Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags - Out with the old.
Prior to the introduction of the plastic carrier bag charge in 2015, which required retailers to charge at least 5 pence for single-use polythene carrier bags, paper bags were not commonplace in retail. Plastic options dominated, with options such as bags-for-life the only real alternative. This makes sense – plastic bags are strong, cheap, easy to produce, easily printable, and simple to store. We’re also talking about a world that was much less focussed on sustainable options and much more focussed on the cheapest, strongest solutions.
Following the introduction of the charge, there became an incentive for supermarkets to shift to alternative options that avoided the charge. Initially, consumers did not like the change. After so many years of not paying for bags, they now had to, and this was a burden and often interpreted as a ‘tax’ on retail shopping. Such an attitude was the driving force of retailers bringing paper bags into their carrier bag options, with many doing away with plastic altogether.
10 years on from this change, the world has made considerable progress in switching away from plastic – whether this is actually eco-friendly or not is up for debate, and it’s something we discuss at length in our recent insight. With paper bags being the on-trend alternative, we explore the differences between paper and plastic bags, and which option is the best for your business.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which have better handles?
Paper bags have a few handle options, with standard paper bags available with either flat handles, or twisted handles. There are options for die-cut handles, but this is only for luxury paper bags that use a more card-like material for extra strength – as a retail carrier bag, this is not the most popular option.
Flat-handle paper bags have wide and thin handles that fold out to make the bag easy to carry. Twisted-handle paper bags have thin, cylindrical handles made from paper that has been twisted to form a rope-like handle. Both options are favourable, with the flat handles being easier to fold and store, and twisted handles being stronger and more durable.
Plastic bags can come with 3 standard handle variants. Patch handles, punched-out handles and flexiloop handles. It’s also possible to have a plastic drawstring bag, which is popular among sports retailers.
Patch handle bags have handles that are extracted from the bag itself, and then a plastic patch is placed around the handle on the inside of the bag to strengthen it. Punched-out handle bags are similar to patch handle bags, however there is no plastic patch, and the handle is strengthened by the bag material being thicker at the top of the bag. Flexiloop handle bags have external plastic handles attached to the inside of the bag, and are much more ergonomic and comfortable to hold than other variants.
Both paper and plastic bags have multiple handle options, however there are more variants for polythene bags. With the strength and comfort of paper bag handles, it’s clear that there is no compromise when it comes to paper bags and their handles.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which is stronger?
Strength is perhaps one of the most important considerations when it comes to comparing paper and plastic bags. Plastic has been a mainstay material for carrier bags, and a large contributing factor to this is its strength. One of the main aversions to paper as a carrier bag material for both retailer and consumers is its strength, both in terms of weight capacity and penetrability. Naturally, paper tears and disintegrates when exposed to liquids, whereas plastic is much more resistant to sharp contents and can easily carry weighty products.
Paper bags have come a long way and are generally strong and sturdy enough to carry most items. With the thickness and quality of most paper bag materials, these bags can withstand some rain & water damage before the structural integrity of the bag is affected. However, there are many new plastic-free alternatives coming into play, such as sugar cane polymer bags and potato-starch bags. These bags are fully weatherproof to the same extent as polythene, and as such brands tend to avoid paper as an eco-alternative when they need a strong, robust carrier bag.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which look better custom printed?
There’s not a great deal of variation between what’s possible for paper and plastic bag printing. Both bag types can come in any colour, and can be printed with a design in any colour, including multiple colours too. Plastic bags are the same, but can also come in transparent or translucent (frosted) variants.
Both bag types look great when printed with any design. There’s no compromise when it comes to printing. Whilst plastic bags are glossier and shinier, paper bags have an elegant, matte finish. We’ve got many examples of custom coloured prints of both paper bags and plastic bags from previous projects we’ve worked on. Use our examples to come to your own conclusion on which bag type looks better with the print finish and design that you desire.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which are more eco friendly?
