Advertising opportunities of paper bags

A few years ago, the word “package” meant an ordinary bag made of polyethylene, plastic or paper, which we used to carry any product or store things.

Currently, the paper package has acquired a new function — like many other products of printing production, it has begun to be used as one of the advertising media, the function of which is to retain customers.

In addition, a stylish and beautiful package with a logo and company name performs the function of additional customer interest. Attention is paid more often to a person walking down the street with such a package in his hands.

Branded packages made of different types of paper (chalked, synthetic, design) significantly differ in high manufacturing complexity, cost, and, as a result, a noticeable advertising effect.

Paper bags still perform the role of stylish and convenient packaging for gifts and goods. Products packed in a beautiful design paper bag in a bag decorated with silk screen printing, embossing or hot foil stamping will look expensive and presentable.

Beautiful and stylish packaging is an integral part of a great product.

So what exactly does a paper bag start with?

Design is essential when making paper bags. If you are going to use the packages for advertising purposes, we recommend choosing the corporate colors of the company, its logo, brand book or guideline. A package in the company’s corporate style arouses the consumer’s interest and is better remembered. A paper bag has long become one of the style attributes of any modern company.

If you need to congratulate your customers or partners on the holiday, we recommend using paper bags with a themed design and logo. Such packaging is very well remembered.

Paper bags with a “window” are also good for cosmetics or perfumes. Paper bags are great for packing light products. At exhibitions, you can carry product samples, advertising materials, catalogs, notebooks in such packages.

The modern printing market offers a huge list of paper and cardboard for making packages. Of course, all these materials differ in such indicators as density, thickness, looseness, color, smoothness, and resistance to mechanical influences. That is why, when choosing a material for making a package, it is necessary to take into account its size and intended purpose.

Typical materials for paper bags are chalked paper with a density of 170-200 g/m2 or thin cardboard. Design and synthetic paper is used relatively often.

Typical package sizes (width x height x depth) mm: 250 × 350 × 90, 300 × 400 × 150 mm.

Typical number of printing colors: 4+0. At the same time, at the request of the customer, it is possible to manufacture paper bags of any shape, color and size.

Paper and cardboard bags in most cases have a string handle or ribbon handle (satin, reps, kipper, cotton) securely attached to the top of the bag for structural strength.

The paper bag, unlike most polyethylene bags, has expansion on the bottom and sides, which allows to significantly increase the volume of the bag. We reinforce the bottom and the places where the handles of the bag are attached with thick cardboard inserts – thanks to this approach, the paper bags of our production can withstand a load of up to 10 kg and can be used many times.

Finishing with glossy or matte lamination, full or partial UF-varnish, embossing, hot foil stamping, grommets and others – as you wish.

Types of paper bags

We manufacture the following types of paper bags:

Standard paper packages are based on offset printing on chalked paper followed by coating with a matte or glossy film (lamination) with a density of 20–28 microns. Popular additional decoration of such a package: partial UF-varnish or foil embossing. This type of paper bag is the most common and is used for packing small and light items.

Cardboard Paper Bags – our customers tend to use them for heavier items due to their greater strength and durability. The main methods of printing: offset or silk screen printing. Any methods of additional decoration are possible. Among them: lamination, embossing with hot and cold foil, congreve and embossing, partial UF-varnish.

Kraft paper bags are a special kind of bags made of environmentally friendly and completely biodegradable material: white or brown kraft paper. Printing on paper bags made of kraft paper is mainly done by the silk screen (screen printing) or offset method. Compared to synthetic papers, kraft paper “breathes”, does not require protective film coverings (like cardboard and chalked paper), and is also resistant to grease and moisture. Kraft paper also belongs to packaging materials, and in addition to bags, various types of additional packaging materials can be made from it. Additional methods of processing kraft paper bags are possible: foil embossing, partial UF-varnish.

Paper bags made of design paper and cardboard are the top of the premium format in the production of paper bags. Such a package is made of special materials: various design synthetic paper, cardboard, etc. Design materials differ from basic ones by a special color range (the materials are dyed completely, all the cuts on the packages look especially neat), interesting tactile characteristics (embossed, structural, silky and many others), as well as increased density and wear resistance. Separately, it is worth noting that the packages of design materials are limited in the ways of applying corporate style and images to them. The most effective and popular methods of application and printing for this category of packaging: screen printing, bullet (blind) embossing, congruent embossing, foil embossing (hot and cold), partial UF-varnishes, VD varnishes, glitter and luminescent varnishes. The advantages of making bags from design paper are giving a branded paper bag special individuality and brand status.

What do you need to know about the production of paper bags?

