Paper Bag

The Making of a Paper Bag

Paper bags have been in wide circulation recently, and not only because they’re becoming the more durable option. As people grow more conscious of the lasting impact of waste, paper bags are an environmentally-effective choice that is cost-effective.

Compostable paper bags can be used in various ways by your business, and you can make them your advertisement tool as well. When you are looking to understand more about paper bags, here is what you should know:

History of the Paper Bag

The first paper bag originated in the United States around the 1800s. From there brown paper bags came into existence around the 1870s, but the first machine to manufacture paper bags was invented in the 1850s.

The first paper bag company solely focused on their production was the Union Paper Bag Machine Company, which was started by a school teacher and his brother. Interestingly enough, the person who invented the machine for paper bags was the same person who started the first paper bag company!

How Are They Manufactured Today?

While paper food containers and other by-products of the original paper bags have started being manufactured today, you might be surprised to know that the original paper bag still has the same manufacturing process as in the 1850s. For every paper bag produced, around 1 gallon of water is used.

Paper pulp sourced for paper bags must be dried for at least three years. Tree bark is transformed into pulp through an intense heat and pressure technique. The paper pulp is pressed into flat sheets and then cut. The rough template of the paper bag is then glued together through heat and pressing. Industrial glue may also be used at this stage. Depending on the design of the paper bag, other processes may also be involved to further shape the paper bag. Handles are made separately and glued on afterward.

What Are They Made of?

Paper bags more or less still have the same basic materials as they did back then. While the quality has changed due to technological advances, kraft paper and glue are generally used. However, the design of the paper bag can also determine what materials are being used.

When a glossy finish is required, some time of laminated paper or glossy finish paper is used. If a colored bag is required, colored paper will be used. Recycled kraft paper is also being used today by eco-conscious consumers and businesses. The weight of the bag is determined by the thickness of the paper.

Disposing of Them

Most, if not all, paper bags are eco-friendly, meaning that they can be disposed of quite easily. You can recycle them, put them in a compost bin or reuse them!

 

 

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