Plastic Bags & Custom Poly Bags

Are you looking for Plastic Bags suppliers? If so, take a look below for some valuable information that may help you in your search.

Plastic Bag Types

Below is a short list of some of the more common types of plastic bags. Please note that some plastic bag manufacturers may offer different styles. Custom plastic and poly bags are also available. Check with your supplier for availability.

Back Seal: Polyethylene sheeting is folded and sealed along the back to form a tube. Bags are cut and bottom sealed. Required for wrap-around printing. Gusset available.

Bottom Seal: Bags are cut individually from seamless tubing and sealed at the bottom. Available in flat or side gusset bags. This is the strongest seal available and is suggested for heavy-duty use and with additives, for leak-proof applications.

Compartment Bags: Bag is sealed into separate compartments, or pockets, for multiple unit packaging per bag.

Door Knob Bags: Side weld bag, staple packed with perforated lip and a hole just below the top of the bag.

Flat Sheeting: Flat sheeting for wrapping, lining, or dividing layers.

Flip-Top Bags: Side weld bag with a fold over lip.

Header Bags: Side weld with continuous seal along top width located 2″-3″ below the fold. The bag is loaded and sealed from the bottom. A reinforced header is available.

Header Packs: Side weld bag, perforated top lip, stapled to header card. The bags are used with semi-automatic bag opening machinery or in manual operations. Usually packed 100 bags per card.

Perforated Rolls: Continuous roll of seamless tubing perforated at specified lengthsto easy tear-off. Top opening can be above or below perforation. They need a minimum of storage space and are used for bin liners, pallet covers, and “long” bags. Can be used with automated bagging equipment.

Pre-Opened Bags on Rolls: Each bag is connected to, and separated from, other bags by a perforation. The difference is that the perforation has been opened during the manufacturing process on one side so a product can easily be put into the bag while still connected to the roll. Allows for easy open/fill/seal. Compatible with automatic and semi-automatic packaging machinery.

Re-Seal Top: Seal top re-closable bags can be made with or without a tamper evident seal. Use for applications that require a product to be repackaged.

Side Weld: Folded polyethylene sheeting sealed at each side and available flat or with a bottom gusset. Can be made with or without a lip. They are suggested for consumer and retail use.

Wicket Bag: Side weld with two holes in the lip on a metal wicket. They can be used with automatic or semi-automatic bag openers or in manual operations.

Paper Bags Vs Plastic Bags

This is a question we have no doubt all heard many times. But how many people actually know which is better? Plastic often gets a bad reputation because there are relatively few plastic bag recycling programs. However, the truth is that very few shopping bags are recycled, paper or plastic. In light of this fact, plastic bags are the most effective option for both convenience and the environment. They are lighter, take up less space, and require less energy to produce.

In 1977 plastic grocery bags were introduced as an alternative to paper. Since that time the bags have become much lighter and take up less space than ever before. Due to advances in technology, plastic bags have reduced their use of materials by 30 percent in the last five years alone. This was done without decreasing their strength. The reduction of materials is also a benefit when the bags end up in a landfill. Plastic bags are easily crushed by the trash on top of them and compress flat. Paper, on the other hand, does not flatten from the weight on top of it. As a result, plastic grocery bags generate 80 percent less solid weight than paper grocery bags. They also consume 40 percent less energy than paper to produce.

In 1990 the first consumer plastic bag recycling programs became available. It is possible to recycle plastic bags at thousands of locations around the country. The bags are then turned into tiny pellets that are used to create new film products. Recycled plastic bags are made into products such as trash can liners, plastic lumber, drain pipes, and even new bags.

Plastic bags can also be reused for many purposes. For example,

  • Use as small trash bags in the bedroom or the office.
  • Keep dust off infrequently used items such as winter clothing.
  • Use them as padding in boxes.
  • Keep extra clothes dry when camping or hiking.
  • Put your shoes in a bag before placing them in a suitcase when traveling.
  • Store and organize items in a closet or the basement.