Last Updated on November 17, 2023 by Packoi Team
In the past, plastic bags were the norm. However, since people found out about the devastating effects of plastic on the environment, customers have begun to call for more paper bags to be used in stores.
As a result, business owners have started changing their packaging to use kraft or brown paper materials.
If you want to apply the same change, keep reading.
This article will educate you on what you need to consider if you want to start using paper bags instead of plastic.
Although brown paper grocery bags are commonly used, there are other materials that you can opt to use.
The material you choose will influence the strength of the paper grocery bags. After all, customers buy goods at grocery stores in different quantities. You need to use a material that’s strong enough to carry a few items and a full load.
Brown paper bags aren’t the only material that you can use to make this happen. There are 4 paper grocery bags that you can choose from.
Since this is the most common, consider using brown paper bags as your top option. This is characterized by the color of the grocery bag. It’s not just one shade of brown. It could be light brown or yellowish brown.
This material is made of kraft paper, a natural paper made from wood pulp that’s processed to look like sheets. These are then cut, folded, and glued into kraft paper bags.
Kraft paper is usually 80 to 120 grams with a high tensile force.
This paper bag is an excellent option because it’s reusable.
As a material, kraft paper is 100% recyclable. But before it gets sent to the recycling facility, some people use it for arts and crafts. With the right instructions, it can be transformed into something else that can be used around the house.
Apart from kraft paper, you can also use white paperboard to create your grocery bags. Brown paper bags may be the norm in grocery stores, but white paper bags can also be used.
These are processed the same way as kraft paper, but they’re bleached before they’re turned into sheets. Because of the treatments and chemicals used on it, the surface becomes smooth and firm.
This makes it feel more durable than brown-colored bags.
Not only that, but this is also reusable. It can be transformed into other useful things.
However, since the color of the bag is white, it’s prone to dirt and smudges. Sometimes, a dirty paper bag is thrown away instead of being reused.
A grocery bag is meant to carry both dry and wet produce. Since paper can easily get damaged by water, how can paper grocery bags be made more sturdy and durable?
This is where coating and lamination come into play. Paper bags can be coated or laminated so they cover the surface. This will protect it from being destroyed by moisture or water leaks.
It’s also why laminated paper bags are perfect for food orders. Customers won’t have to worry that the bag will break while they carry food items or wet produce.
Of course, it won’t protect the bag from being destroyed when submerged in water. But it’s good enough to carry frozen items.
This is a type of paper that’s gaining popularity lately because it’s a sustainable option. Brown paper bags are considered to be eco-friendly. Even the new paper bags have that reputation.
However, business owners can make a greater environmental impact by opting for recycled paper bags.
There are packaging companies that sell grocery bags made of recycled paper. When a paper bag is reusable and recyclable, it’ll help solve the environment’s problem with packaging waste.
Using this material can also improve the reputation of your business. People will come to know you as a sustainable company, and the odds that they’ll stay loyal to you will be greater because of it.
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The paper material of a grocery bag is the most important decision that you have to make. For some, the cost of paper is the determining factor in choosing the right material for paper bags.
But that’s not all. There are also technical considerations that’ll help you create the right grocery bag for your business.
For instance, standard brown paper bags that are used to carry lunch have specifications of 5 1/8″ x 3 1/8″ x 10 5/8“ (length x width x height). But paper grocery bags are bigger because it has to carry a heavier load. Its specifications are 12” x 7” x 17” (width x depth x height) and it can carry 75 pounds of items.
This is only one example of what you need to look into. Here are the others that you have to pay attention to so you can choose their material from a wide selection.
As mentioned, grocery paper bags have to carry a heavier load. Since customers buy different quantities at a time, you need to consider different paper bag capacities.
That means creating paper bags in various sizes.
There are a couple of things to consider there.
First, you must realize that the size of products doesn’t dictate their weight. A big paper bag full of chips won’t be as heavy as one half-filled with six cans of peas.
Also, consider the typical weight of products that people carry from groceries. The bag should carry the weight and not break.
What does this mean? Make sure you consider the size and weight capacity of the paper bag.
The gusset is the fold that’s found on the side of paper bags. This gives the grocery bag a greater capacity to hold products.
If you have found thick enough paper that can carry heavier loads, you can make the gusset bigger so the paper bags can stretch further.
But if it’s a thinner material, you can make the gusset smaller, so people will be forced to put fewer items inside.
The bottom of paper bags also affects the capacity that they can carry. There are two types of bottom folds that brown paper grocery bags use.
