When retailers make the switch from plastic to paper, many questions arise. The terminology and sizing can be confusing. We’ve taken a few of the most commonly asked questions and tried to answer them in order to make your transition more seamless.
I’m in a city/state that has a plastic bag ban/fee. What do I need?
Bag legislation ranges based on your area. But most require paper bags to be 100% recycled content, 40% post-consumer. They also have to be 100% recyclable and printed with specific information including name and location of manufacturer, recycled content, etc. Many WCI products are compliant with legislation. Learn more.
What is Kraft paper?
Kraft paper or kraft is paper or paperboard produced from chemical pulp produced in the kraft process. Sack kraft paper, or just sack paper, is a porous kraft paper with high elasticity and high tear resistance, designed for packaging products with high demands for strength and durability. Kraft does not describe the color of the paper. Available types of kraft paper include, recycled, bleached, beater dyed, etc. Learn more on our glossary.
How do you measure the thickness or strength of the bag?
As opposed to poly, which measures thickness in “mils”, paper is measured in basis weight. Merriam Webster defines basis weight as, “the weight in pounds of a 500-sheet ream of paper cut to a basic size.” So it’s accurate to say that basis weight refers to the thickness of the paper. The higher the basis weight, the thicker the paper is and, accordingly, the stronger the paper is. WCI manufactures bags of varying basis weights, from 20# to 126# – available basis weights vary based on bag type and size. Learn more about basis weight.
What bag size do I need?
Both paper and plastic bags offer a wide range of sizes suiting retail, pharmacy, grocery, concession, convenience, and e-commerce customers. This chart may help you select a size that works best for your items. Don’t see what you need? Ask our packaging team to help you select the bag that’s right for you!
| Currently Using( Plastic) | Suggested Bag Type (Paper) | Common Uses | Popular Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic T-Sacks | SOS Bags, Hardware Bags | Grocery, Liquor Stores | 11 Standard Sizes Available (from 1# - 1/6 bbl) |
| Plastic T-Sacks | Handled Shopping Bags | Retail/Checkout | 14 Standard Sizes Available |
| Plastic T-Sacks | Merchandise Bags | Retail/Checkout | 14 Standard Sizes Available (from 4.75 x 6.75 to 16 x 3.75 x 24) |
| Single Unit Bakery Bags | Concession Bags | Cookies, Donuts, Sandwiches, etc. | 6 x 3.75 x 7, 6.75 x 7 |
| Single Unit Bakery Bags | Gourmet Bags | Cookies, Donuts, Sandwiches, etc. | 4.75 x 6.75 (1/4#), 5.75 x 7.5 (1/2#), 6.75 x 9.25 (1#) |
| Plastic Carry Out Bags | Grease-Resistant SOS Bags | Bagels, Donuts, Chips, Carryout/Restaurant | 4#, 6#, 8# |
| Window Bread Bags | Paper Bread Bags (no window) | Bakery, Grocery | 5 x 3.5 x 18 (Sub/Sandwich), 4.5 x 2.25 x 24 (French/Baguette) Custom Sizes Available |
| Pharmacy/Medical/ Dispensary | Pharmacy Prescription Bags | Prescription (Single Item) | 3.5 x 2 x 10, 5 x 2 x 12 |
| Pharmacy/Medical | SOS Bags | Prescription (Multiple Items) | 4#, 6#, 12#, 20# |
| Poly/Bubble Mailers | Eco-Natural® Shipping Bags (Flat) | E-Commerce (Small/Single Items) | 7 Standard Sizes Available |
| Poly/Bubble Mailers | Eco-Natural® Shipping Bags (Gusseted) | E-Commerce (Large/Multiple Items) | 3 Standard Sizes Available |
| Poly/Bubble Mailers | Dura-Bag® Shipping Bags | E-Commerce (Bulky/Heavy Items) | 15 Standard Sizes Available |