The run or number of future packages

This is the first indicator that affects the unit cost of the finished product. The larger the run, the lower the price (sometimes very significantly) of one package or just one unit of packaging. Depending on the selected size, the minimum circulation for individual production is 100-200 pcs. It is more profitable to order packages of 500 pieces or more, which significantly reduces the cost of one unit.

Package materials

Although it sounds trite, quality, and technology are our priority. The correct ratio of high-quality materials and well-thought-out production technology make it possible to successfully implement the brand’s intention to compete on the market thanks to classy packaging.

Here are the main categories of materials we use in the production of packages:

Chalked paper with a density of 150-250 g/m2
Chalked cardboard with a density of 185-250 g/m2
White or brown kraft paper with a density of 90-170 g/m2
Design paper and cardboard 125-360 g/m2.

We at VEREN GROUP use exclusively high-quality materials in our production, designed for the manufacture of packaging with high wear resistance and presentability.

These materials run/roll perfectly, have increased thickness and looseness, stiffness and strength, and are distinguished by a high percentage of whiteness (for chalked paper 97-98%, for chalked cardboard 91-92%). A derivative of these characteristics is a quality package.

We reject the use of cheap Chinese analogues designed for flat printed products (such as postcards, brochures, calendars, etc.), protecting our products from cracking, peeling, tears, fractures. Such materials cannot withstand the loads expected when using packaging, are deformed and do not keep their shape.

Printing packages

We approach each order individually and select a printing option for the customer’s layout. The ratio of quality and price is at the forefront.

Taking into account the features of the layout, the type of printing is selected:

Silkscreen printing – suitable for small runs with a layout in 1–2 colors in the front areas of the package, while the ink lies on top of the lamination (which is a certain limitation of the branding area, but significantly saves the cost per paper package)
Offset printing according to CMYK formulas is a mixture of an infinite number of colors and shades based on the four main colors Cyan Magenta Yellow Black. This method of printing allows you to transfer complete images (for example, photos) to a paper bag.
Offset printing according to Pantone formulas – a certain color corresponding to the color number according to the standardized Pantone scale, used in the prescribed corporate policy regarding the logo and corporate style of related products (brand book), where corporate colors according to the Pantone scale are specified, or in field layouts, the use of Pantone paint at the same time, it provides a high-quality uniform deep color of the background and eliminates the possibility of ripples and waves during printing.
The development of unique colors according to Pantone technology for the individual client. This is a kind of unique service of VEREN GROUP: in special cases, when we do not find the right color in the basic Pantone palettes, we develop a special color for the client according to his wishes and taking into account all materials.
Combination of offset printing types according to CMYK and Pantone formulas in one product. This type of printing is used to combine one product with a high-quality photocell and a deep, dense background. The combination of two technologies allows you to combine both tasks in one product without losing image quality in the product.

Our specialists will always help you understand this issue, choose the best way to convey your idea, corporate style and concept in the finished product. After receiving the elements of the layout or the characteristics of the future design from the customer, we advise on printing methods, develop a technical layout, prepare digital color proofs, as well as a test sample of the product to accurately determine the final look of the package before the start of full-scale production.

Lamination

The lamination process is one of the most important elements in the paper bag manufacturing cycle. Such basic materials as chalked paper and cardboard after applying the image must be covered with a protective coating, namely, a film for lamination at high temperatures (90-130 ºС). Craft and design materials, in most cases, do not require this process.

The main types of film for laminating paper bags:

matte
glossy

We use design films for lamination much less often than basic ones. Here are their varieties:

velvet touch
soft touch
linen/mat
holographic
gold
silver

The film for lamination in our production is presented by one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polymer materials for hot lamination. The thickness of the film is only 25–27 microns, which allows you to protect the print and strengthen the product. Moreover, if we consider the thickness of the film, the glossy film of increased thickness has a better mirror surface than the film of 18–22 microns. We do not deceive customers, and we do not save on such important material for the final look of products as lamination film.

Additional branding processes

Partial UF-varnish

Application of a matte element on a glossy lamination or a glossy element on a matte lamination. This type of application is used to highlight an image or a decorative element of the package.

Blind embossing without the use of foil

The basis of this technology is the production of a metal matrix with a logo or image (cliché) and a plastic or fiberglass counter matrix (patrix). This method of application looks very impressive on dense materials of a contrasting color (dark or light).

Stamping with colored foil

One of our favorite types of package decoration. To implement this technology, we use a method in which a foil is stretched between a heated cliché (a metal matrix with a logo or image) and the package material. During pressing (printing), the foil is applied to the package in a cold or hot way.