The first is the flat-bottom bag. In this case, the bottom fold follows the size of the gusset. So if the gusset is 7” when fully stretched, the bottom fold would be the same.
The second is the pinched-bottom bag. It has pointed bottoms that are folded and sealed. These are great for carrying flat items like cards or small products like candies, etc. Paper bags using this bottom fold may or may not have a gusset.
Another thing that you have to consider is the GSM or grams per square meter, of paper bags. This refers to the weight of 1 square meter of paper in grams.
The standard for paper bags is between 35 and 150 GSM. Ideally, the greater the GSM, the thicker the paper, and the greater the weight that a grocery bag can carry. It’ll be more costly, but you’ll find that a lot of manufacturers prefer the thicker paper because it’s easier to die-cut.
The bursting factor of paper bags measures the material’s strength against pressure before it bursts open. This helps identify how durable bags are. It’ll also help business owners determine how many items customers can cram into the bag before it breaks open.
The BF is typically 14 to 40 BF. But bags with less than 30 BF are acceptable.
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This is the most ignored measurement for paper bags. But in grocery bags, it should be given more importance since it carries
This measures the weight that the material will gain if the paper bags are submerged in water. If the COBB value is lower, the paper bags won’t absorb as much water.
MG is machine-glazed, while MF is machine-finished. This involves a process that puts the paper through rollers so one side is smoother with a glazed look. This is great for paper bags that have prints on them.
MG will give paper bags a shiny surface, while MF won’t.
Creating grocery paper bags starts with your choice of material. Do you want brown paper bags? Or do you want recycled kraft paper bags?
The choice is up to you. But before you make a decision, get to know your options first.
If you want more information about paper-based packaging, Packoi Printing has got a wide selection of designs and samples for you to choose from.
Give us a call so we can talk about it. We’ll get back to you with a fair quote as soon as possible.
Kraft paper bags are a great way to reduce waste and help the environment. They come in many different colors and designs and can be used for various purposes. From grocery shopping to wrapping presents, Kraft paper bags are perfect for any occasion.
They can be used for carrying food and other materials and are also great for storing products. It is also made up of high-quality paper and lightweight materials that are very safe to use.
You must know about paper vs. plastic bags’ pros and cons for you to have a much-guided decision when it comes to choosing the best shopping bags or packaging for your business.
Nothing popped out of nowhere, and it has almost perfect design or characteristics. Everything has a history for itself, just like the kraft paper bags.
Paper bags started as simply designed and large envelope-looking packaging. It came about in 1852 when Francis Wolle created the first-ever machinery to mass-produce paper bags, with the most significant help from his efforts. Such a creation paved the way for paper bags.
Throughout the later years, while Wolle maintained the popularity of his paper bag, some noticed that his design was not convenient enough for its role—to act as packaging for various items. His plan’s interior space is narrow and not durable enough to hold more important things. That is when James Baldwin (1853) received a patent for his semi-mechanized machine for making square-bottomed paper bags. However, in 1868, Margaret Knight thought much deeper than the latter and built a fully automated machine that cuts, folds, and glues the flat-bottomed paper bags into one.
After a long time, in 1883, another paper bag design development arose. Charles Stillwell’s creation filled the gaps between the old paper bag design and the modern design present today. He could discern the importance of the pleated sides of a paper bag, so he built his creation known as “Self-opening sacks, or S.O.S. bag.” Its feature is that it is foldable and easier to store because of its pleated sides.
Furthermore, in 1918, the two sisters, Lydia and Walter Deubener, came up with another idea to improve the previous designs. They punched holes into the sides of paper bags and attached strings or ropes, which functioned as handles. Such a creation is a giant leap toward paper packaging like kraft paper bags with rope handles.
As time went by and as giving back to the Earth using environment-friendly products became a thing, kraft paper shopping bags were produced. It started in 1908 when the first kraft paper bag was born in the United States, composed of recycled materials or some fast-growing plants with fiber. Then, since 1915, kraft paper packaging or bags and other types with handles have become the standard for various stores up until now.
Kraft paper bags have always been a sought-after product since the olden times. Its function is to be an excellent alternative to plastic packaging and contribute to environmental sustainability. Hence, it is normal to have people curious about how it is made.
Many people even buy wholesale kraft paper bags for their businesses. The following are some ideas about how complex these simple-looking paper bags are.
