Paper Bag Purchasing
Regardless of its industry, each business has the same objective: to ensure that its products reach buyers in excellent condition. Packaging undoubtedly plays an important part, but bags are just as essential, especially in the thoughtful and professional presentation of goods.
What will you learn in this blog?
In this blog post, we’ll explain the various types of paper bags available and help you choose the perfect option to suit your business needs while considering sustainability.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Paper Bag
It’s important to recognize the factors that influence the functionality and specific needs fulfillment of the appropriate paper bag for your business. Durability, in conjunction with capacity, are just two of the factors that can directly influence the customer experience and ensure the safe delivery of your products.
- Grammage
Grammage expresses the weight of paper measured for one square meter. Put differently, a grammage of 150 g/m² indicates that a square meter of the material weighs 150 grams. In addition, recognizing the paper’s thickness becomes essential, separating its front and back surfaces. Grammage and thickness are factors that help define the strength and durability of the bag.
- Gusset
In most bags, a gusset is a fold that increases the depth. For easy storage, it stays folded; once the bag is full, it expands. The additional material supplies flexibility to the bag, markedly expanding its capacity. If you look at a paper bag at home or your workplace, you’ll see how the structure enables the bag to expand simply.
- Width and Height
Width defines the bag’s horizontal size, effectively representing its base size. In a different light, height measures the bag’s vertical length. Together, these dimensions establish the bag’s comprehensive dimensions and capacity.
Types of Paper Bags
Paper bags come in all shapes and sizes, whether they have handles or not, and whether they’re for bakery items, sandwiches, pastries, or greengrocery items, there’s a vast array to choose from. All types play a particular role in supporting businesses with their delivery management. Being familiar with their unique characteristics allows you to confidently select the optimal choice for what you need.
Paper bags can be organized by their structure and function, and multiple finishes and laminates play a role in consideration. Take greaseproof laminates, for example; they create a protective interface, stopping oils and stains from seeping through and providing a no-mess experience for your customers. Here’s an overview of some popular types:
Paper Bags with Handles
You’ll commonly find two types of paper bags with handles: curly handles and flat handles. While both can serve any business, they tend to be used for specific purposes:
- Curly handle: Typically found in fashion shops, department stores, bookstores, sports shops, events, and promotional giveaways.
- Flat handle: A favorite in the catering, take-away, and food delivery industries.
These bags are made from two types of paper: plain paper and Hawanna paper, which is a cellulose-free recycled material that provides a textured, natural surface. You can personalize both kinds to suit your needs precisely, including selections in various weights, widths, gussets, and heights. They also come in seven colors: white, fuchsia, Kraft, black, red, turquoise, and green.
Most of these bags can support from 9.5–10 kg, and many are certified for contact with food, making them best for safely transporting food items.
| Colors | Weight (g/m²) | Capacity | Width (cm) | Gusset (cm) | Height (cm) |
| White, fuchsia, Kraft, black, red, turquoise, green | 80–100 g/m² | 9.5–10 kg | 18–46 cm | 9–22 cm | 23–49 cm |
Paper Bags with Twisted Handle
- Enhanced strength and grip for carrying heavier loads.
- Internal reinforcement prevents tearing and accidents, providing peace of mind during use.
Paper Bags with Flat Handle
- Comfortable grip that fits snugly in the hand.
- Available in various shapes and sizes, it is often designed with wider gussets for catering needs.
- Sleek, eye-catching designs for added appeal.
Paper Bags Without Handles
Versatility is paramount for handle-less paper bags. Widely offered in white and Kraft hues, these bags showcase excellent flexibility and are adaptable to various needs apart from the conventional. Certain varieties present greaseproof coatings or utilize laid paper for greater strength and looks, delivering practical and stylish alternatives that meet your needs.
The aim is to help you select the perfect bag for your company, making a thoughtful investment decision that factors in functionality and design.
How to Choose the Right Paper Bag?
Choosing the perfect size
Choosing the best paper bag for your company may feel daunting, especially if you are new to the industry and managing your initial customer orders. You must take into account several factors when deciding to ensure that your selected actions comply with your business’s practical demands and your customers’ expectations.
Among the most important variables to keep in mind are:
Type of Business that Use Paper Bags
Every business has distinct needs that can be effectively met through an appropriately chosen selection of paper bags. You should consider the image you want to project beyond looking at materials, coatings, and sizes. Customers typically view sustainable paper bags as a significant benefit nowadays.
Here are a few examples of paper bag needs based on paper bag business type:
- Fashion Shops, Accessories, and Bookstores: Curly-handled bags are ideal as they are sturdy and easy to carry.
- Bars: Flat-handled bags are perfect for deliveries and takeaways.
- Cafeterias: Paper bags without handles are best suited for items like pastries and sandwiches, as they provide adequate protection without being overly bulky.
- Burger Shops: Greaseproof paper bags are a must for avoiding stains keeping customers comfortable and happy.
- Catering Companies: Flat-handled bags with wider gussets are often preferred due to their ability to hold larger containers and their easy-to-grip design.
- Pharmacies: Small, lightweight, handle-free bags are ideal for holding lighter, smaller products like medications.
- Fruit and Vegetable Shops: Various bag sizes and designs are essential for handling everything from pears to watermelons, ensuring that heavier items like fruit can be transported safely and efficiently.
Volume and Size of the Products
Since your products differ in size and weight, it is essential to maintain different paper bag formats. Although using one standard for all seems attractive, it’s necessary to consider dimensions to get a customized fit, which enhances transaction comfort and convenience for your customers.
For example:
- Fashion Shops: Different seasons, sales periods, and product types require various bag formats. Storing a coat or jacket will require a different kind of bag than smaller items like socks or accessories.
- Hospitality: Businesses offering takeaways or deliveries will need a selection of bag sizes depending on their menu. For catering services, larger gusset bags are essential for big containers, while a small, handle-free bag might suffice for sandwich orders.
- Fruit and Vegetable Shops: Selling heavy items like melons or watermelons requires large, sturdy bags with a reinforced bottom. On the other hand, smaller bags are perfect for lighter fruits and vegetables.
The load of your products must govern the grammage level of your paper bags. For heavier product transport, a thicker bag with a raised grammage will provide safety and help avoid breakages. Light products fit nicely into thin paper bags but can rip if filled beyond their limit, which may cause customer annoyance.
Related reading: What is the Best GSM for Paper Bags?
Type of Customers
Your business bags play a crucial function in crafting your customers’ experience. The design quality and appearance of the bags assist in strengthening the image you are intent on projecting. Things like the location of your establishment and the leanings of your customer base should guide your decision. In a luxury neighborhood, exclusive-looking bags might top the list, but eco-friendly materials will be a big draw for those prioritizing sustainability.
Wrap Up-Paper Bag Purchasing
Ultimately, choosing the right paper bag is vital to improving your brand image, adhering to customer needs, and ensuring the secure transportation of your products. By considering your business’s nature, product dimensions, and customer desires, you can make sensible decisions that show your commitment to quality and sustainability.
Nova Machinery provides businesses with the tools to align their packaging with their branding by offering custom paper bag machines capable of crafting visually attractive and environmentally sustainable paper bags that improve customer experience. Thanks to our technology, you can tailor useful and meaningful bags to your brand’s identity. Contact us for more details.
To find out more about Paper Bag Suppliers, click here.
