uses. Due to its unique blend of durability and affordability, corrugated plastic board is an incredibly popular choice for short-term signage.

Coroplast is the trademarked brand name of the world’s largest producer of corrugated plastic. Corrugated plastic boards are essentially plastic cardboard, and are made from three layers of thin, polypropylene plastic substrate. The product consists of a zig-zagged layer of plastic sandwiched between two smooth layers of plastic sheeting – also known as twin-wall plastic sheeting. Coroplast’s layered structure makes corrugated plastic incredibly lightweight and shock absorbent.

coroplast plastic substrate polypropylene

What are the advantages of using corrugated plastic boards?

Coroplast is a unique blend of durable, affordable, lightweight, and pliable. This combination makes it incredibly versatile such that it can be used in all sorts of projects and displays.

Durability – Coroplast board is not invincible and is not meant to be displayed forever, but it can take a serious beating from the rain, the sun, or human handling before showing any signs of aging. Coroplast also is impervious to damage from insects and rodents.

Affordability – Coroplast is the market’s most inexpensive material for outdoor display. Printing onto and cutting Coroplast is a straightforward and inexpensive process that doesn’t require highly specialized equipment.

Lightweight – Transporting, distributing, and displaying Coroplast is complication-free. You definitely won’t have to worry about the wall collapsing or anyone losing a toe should it fall.

Pliability – Coroplast is sturdy enough to lay flat on its own, but flexible enough to give you a lot of options. Cut it, bend it, staple it, punch holes in it for grommets… whatever you need to do!

 

What are common uses of corrugated plastic?

The most common use of corrugated plastic is for temporary outdoor signage, especially for yards. Campaign signage, home security notices, real estate signs, “for sale” signs, and parking signs are all examples of outdoor signs that are often made from corrugated plastic boards.

Coroplast can also be used to construct containers and packaging. Being both lightweight and sturdy, many postal services construct mail carriers out of Coroplast.

Lifespan of corrugated plastic

Like any material, the lifespan of your Coroplast display depends on the conditions it is subjected to. When displayed outdoors in normal conditions, Coroplast will normally last about a year before it may begin to show a bit of warping or discoloration. When laminated with a matte finish for extra protection, a coroplast sign will look its best for longer. Coroplast can last virtually forever when kept indoors and not subjected to much wear and tear.

Coroplast sign printing

Corrugated plastic is a fabulous material for printing. Either an image can be printed onto acrylic and then applied to the Coroplast, or the graphic can be printed directly onto the plastic. Because the plastic sheeting usually comes in a bright white color, the full color spectrum looks great on corrugated plastic.

custom coroplast printing

Is polypropylene recyclable?

Yes! Corrugated plastic made from polypropylene is 100% recyclable under Resin Code 5. How to recycle polypropylene depends on where you live. Not every curbside recycling program will accept it, but any recycling facility will. Prior to recycling your Coroplast board, remove any accessories that are not made of polypropylene, like metal stakes or grommets used in display. Your recycled corrugated plastic can be melted down and reformed for a wide variety of uses, especially for household wares made from plastic like bins, brooms, ice scrapers, and trays.


Your old corrugated plastic sheets can be recycled into a number of common household plastic products.

It is also important to note that polypropylene is not biodegradable, so it is best if you opt to recycle your old corrugated plastic boards rather than throwing them in the trash where it will end up in a landfill.

Ways to reuse corrugated plastic

All finished with your Coroplast signs? Coroplast board is recyclable, but it is also a highly reusable product. Corrugated plastic is an incredibly useful material to have around the house if you are crafty. Save those sheets to make some neat Coroplast projects of your own! Coroplast is non-toxic and food-safe (unlike PVC), so it is safe to use around children and animals.

 

Downsides of corrugated plastic

We recommend Coroplast for a wide variety of projects, but it’s certainly not a fit for everyone. Here are some reasons you may consider a different sign material:

  • Coroplast board does not look expensive or permanent, because it is neither of those things. We don’t recommend using corrugated plastic for the main, permanent sign for your business. First of all, it won’t last forever and will show its age after about a year.
  • Photographs can be printed onto corrugated plastic, but it is not the best medium for photography printing. Vector images are much better suited to the aesthetic of Coroplast. 
  • Coroplast board can bend and warp, especially if exposed to intense heat or left in a hot car. 

 

Ways to display Coroplast signs

 

Wire mounting stakes – The classic yard sign is printed on corrugated plastic and then mounted to wire stakes, which are then lightly hammered into the earth.

coroplast wire stakes

Caring for corrugated plastic signs

If you want to make sure that your Coroplast signs stay looking bright and new for years of use, there are a few tips that you should follow for keeping your sign in top condition.

Wipe it Down –  If you are planning on reusing your sign outdoors or using it outside occasionally, you are going to want to make sure that you wipe it down every once in a while. If you are using your Coroplast sign primarily as a temporary outdoor display, you should be sure to that you take it inside to wipe off any dirt or debris. You don’t need any special kind of cleaner, just a little soap, some water, and light scrubbing will do the trick.You can also use a solution of vinegar and water to kill any germs or bacteria that may be clinging to your sign.

Proper Storage – If you are using your coroplast sign seasonally or occasionally, how are you supposed to store it when it’s not in use? The best way that you can store your sign is to keep it somewhere safe where it won’t be smashed underneath or between anything. Keep in mind that the sign is durable and incredibly resilient to impact, but excess pressure for long periods of time could still make your sign bend or crumple. If you can lay it flat or stand it up against a wall, that’s perfect. If you can store your sign at about room temperature, that is ideal for keeping your sign looking new the longest, but you shouldn’t have any issues storing it in a storage room, shed, or garage that experiences changes in temperature. That’s just another pointer for keeping your sign looking better for longer.

Avoid Folding – If your sign was not designed to be folded, don’t fold it or keep it folded. Folding can cause your sign to wear out faster and lose its flat-lying form.