We divide embossing foil into the following categories:

metallized (gold, silver, colored shades of metal) can be both glossy and matte
color matte
holographic (in addition to the color of this foil, there are also differences among types)

Congreve embossing (congreve)

The process of extruding an image on a plane. Congreve embossing (congreve) is a process of obtaining a three-dimensional image by deforming the package material between two matrices (cliché + countermatrix). In contrast to blind embossing, where the image is pressed inward, as a result of congruent embossing, a convex image is obtained that rises above the surface of the material.

Running

The running of products is practically a finishing process and therefore a very responsible process. We perform it on professional equipment with the involvement of high-quality running channels, matrices and shrink tapes, which guarantees clear, even lines of the package, the absence of pressed and cracked runs, and bonded lamination in places of folding (fold).

To carry out this production process, a unique die (in simple – a stamp) is made for each size of the package. This is a special plate with running knives fixed in it. To install such knives, you need precise laser equipment that marks the plate for installing channels with an accuracy of 0.01 mm.

We do not skimp on quality at this point, and we do not deceive with a low price, since our position in using such consumables when running the product will, of course, increase the cost of the product.

Folding and gluing

Folding and gluing of the product takes place on high-tech equipment, professional glue installations, with high-quality glues that correspond to the selected material of the product. Specialists with more than 5 years of experience in the production of paper bags are participating. We don’t use tape, or any cheap hot-melt glues that are unstable to temperature changes, we monitor every seam.

Handle amplifiers and bottom-liners

In our opinion, this is a critical component of the package because strengthening the design of the package in the places where the handles and the bottom are attached provide additional rigidity to the product (the bottom and the upper perimeter along the handle do not deform under load) and strengthen weak points (holes for the handle or for the tape do not violate the integrity material that increases its strength).

For inserts and amplifiers, we use exclusively cardboard with a density of at least 390 g/m2 (on average 420-430 g/m2), which increases the strength of the product, the dimensions of amplifiers and inserts are as close as possible in terms of length/width to the parameters of the package, which increases the rigidity of the product at exploitation

We do not “optimize” the cost of products by putting cardboard scraps, printing waste and waste from other runs under the handle and at the bottom, but we use specially designed cardboard for this purpose.

Package handles

Tape handles

Raps tape pasted into the fold of a paper bag (can be satin, organza, cotton, kipper or any other material) + additional strengthening of the fold of the bag with cardboard + full gluing of the fold = your perfect package. By combining these processes, we get an excellent result: the tape keeps its shape, and the package withstands a load of 2-10 kg (depending on the client’s wishes and strengthening technology)

Basically, we use rap tapes. They are the most popular. Moreover, our customers love satin, jacquard, cotton, and kipper ribbons in paper bags.

The classic width of the tape for the handle is 26 mm, for the tie – 10-15 mm. If the package is of medium or large size, it can be installed tape up to 50 mm wide.

String handles

This is the classic string for a paper bag. Such a package is always concise and convenient for carrying not very heavy objects (up to 2 kg).

There are several main categories of cord that we use for paper and cardboard bag handles:

the cord is standard, without filler, with a diameter of 4.5-6 mm
”Euro-weaving” cord with filler, 5-10 mm in diameter
cotton and cotton cords with “euro-weave”
rope weaving cord
cords made of metallized thread

String handles can be in tone with the background or logo on the package, or they can be colored, again, it depends on the taste preferences of the client. As you can see, the color palette and types of technologies are quite diverse.

Craft handles

One of the simplest types of handles, but! Conceptually, a bag with such a twisted harness handle is completely different from all the previous types of bags that we talked about earlier. And moreover, despite its simplicity, it is worthy of many praises.

The jute, like the cord and the tape, can be white, brown, or painted in a color as desired by the customer.

Also, in craft bags, we use flat three-dimensional handles, the result is in the photo 😉

Punched (chisel) handles

Punched handles of standard and individual shape are a very effective decoration of a paper bag, but… Such a handle is not very ergonomic when using the bag. We do not recommend choosing this type of bag handle if you plan to carry items weighing more than 1 kg. When under load, such a handle will create discomfort for the fingers with sharp edges.

Instead of afterwords

Despite the fact that packages are technically complex and expensive, if they are properly made, they are very effective and convenient to use. Good branded packages with a logo can advertise the company for a long time and remind customers about the brand.

Paper bags are great for wrapping gifts or goods. Placing advertising information on the package (images, logo, website, phones and other information) will be an effective advertisement for the company.

If you want customers to walk with your bag for a very long time, choose a size with a wide bottom (from 120 mm) so that it can easily fit a food container 🙂