Paper Bags And Their Types

Paper bags also known as paper sacks are preformed containers made of paper and other special materials. The bags usually come in various designs and kinds. They are very useful for packaging and carrying of all sorts of items. Let's take a look at the origin of such bags.

Brief Historical background

The idea of using such bag came through the ingenuity of Margaret Knight in the late 1870s. The lady was an employee in a paper bag factory where she invented a machine part that made use of square bottoms in manufacturing paper sacks. In those days, the bags do come in form of grocery bags which were being used for various purposes as at then. However, with the occurrence of the industrial revolution in the late 18th century so many companies began to manufacture all kinds of such bags. Today, the bags are becoming very common as they are being used for packaging and carrying of all sorts of items.

Paper bags come in various types and designs these days. Let's examine some of its major types.

Single Layer Paper Bags

These are quality paper sacks that have single layers in their forms. They come in variety of designs and sizes with one sided openings. Among them include brown bags, grocery bags, bread paper bags, paper carry bags and some others. They are generally known to be very light and hence can only be used in packaging light items such as food ingredients, fashion accessories and other light items.

Multiwall paper bags

These are bags that are normally used as containers for ship items. They are used in packaging bulky shipping items such as sand, flour, rice, cement and so on. Such bags usually have several layers both on their external and internal compartments. Some of the bags do have coated paper layers while others do come with polyethylene foils.

Major designs of paper bags

Paper bags as they are seen in the two major kinds discussed above do come in various designs. There are two main designs commonly seen. These include the valve designs and the open mouth designs. The valve bags usually have their both ends; up and bottom closed. They normally have valve opening through which items are inserted. Cement bags are typical examples of valve bags. On the other hand, the open mouth bags usually have their bottoms sealed while their upper ends are open. Items are usually loaded through the opening while the bags are then sealed with adhesives or by effective stitching.

The Recycling of the paper bags

These bags are highly needed for various purposes in every country. They are used in packaging all sorts of items all over the world. The bags are easily recycled although some of them made of plastic or water-resistant materials are usually very stubborn when it comes to recycling.

In any case, these bags are very useful right from the days they were invented. They are very cheap and are always available for purchase anytime you need them.

Ways Paper and Packaging Companies Can Simplify Data and Email Archiving

The move toward the paperless office was meant to make data access and storage simpler but, in many cases, it just makes it easier to accumulate information without organizing it. Companies become mired in inefficient data systems to the point where it jeopardizes their ability to do business. Taking control of the information with IT managed services is the first step to efficient and cost-effective company operations.

The Problem: Inefficient Data Management

The most common reason for data gridlock is rapid growth. Data policies that served the smaller company become hopelessly disorganized as the organization grows. Often these were bad policies in the first place, but the problems could be handled on a smaller scale and therefore overlooked. As business information demands grow, the problems they create increase exponentially.

The situation is bad enough when a company grows through normal increase in customer traffic. However, unique problems arise when organizations expand by acquiring other businesses. Each of these new companies comes with their own philosophies on data management philosophy subjects such as backups and email archiving. Corporate policies become a mish mash of rules from each member company. Often these new acquisitions have outdated IT infrastructures that compromise the operation of the overall organization. Until these data centers are consolidated and brought under control, the entire company is going to run at a disadvantage.

Moving Data Storage Offsite

The larger and more geographically separated an organization becomes, the more it benefits from third-party IT managed services. The contractors bring a level of expertise that even large internal IT departments typically can't match. Because they focus exclusively on data storage, access and recovery they can bring a specialized skill set to bear on the problem that gets the situation under control as quickly as possible.

The first step is to evaluate the organization's needs for data storage, email archiving and other information services. This should include not only current needs but a plan for future scalability as the organization grows. There is no point in getting the current system under control if the same problem will occur again in a few years.

The next step establishes a centralized remote site for data storage. IT managed services such as email archiving and server backups can all be directed toward a central set of redundant and protected servers, and new acquisitions can easily tie in to the remote network.

SaaS Over Traditional Software

The latest trend in IT managed services is to create tools that run as SaaS (Software as a Service) rather than as desktop or server applications. End users install a simple front end client while the central software tool runs from a remote site. The front end communicates with the main application through fast and secure internet connections, and in most cases users can't tell the difference over a desktop service.

SaaS ensures that every component of the company is using the same tool. Software updates of the core application are easy since it is a matter of updating a single application. Clients need to be updated much less often, and updates are automatically pushed by the central application. Standardizing email archiving and other IT managed services across the entire organization streamlines operations and improves the security and availability of information.

