A method of forming a carton (5; 505; 705; 805; 1305), the method comprising: obtaining a blank (3; 403; 503; 603; 703; 803; 903; 1303) comprising a plurality of panels (15, 17, 21, 25; 1315, 1317, 1321, 1325) comprising a bottom panel (15; 1315), a first side panel (17; 1317) foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel (21; 1321) foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a top panel (25; 1325) foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, at least two first end flaps (33, 37, 43, 47; 1333, 1337, 1343, 1347) each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, at least two second end flaps (35, 39, 45, 49; 1335, 1339, 1345, 1349) each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and at least one article protection flap (13; 513; 613; 713; 913; 1313) foldably connected to the bottom panel; positioning the plurality of panels (15, 17, 21, 25; 1315, 1317, 1321, 1325) to at least partially form an interior space of the carton; loading a plurality of articles in the interior space; folding the at least two first end flaps (33, 37, 43, 47; 1333, 1337, 1343, 1347) to close a first end of the carton; folding the at least two second end flaps (35, 39, 45, 49; 1335, 1339, 1345, 1349) to close a second end of the carton; characterized by tightening the carton by folding the at least one article protection flap (13; 513; 613; 713; 913; 1313) relative to the bottom panel and into the interior space after the loading of the plurality of articles and the closing of the first end and the second end, the folding comprises moving the article protection flap from a first position that is substantially parallel to the bottom panel to a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the bottom panel, the tightening comprising pressing the at least one article protection flap against two adjacent articles to initiate movement of the two adjacent articles, the movement of the two adjacent articles accommodating the space required for the at least one article protection flap between the two adjacent articles. obtaining a blank (3; 403; 503; 603; 703; 803; 903; 1303) comprising a plurality of panels (15, 17, 21, 25; 1315, 1317, 1321, 1325) comprising a bottom panel (15; 1315), a first side panel (17; 1317) foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel (21; 1321) foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a top panel (25; 1325) foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, at least two first end flaps (33, 37, 43, 47; 1333, 1337, 1343, 1347) each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, at least two second end flaps (35, 39, 45, 49; 1335, 1339, 1345, 1349) each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and at least one article protection flap (13; 513; 613; 713; 913; 1313) foldably connected to the bottom panel; positioning the plurality of panels (15, 17, 21, 25; 1315, 1317, 1321, 1325) to at least partially form an interior space of the carton; loading a plurality of articles in the interior space; folding the at least two first end flaps (33, 37, 43, 47; 1333, 1337, 1343, 1347) to close a first end of the carton; folding the at least two second end flaps (35, 39, 45, 49; 1335, 1339, 1345, 1349) to close a second end of the carton; characterized by tightening the carton by folding the at least one article protection flap (13; 513; 613; 713; 913; 1313) relative to the bottom panel and into the interior space after the loading of the plurality of articles and the closing of the first end and the second end, the folding comprises moving the article protection flap from a first position that is substantially parallel to the bottom panel to a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the bottom panel, the tightening comprising pressing the at least one article protection flap against two adjacent articles to initiate movement of the two adjacent articles, the movement of the two adjacent articles accommodating the space required for the at least one article protection flap between the two adjacent articles.