Rather than the usual processes of making kraft paper, like boiling, bleaching, and pressing chunks of wood pulp, kraft paper bag suppliers apply more techniques. Since the term “kraft” means “strength” or “resistance,” the process must comply with such a meaning. Thus, the process starts with harvesting good wood from the manufacturers’ plantations—an essential factor of paper bag manufacturing, which must be checked to not contribute to deforestation—or sometimes, rather than wood, sugarcane is used since it also has a good amount of fiber that is a factor for the kraft paper resistance. These woods are then converted into wood chips and passed through the wood pulping procedure. In contrast, wood chips are boiled, and some chemicals like sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide are added to finish the process faster.
Subsequently, unbleached kraft paper, which is used for making brown kraft paper bags, is made. At the same time, some manufacturers produce light-colored ones by bleaching the pulp.
The filtering and washing process is then applied to remove significant impurities and delicate pieces of wood pulp necessary to produce durable paper bags. Next is pressing into flat sheets and drying the pulp to make the actual kraft paper.
The last process is where the cutting, folding and gluing of kraft paper into the particular design of paper bags happen. When all these steps are done, a good number of bulk kraft paper bags may be produced with their excellent design and characteristics like durability. Then manufacturers may add handles and windows depending on their preferred product designs.
Various kraft paper bags are made available these days, especially for contributing to environmental sustainability. These are made of paper, but their durability and versatility were never neglected by every manufacturing company, just like the Bagitan Packaging. Below are some of its types:
The brown kraft paper bags are the most popular bag type. They are durable, versatile, and perfect for containing various dry goods or items such as groceries, ornaments, candies, and more. Some brown kraft paper bags with handles for a better transporting experience, whereas various handles such as twisted, flat, and die cut are available.
This paper bag is somewhat just like brown kraft paper bags. However, some are “V” pinch-bottomed, usually used for checkouts and small goods such as books, cards, and candies. It is also what came from the idea of Francis Wolle in 1852.
Also included in this type are the “baguette paper bags,” specialized kraft paper bags with windows. Such variety is best for showing off the delicious look of baguette bread or the others. It can attract the eyes of every possible customer in the area.
Some paper bags are custom printed to satisfy the preferences of the client. While printing on it, its durability and eco-friendliness are still being considered. Clients usually order this type of paper bag for the instant advertisement of their business.
Air sickness paper bags are best for clients such as travel agencies, bus companies, and airlines. With this type, the customers will never worry during tough times in their seats. There is no doubt that airsick bags are a lifesaver. It is specially designed to contain vomit and maintain the cleanliness of the passenger seat.
Kraft paper bags are not only used as an alternative to plastic bags. Of course, it is used for that, but its purpose does not end at that. There are various advantages of using such paper bags, including:
Its eco-friendliness. Because kraft papers are made of wood and fast-growing fiber-rich plants like sugar cane, they are recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. While making kraft papers, manufacturers ensure not to contribute to deforestation by having wood plantations where they can manage their planted trees.
It is also easier to make than plastic packaging. It does not require much more chemical processing than plastic manufacturing.
It is cheaper. As kraft paper packaging does not require many chemical procedures and may be made even with recycled materials, manufacturers will not be burdened with high-cost procedures. This will also result in a lower market price of the actual kraft paper packaging products.
Furthermore, it is almost as versatile as plastic packaging. It may carry different dry products from markets or department stores. Some even produce kraft paper bags with handles for better transporting experiences for the business’ customers.
It is more customizable, or more designs may be created than plastic packaging, and are perfect as food takeout packaging. There are these “V” pinch-bottomed, baguette bread paper bags, with foils inside, for motion sickness and more.
Kraft paper packaging is made while ensuring its durability. It is processed by boiling and filtering from whole trees to wood chips to produce fine wood pulps and then pressed into thin sheets of kraft paper. After drying, it may be cut and folded to the size needed to make the design. Lastly, its parts are glued to their place. After that, the actual kraft paper bags are made.
Other than the fiber from good woods or any fast-growing plants, safe chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and glue are the only raw materials used to make kraft paper.
The Paper bag is one of the crucial creations throughout history. It plays a significant role in environmental sustainability. Paper bags being recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable products ensure their non-bio-hazardous function for carrying various dry goods.
Kraft bags are eco-friendly. It is better than any other paper bags or plastic packaging. Although it is usually made of wood pulps, worry not as its resources are from carefully managed plantations of the manufacturers. Therefore, it is not contributing to deforestation by any means. Furthermore, since it is made of wood pulps and other fast-growing plants that are rich in fiber, thus, it is biodegradable and compostable.
Just a few weeks after using kraft paper, it will naturally decompose. It is also proven not to leave any trace of harm to the environment. If water is present and the kraft paper becomes wet, it will probably decompose faster. However, if someone is determined to recycle this kraft paper, it can last longer depending on how it will be handled.