Business Continuity And Disaster Recovery

Day-to-day company operations ranging from order processing to customer management to contract administration all run seamlessly under the new data access system. However, the move to remote IT managed services has other benefits.

Continuity is critical to modern business. Customers no longer tolerate a business being shut down even for a few hours due to server crashes or other data disasters. When data services such as email archiving are centralized to a protected and redundant facility, problems from disk failures to major natural disasters can no longer threaten a company's ability to continue to offer data access and full service.

In the unlikely event of data loss, recovery is greatly facilitated by using remote data storage. Email archiving and other backups are done routinely, and multiple backups ensure the data remains available even if the central resource is compromised. At the same time, fewer IT resources are used and this reduces company operating costs.

Remote IT managed services increase data access, security and disaster recovery while also reducing the demand for and cost of internal IT resources. Find out how these services can benefit your organization and give you a competitive edge.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a database for manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers and suppliers of Packaging & Paper Products including hologram, label & tag, packaging materials, paper & pulp, & other HDPE sacks etc.

5 Easy Steps To Get Started Packaging Your Product

Feeling overwhelmed while trying to develop a package for your product? I'm not surprised. Packaging is the third largest industry in the country. In fact, there are more than 10,000 packaging manufactures in the US alone. The proliferation of material choices and vendors is extensive. To begin you will have to narrow the resource and material universe before you package anything. That is your first step because you can't have a product without a package.

Which vendor is right for you? What is your packaging material of choice? Do you understand the differences between each material and what value each will bring to marketing your product? How do you sift through the mounds of information and resources to set started packaging your product?

Here are 5 easy rules to get you started.

1. Do Your Homework.

Before you decide how you want to package your product you need to see and understand what is already available in the marketplace. Even if your product is the greatest new invention out there, you will still have competition of some sort. Start by checking that out first. Visit outlets that carry similar products or products in the same category. For example, if you have a houseware product you should check out places that market housewares. Don't just pick one outlet. Go to a variety of stores. You don't want to develop a great new packaging concept only to find someone else is already doing the same thing. The more you look the better informed you will become. Be careful not to go into information overload by visiting every retailer outlet out there. This will only serve to confuse your decision making process.

2. Pick Your Packaging Material.

This isn't as simple as it sounds because there are many external factors influencing why products are packaged in certain types of materials. Certain products lend themselves special merchandising. Some products can only be merchandised in certain materials. How the product is merchandised may dictate what type of package material you use. For example, if you need clarity to see the entire product then you are probably going to want plastic. The choice of material may also be dictated by availability.

Packaging materials are classified by their primary raw material. Two simple examples are paper and plastic. Within in each material type are numerous sub categories of different types of packaging. If you chose paper packaging it might be a box, a bag, a drum, a tube, a canister and so on. See the variety of choices? It's easy to become inundated with options and hard to figure out what is the best choice. As products lend themselves to several different packaging materials, it's best to start with what you know is working with similar products. Even if you choose the same material as a competitive product the package doesn't necessarily need to look the same.

3. Optimize Your Package Profile.

This is what is called the retail footprint, i.e., how much space will your product take up on the shelf. Your goal is to have the smallest size or amount of packaging you can while optimizing the shape and design of the package. It's important to understand the concept of the retail footprint. Retail space is at a premium so the smaller amount of space you use the happier the retailer will be. They may even specify that your product only be allowed so much shelf space. In any case, you need to understand the concept and incorporate that in your sales pitch to retailers.

Many times you can package your product in variety of different ways. This is where creativity comes into play. Your product doesn't just have to sit on a shelf in a box. It could sit upright; it could hang or be displayed in a floor stand or similar merchandiser. There are many unique ways to merchandise any product. You just have to think outside of traditional ways of doing things. Look at other products from different industries. See if you can't incorporate design ideas into your own product packaging.

4. Be Prepared To Take Advice.

I know you are in love with your product and you are sure you have ALL the answers, but you can't be an expert at everything. Listen to what other people have to say about your product packaging. Don't get so caught up in your own ideas that you make design mistakes or mistakes in merchandising. Get a reality check from someone who knows nothing about your product. See if your packaging concept is compelling to an outsider. By that I mean that they are interested enough to pick your product up off the shelf.

There are many resources available to you at little or no cost. Many vendors provide design expertise as part of the order. There is an unlimited amount of resource materials that can give you basic information that can save you many hours and costly mistakes. Be sure and spend time checking them out.