Paper Bags are an option that has become very popular among brands that desire to move away from plastic due to its lack of environmental friendliness. It’s quite simple – plastic waste is not easily recycled at home, meaning it frequently goes to landfill where it does not easily biodegrade.
Looking deeper at the issue, it’s surprising how the reality of the environmental paper vs plastic debate is quite the opposite of what you may think.
Paper bags are touted as environmentally friendly as they use sustainable and natural materials (wood & water) in their production. However, usage of these materials actually does more harm than good. Trees remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, so the felling of trees for paper actually causes a damaging effect to the overall presence of greenhouse gases. Paper also uses a significant amount of water in its production, and requires up to three times the amount of energy to produce than plastic.
Paper’s recyclability as a green credential for its use as a material for carrier bags is also less environmentally impactful than most assume. In the UK, just over half of the waste that can be recycled is actually recycled. Further, around 30% of the paper and cardboard sent for recycling never gets recycled, which amounts to around 1.5 million tonnes. Often, paper waste is lined with a lamination layer to increase its strength which means it can no longer be recycled. Paper can also only be recycled so many times, meaning it will end up as waste eventually.
Plastic bags are, on the other hand, much less impactful than you may think. With regard to energy consumption, water consumption, climate change impact, atmospheric acidification, air quality impact, eutrophication of water and solid waste production, plastic bags are significantly less impactful than paper alternatives.
Plastic bags are much lighter than paper bags, meaning transportation requires less freight and fuel, and is more economical. Plastic is also made from a substance called ethylene, a byproduct of oil production. Whilst oil production in its own right has significant environmental consequences, utilising the waste material is environmentally friendly as it prevents this from being disposed of without use or function.
Plastic does have its own damaging effects, with the main concerns being its lack of degradation and disintegration into harmful microplastics. Right now, plastic bags are not easily recyclable at home in the UK, meaning they often end up in landfill if not reused. Plastic bags can be recycled at most supermarkets, or plastic recycling points, however enabling a simpler recycling process for plastic bags would significantly reduce the impact of these bags going to landfill.
The environmental impact of both paper and plastic bags is a widely debated topic. On the surface, paper appears to be the obvious green choice, however when analysed, it’s widely accepted that plastic has a lower environmental impact overall.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which have better size flexibility?
We’ll keep this section very short, because there’s very little difference between paper & plastic when it comes to size flexibility. Both bag types come in a range of sizes, and typically suppliers can achieve any custom size for larger orders.
Our comprehensive size guides cover the range of sizes available for both paper and plastic bags. The main difference between paper and plastic bags is the presence of a gusset. Smaller plastic bags do not always need to be configured with a gusset, whereas all paper bags will have a gusset of some form.
Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags – Which are easier to store?
Paper bags are made from thin material, and fold down easily to be stored. These are much easier to store than options such as fabric & luxury carrier bags. Compared with plastic however, paper bags are significantly heavier and take up much more room. Plastic bags are much thinner, and because they’re made from a lower material quantity they weigh much less, impacting both their ease of transport and storage. They can also be stored unfolded, taking up less room.
Are paper bags a downgrade compared with plastic bags?
The quintessential carrier bag has always been the polythene bag. Particularly in the UK, if more can be done to increase the ease of recyclability of plastic bags at home, these bags can become a much more eco-conscious option. As long as ethylene is remains a byproduct of oil production, utilising this waste remains an economical practice – however this is not a long-term solution, as the overall production hinges on the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. Paper bags, though made from sustainable materials and easily recycled, have a net-negative environmental impact that mean they’re not a long-term green solution. For the most eco-conscious brands, campaigning for better home recyclability of polythene bags, showcasing the truth around the sustainability of paper options, and adopting bio-degradable options such as potato starch carrier bags is the best approach.
When looking at these bag types for what they are – bags – each option has its pros and cons. From ergonomics to strength and reliability. From aesthetics to value-for-money. It’s difficult to call one bag type worse than another, simply because for different brands, and different consumers, bags will always tick different boxes that matter to different people. Overall, there is no downgrade, and brands should simply consider which factors matter the most to them.
