Zheng Majun (right) assembles an alphabet made of cardboard with a staff member in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, July 16, 2019. [Photo/IC]

Cardboard boxes, the most common material used in packaging, can also build the foundation for a new business in cultural and creative industries.

Zheng Majun, who had a business in packaging, found that many parents were asked to help their children make handcrafted animals or houses out of discarded cardboard boxes.

After doing market research and development for more than a year, Zheng started a business in toys made of paper. His design team first created three-dimensional models on a computer, and then eventually converted the 3D models into individual parts that people can assemble on their own. Besides toys for youngsters, Zheng's team also developed home storage products made of cardboard.