5. Think Big, But Be Prepared To Compromise.

I know your product is fantastic, but you may need to start out on a smaller scale than you envision. One of the largest obstacles might be finding a vendor. In general, custom packaging is relegated to large volume orders and you are probably not there yet. But don't despair.

Look for stock items that can be customized. The stock container market has improved dramatically with innovation and new designs. In fact there are many companies now that provide only stock containers. You can customize stock on a smaller scale. With a simple label change, your package may there. Also ordering in a limited quantity allows you to change and modify your packaging as your sales increase. You don't want to have 10,000 old packages on hand when you have a design change or need to change what's on the package due to some regulatory issue.

The important fact is to understand that packaging is not static it evolves and changes with consumer needs and demands. It can even change because you have more business and can order in larger quantities. What worked in the past may not work tomorrow. You need to be innovative and creative in your thinking. Look for guidance and expertise in outside resources. Keep up with packaging changes and materials. Don't get caught ordering too much stock that you can never use. Think big and start small.

Don't wait until it’s too late. Make packaging your first thought--not your last.

I get hundreds of inquiries a month asking how to package products. Most of the time, they are in crisis mode because they did not think about the package until crunch time. I just got a call from an entrepreneur whose packaging was a disaster. She never thought about the role packaging plays in her product’s success until her retailer said "NO WAY" to her product packaging. She had to start over. As a result, she lost a great deal of money in the process.

Packing and Unpacking Made Easy

Moving into your new home is an exciting time, but most of us dread the idea of packing and unpacking all of our belongings. It can be a daunting task, and no one looks forward to the work involved with a big move. Valuable items get lost or broken, and our sense of organization all but disappears during a move. These packing tips can make the transition on moving day go smoothly and almost stress-free.

1. Start early!

You might want to hold a yard sale to help clear out unwanted or unneeded items. Thrift stores and consignment shops will gladly accept your unwanted clothes. The fewer items you have to move, the easier your move will be. In addition, you may raise some money while getting rid of things! Prepare for packing by getting the necessary supplies:

Strong, corrugated cardboard boxes

Box labels or stickers

Foam peanuts or "popcorn" and bubble wrap

Tissue paper or newsprint for wrapping delicate items

Packing tape to seal boxes

Markers

Scissors and/or Exacto knife

When packing boxes, keep their weight between 25-35 pounds. Pack heavier items in smaller boxes and lighter items in larger boxes. Pack items from the same room together. Seal the box with packing tape, and clearly label it, indicating the general category of contents and which room the box's items come from. (Color coordinating box labels will make unloading easier, too!) First, pack possessions you rarely use, like items from the garage or storage areas. Once you clear out the garage, you will have space to store the boxes until moving day. You can also save time and space by ordering a "pod" or "pack rat," a portable storage container. Pack a few cartons each day, so your workload doesn't seem overwhelming.

2. Pack dishes and other fragile items

When packing fragile items, it is important to keep them safe and secure from breakage. Select a medium-sized box and line the bottom with crumpled packing paper. Carefully wrap each item individually, and place in the carton. When packing glasses and stemware, fill them with crumpled packing paper. Place items in an upright position. Separate layers of items with packing paper or bubble wrap, and be sure to fill in any empty space to prevent shifting of items. Mark the box "FRAGILE," and always stack at the top.

3. Pack small appliances and electronics

When possible, you should pack small appliances and electronics in their original packaging. These items fit efficiently in their original boxes, and are often awkward to fit into other types of cartons. If you do not have the original packaging, choose an appropriate-sized box, and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item, and place it in its carton. Wrap cords separately, label to identify usage, and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded item and the box.

4. Pack Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures

Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames, and place on edge in cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings, because ink will transfer from the newsprint to your artwork.

5. Pack clothes

Use wardrobe boxes to pack clothes on hangers. You can keep clothes smelling fresh by placing a scented dryer sheet in the box with the clothes. Keep folded clothes in dresser drawers, and take the drawers out before you move the dresser into the moving truck or pod. Once the dresser is loaded, replace the drawers during the actual move. Be sure the drawers are not overloaded, as this can cause damage to the dresser during the move. When you unload into your new Arizona home, remove the drawers first.

6. Disassemble beds

Near the date of your move, disassemble beds to prepare for transport. Take the mattresses off the frame and disassemble, being sure to keep all nuts, bolts, and other hardware in a sealed plastic bag. Label the bag and place in a box labeled appropriately. Secure bed rails with tape or twine.

7. Pack food items

When packing canned goods, place upright with no more than 24-30 cans per box. Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and pack in small cartons. Try to consume all perishable and frozen food items before your move, as these items are difficult to move to a new Arizona home safely. If packing medicines, seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and pack upright in small cartons. If needed during travel, carry medicines with you.

