The world uses 160,000 plastic bags per second, and 10% of this ends up in our oceans. Whilst plastic is a great, cost-effective and recyclable bag option, and our printed polythene carrier bags are completely recyclable, there is a key importance to shift away from single-use plastics and to more sustainable solutions. Our plastic-free bag range provides an array of options, from natural strong plastic bags to biodegradable options. From recyclable paper, to innovative, waste-efficient stone paper. For businesses looking to honour their environmental pledges and make the switch to something greener, our range of printed plastic free bags has something for everyone.
The most eco-friendly and sustainable bag in our range, the printed potato starch carrier bag is our recommended choice for businesses placing their environmental commitments at the top of their list when designing their printed carrier bags. These bags can be placed on a home compost heap and will biodegrade in 3 months. They’re also made from 100% natural materials, whilst looking fantastic when printed and remaining strong and sturdy for everyday use.
View Bag & Get A QuoteOur sugar cane bags are the closest ‘like-for-like’ option to a common polythene bag in terms of strength and quality, however they’re made from completely natural materials, are 100% carbon neutral, and are tax exempt.
View Bag & Get A QuoteStone paper bags are a next generation alternative to paper bags. Just like a standard paper bag, these are fully recyclable and reusable. However, because they are made from waste limestone, they can be produced more efficiently, saving water, reducing CO2, saving energy, reducing waste, and saving trees from being felled. All of this, plus they’re stronger than standard paper, and water resistant. Stone paper bags are only available in large order quantities, so please give our team a call if you're interested.
View Bag & Get A QuoteA kraft paper gift bag is our most luxury eco-friendly carrier bag. With options for paper rope or ribbon handles, these bags can be made fully recyclable, and look glorious with your custom print and bespoke size requirement.
View Bag & Get A QuotePaper bags are a great way to showcase environmental commitments and move away from plastic bags. Our paper bag range is strong, easily printable, and completely recyclable.
View Bag & Get A QuoteMost of our fabric bag range can be made from recycled, organic and/or fairtrade materials, and fabric bags can be recycled too, making them a good eco-friendly bag option. These bags are also highly reusable, meaning you can print your brand and showcase it multiple times, whilst also creating a bag that is not just disposed-of after a single use.
View Bag & Get A QuoteWith such a wide range of bags that are eco-friendly, naturally there’s a variance in the cost from bag-to-bag. The main factor affecting cost will be the quantity of bags you order, specifically, the more bags you order, the lower the unit cost per bag will be, though this will also be different depending on the bag type. Please get in touch and we will provide you with a full cost breakdown alongside your quote.
There are three areas to consider when evaluating the eco-friendliness of a carrier bag.
Firstly, the efficiency and sustainability of the carrier bag’s production. Does the manufacturing of the bag produce unnecessary waste? Does it utilise unsustainable materials? Does it utilise newly sourced materials, or does it use recycled or even repurposed waste materials? Does the process create greenhouse gas emissions?
Secondly, the reusability of the bag. The more reusable the bag, the less likely it will be disposed of. Further, reusable bags provide a function, so when they do become waste, they’ll have served a good purpose.
Finally, consider the disposal of the bag. Can the bag be recycled? Can it be recycled at home? How easy is it to recycle the bag? Is the bag biodegradable? How long does it take to disintegrate?
Read more about this in our blog.
Our most eco-friendly bag is our potato starch bags. Made from natural potato starch, strong as a polythene bag, and completely biodegradable, these bags tick all the boxes of what makes a bag eco-friendly. Our other plastic free bags include sugar cane bags, stone paper bags, standard paper bags and fabric bags. It’s important to note that some bags are sustainable in terms of their production, some bags have sustainable disposal assets such as recyclability. Some bags are simply very reusable which makes them a great way of avoiding single-use plastics.
With sustainable production, an eco-friendly bag can reduce our reliance on unsustainable natural resources. Eco-friendly bags also have other benefits such as reduced energy, water and material consumption in their production, and some can be made carbon neutral. Eco-friendly bags can also prevent the use of single-use plastics, they can re-circulate materials to be recycled into new items, and they can also be made biodegradable to have a net-neutral impact on the environment.
A paper bag made from recycled paper is more eco-friendly than one made with new materials, and this could be seen as more eco-friendly than a reusable bag. Paper is commonly recycled after use, meaning that a paper bag can be a great sustainable bag option. Reusable bags last longer than paper but typically are less sustainable in their production and more harmful when disposed of (or not reused). These bags should both be used as great alternative options to give customers a choice of bag.
There is no difference between a biodegradable and compostable bag. A biodegradable bag simply refers to its ability to disintegrate over time. Compostable bags are biodegradable bags that can be added to other naturally biodegradable items, such as fruit, vegetables, lawn clippings and other natural waste, that will over time be turned into compost.
Yes, all of our carrier bags can be printed with your branding.
