Single-use plastic bags have become a thing of the past. Every country across the globe is banning their use. From small retailers to exclusive brand stores, all are switching to paper bags on a large scale. Kraft paper bags are very durable, can handle heavy objects, and are completely eco-friendly, which is why their market is expanding at 5% CAGR. Using this packaging material is a smart business decision for attracting eco-conscious customers. In this blog, we will explore all about kraft paper bags and why every Indian shop should switch to them.
What are Kraft Paper Bags?
A Kraft paper bag is a durable shopping and carry bag made from wood pulp with a kraft process. These sustainable packaging bags offered by Khatema Fibres are very popular packaging items for their high strength and biodegradability. They are of various types, differentiated based on their material quality and design. Brown kraft paper is used for producing high-strength bags for carrying heavy items, and white paper bags are made from bleached wood pulp to create premium shopping bags. Whereas the recycled kraft paper is used for producing filler packaging materials that protect the products from the inside.
Let’s explore more about the features of Kraft paper bags to understand their importance.
Reasons Why India’s Retail Industry Should Switch to Kraft Paper Bags
Eco-friendly Option
Kraft paper bags are an eco-friendly option over plastic packaging material. They are durable and lightweight at the same time, which makes travelling easy. They are made from kraft paper, which comes from wood pulp, a natural resource. It easily decomposes in nature and is 100% recyclable and has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to conventional plastic bags. The use of kraft paper as packaging and promotional material promotes sustainable business practice.
Attracts Eco-Conscious Customers
Retailers can switch to Kraft paper bags and other packing materials made from Kraft paper to attract a new customer segment—eco-conscious customers. This helps them unlock new earning opportunities while exercising sustainable business practices. Customer behavior has changed drastically these days, as they are now judging a brand with its social and environmental responsibilities also.
Help Comply with Regulations
Using brown paper bags helps retail businesses to comply with government regulations by reducing the use of single-use plastic bags. The government banned plastic bags as they are thrown into the environment, causing pollution after one-time use. They take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing toxic chemicals into soil and water.
High Strength and Durable
Kraft paper is not just a fragile wrapping material, as it comes from wood pulp. They are produced to have high strength and durability to carry heavy materials with multiple layers of paper infused together. Every layer forms a strong bond that does not break easily. This is why these paper bags are used for various types of applications, carrying different sizes and shapes of items.
Major Types of Kraft Paper Bags and Retail Uses
Kraft papers are of various types, categorized by their bottom design and closure method. These two factors decide which type of objects they can carry and in which sector they are essentially required, like retail stores.
Self-Opening Satchel or SOS Bags
Self-opening satchel or SOS bags are popular kraft paper bags used widely in the retail sector. They have a machine-formed square bottom, which helps to keep standing upright without any support. It is common among people going to buy groceries and essentials that require restricted movement and balance.
Best for: Grocery and kirana stores, food deliveries, and medical stores.
Flat Bottom or Block Bottom Bag
These Kraft carry bags are the premium version of self-opening satchel bags. They are widely used by the brands for promotion by handing them to customers as branded shopping bags. All four sides have a well-constructed look with a smooth finish, offering a box-like shape at the bottom, which allows users to carry purchased items with ease.
Best for: Brand retail stores, shopping malls, and other premium products selling shops.
Pinch Bottom Open Mouth or PBOM Bag
PBOM kraft paper bags are designed for carrying specialized materials in different industries, with flat bottoms made with a pinching and gluing method with narrow walls. The very base of the bags comes sealed from the manufacturing facilities for enhanced strength and reliability. These bags are sealed from the top when the material is filled inside and are ready for transportation and storage.
Best for: Dry and granular goods like coffee bags, flour, pet food, and more.
Merchandise Bags
Kraft paper is also used for producing merchandise bags that are lightweight and look more stylish. They are designed to have a flat bottom, narrow walls, and a rectangular shape, which makes them comfortable to carry. Mainly produced using white kraft paper, these bags have exceptional strength.
Best for: jewelry shops, book stores, and more places selling lifestyle-related products.
How to Source the Right Kraft Paper Bag for Your Shop?
Source a Kraft paper bag from Khatema Fibres that best suits the packaging needs of your products. There are various types of paper bags available that are not the same at all. Here are the requirements to focus on for different retail businesses:
- For grocery and produce: Choose an 80-90 GSM brown SOS kraft paper bag with no handle.
- For garments, gifts, or salons: white kraft with twisted rope handle, 100–120 GSM, customised print.
- For garments, gift shops, and salons: White kraft paper bag with twisted rope handle, having 100-120 GSM.
- For bakery and dry fruits: A flat-bottom SOS bag is ideal with a food-grade inner lining.
- For heavy items like books or hardware: 150+ GSM multi-wall kraft paper bag with 2-ply protection.
- For small items (medicines, accessories): 60-75 GSM small pinch bottom paper bag or patch handle bag will be ideal.
- Make sure to order the Kraft paper bags in bulk with a minimum 500 pcs to reduce per-unit cost by 30–50%
Conclusion
Kraft paper bags have become essential packaging materials for their eco-friendly properties, and the government ban on single-use plastic bags. They are durable and have high strength to carry heavy items, which makes them ideal to use in every sector, irrespective of the object size and shape. These paper bags have a versatile design with flat bottoms for excellent balance and space to store multiple items. Every retail business is switching to kraft paper bags from plastic for their lower cost and environmental benefits. For businesses seeking dependable kraft paper packaging products, Khatema Fibres offers high-quality solutions designed to meet modern retail requirements.
