Kraft paper bags have many years of history. They were very popular when first introduced in the 1800s. That’s no doubt that they really have been around for that long time. Nowadays, these bags are more durable than ever and businesses are using them for promotional purposes, day-to-day sales, clothes packing, shopping by the supermarket and other branding purposes.
Paper bags are made up of many different ingredients, along with various advantages to using them over other packaging materials. You can choose from multiple materials to make your paper bag, and add many different finish to make it stand out.
That’s not only lots ingredients for the bag, and the paper bags can made up of many different craft too, such as gold/silver foil hot stamp, finished by automatic machine. You can choose different ingredients or craft to custom the paper bag what you like.
Brown paper bags are made of Kraft paper, which is a paper material made of wood pulp produced during the produce process. Brown Kraft Paper is not bleached, which means it is a triple threat – biodegradable, compostable and recyclable! No wonder they’re such a great alternative to plastic.
The process converts wood into wood pulp by treating wood chips with a special mixture to break down bonds originally found in the wood. Once the process has finished, the pulp is pressed into paper using a paper-making machine, which resembles a printer. Instead of printing with ink, it rolls out blank sheets of paper in long thin slices.
What Paper Bags Are Made Of？
So just what materials is a paper bag actually composed of? The most popular material for paper bags is Kraft paper, which is manufactured from wood chips. Originally conceived by a German chemist by the name of Carl F. Dahl in 1879, the process for manufacturing Kraft paper is as follows: the wood chips are exposed to intense heat, which breaks them down into solid pulp and byproducts. Then the pulp is screened, washed, and bleached, taking its final form as the brown paper we all recognize. This pulping process makes Kraft paper particularly strong (hence its name, which is German for “strength”), and thus ideal for carrying heavy loads.
What Determines How Much A Paper Bag Can Hold?
Of course, there’s more to picking the perfect paper bag than just the material. Particularly if you need to carry bulky or heavy items, there are a few other qualities to consider when selecting the product that will best serve your needs:
Paper Basis Weight
Also known as grammage, the paper basis weight is a measure of how dense paper is, in pounds, related to reams of 600. The higher the number, the denser and heavier the paper.
Gusset
A gusset is a strengthened area where material has been added to reinforce the bag. Gusseted paper bags can accommodate heavier items and are less likely to break.
Twist Handle
Made by twisting natural Kraft paper into cords and then gluing those cords to the insides of the paper bag, twist handles are typically used with gussets to increase the weight a bag can carry.
Square-Bottomed vs. Envelope-Style
While Wolle’s envelope-style bag was later improved upon, it’s still very useful for certain businesses and widely used in our postal system. If you’re looking to accommodate larger items, Knight’s square-bottomed paper bag may be a better fit for your needs.
A Style for Every Need: The Many Types of Paper Bags
The design of the paper bag has come a long way since Francis Wolle, continuing to evolve to meet consumer demands for a more streamlined, easy-to-use product. Here’s a taste of the wide selection of paper bags that are available for business or personal use:
S.O.S. Bags
Designed by Stillwell, S.O.S. bags stand on their own while items are loaded into them. These bags are school lunch favorites, known for their iconic Kraft brown tint, though they can be dyed a variety of colors.
Pinch-Bottom Design Bags
With open-mouth designs, pinch-bottom paper bags stay open just as S.O.S. bags do, but their base features a pointed seal similar to an envelope. These bags are widely used for baked goods and other food products.
Merchandise Bags
Merchandise bags are usually pinch-bottom paper bags and can be used to hold everything from craft supplies to baked goods and candy. Merchandise bags are available in natural Kraft, bleached white, and a variety of colors.
Euro Tote
For added sophistication, the Euro Tote (or its cousin, the wine bag) comes decked out with printed patterns, embellished glitter, corded handles, and lined interiors. This bag is popular for gift-giving and special packaging at retail outlets and can be outfitted with your brand’s logo through a custom printing process.
Bakery Bags
Similar to pinch-bottom bags, bakery bags are ideal for food products. Their design preserves the texture and taste of baked goods, such as cookies and pretzels, for longer.
Party Bag
Celebrate a birthday or special occasion with an attractive, fun party bag filled with candy, mementos, or small toys.
Mailing Bags
Francis Wolle’s original envelope-style bag is still used today to protect mailed documents or other small items.
Recycled Bags
For the environmentally minded, the Kraft bag is an obvious choice. These bags are generally composed of anywhere from 40% to 100% recycled materials.
The Paper Bag Continues to Make Waves
Throughout its history, the paper bag has passed from one innovator to another, improved again and again to make it easier to use and cheaper to produce. For a few savvy retailers, however, the paper bag represented more than just a convenience for customers: it has also become a highly visible (and highly lucrative) marketing asset.
Bloomingdale’s, for example, breathed new life into the classic with its take, known simply as the “Big Brown Bag.” Marvin S. Traub’s twist on the Kraft bag was simple, attractive, and iconic, and its creation transformed the department store into the behemoth it is today. Meanwhile, Apple opted for a sleek, white version embossed with the company’s iconic logo (so groundbreaking was the design, they ventured, that it deserved its own patent).
Even as plastic floods the market, paper bags have stayed the course and proven their value as a dependable, cost-effective, and customizable solution for small businesses and behemoths alike. Feeling inspired? Create your own customized paper bags with Paper Mart today!
Post time: Mar-16-2022