8. Pack a survival kit

During your move, you may be unable to find some important everyday items that you will need the first few days in your new home. Pack a "survival" kit to carry in your car or have first off the truck. Some important, often overlooked items to place in the survival kit include the following:

Basic Tools -- Hammer, screwdriver, knife, tape, etc.

Bathroom products -- Soap, shampoo, toilet paper, towels, etc.

Kitchen items -- Disposable utensils, cups, plates and snacks, drinks, paper towels, etc.

Cleaning products -- Cleansers, broom, dustpan, sponges, etc.

First aid supplies -- Bandages, disinfectants, pain relievers, etc.

9. Stay organized

When loading moving cartons into your pod or moving truck, it is important to stay organized and load efficiently. This will ease the unloading process and keep your items more secure from damage. Keep boxes from the same room together to help the unloading process. Stack heavier boxes near the bottom, and lighter boxes near the top. Always stack fragile items at the top.

10. Ask friends for help

Your friends can be a helpful and inexpensive resource to utilize during your move. Ask for their assistance, and let them know your move date well in advance. Offer to reward them during and after the move, as this will encourage their enthusiasm to assist with the move.

11. Unloading

Once you arrive in your new Arizona home, the unloading process begins. When removing boxes from the moving truck or pod, take them to the proper rooms where they belong. Stack boxes neatly and allow ample space for moving furniture into the room.

12. Unpacking

If possible, take off an extra day or two from work. Having a couple of days to unpack will make the job less overwhelming, and you will return to work a little more refreshed than if you were rushed to unpack. Unpack larger items first, and assemble items you had taken apart for the move. Focus on one room at a time, starting where you feel most comfortable.

Eco-Friendly Packaging Options For Ecommerce Retailers

The most ubiquitous packaging materials are of course bubble wrap and peanuts. The pros and cons of both are well documented, but the most important thing to know is they are typically made from plastics (as in oil) and are not bio-degradable. With the amount of bubble wrap and peanuts used around the world each day the problem is pretty self evident.

These products are made from some pretty nasty stuff Polyethylene, Polystyrene and Polyurethane (which consists of all sorts of harsh chemicals including acetone, methylene chloride and fluorocarbons).

Aside from the toxic chemicals used with most plastic based packing materials and the huge energy resources that going into creating them; the amount of landfill taken up after they are discarded is significant.

Here are some ideas for alternative packaging options to consider using when preparing your customer orders for shipment.

Soy based expandable foam products are a more eco-friendly option. Derived from soy, and therefore renewable and biodegradable, this product conforms precisely to the shape of your products. This maximizes protection by minimizing movement on the inside of the carton. The product is also very light weight, reducing the additional shipping expense of heavier materials. Realistically expandable foam is best for larger operations due to the space the specialized equipment and process will require.

Consider using old newspapers as they can also be a good option as well. Shredded or balled up newspaper has decent cushioning ability. My opinion is that shredded paper has a neat look in the box and adds some "eco-cred" to your products. Aesthetically the balled up news print leave a little to be desired, and there is no efficient way to "ball up" enough paper to keep up with a high volume fulfillment operation. Shredded paper, although requiring an extra step (to shred) does led itself to a higher volume set up.

Again, it's not as pretty, but old cardboard boxes can be cut into strips and then rolled tightly. Place the rolls vertically into the packing box around the item in the box, the rolls will then expand providing a cushion. Similar to newsprint, if some care is taken up front to cut or prepare the boxes neatly the end product could work in a way that looks good to your customers.

Reusing something like paper or cardboard for packaging is always preferable to recycling, and of course, MUCH better than throwing those items away. Cushion packaging is sold that is made from one hundred percent post consumer waste paper - give that a try if you don't like the look of used newspapers.

Biodegradable packing peanuts are available, made from grain sorghum and corn starch. For environmentally friendly soft foam in rolls, starch-based products such as Cell have the added bonus of being anti-static which is great for cushioning computer parts and Biodegradable packing peanuts are available, made from grain sorghum and corn starch For environmentally friendly soft foam in rolls, starch-based products such as Green Cell have the added bonus of being anti-static which is great for cushioning computer parts and electronic equipment.

For wrapping and packaging inside the box, use or reuse something. And the same goes for the cartons you are using - go for boxes made from recycled cardboard. The options these days for recycled corrugated boxes are very diverse and any place selling boxes will likely provide these product options as well.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a database for manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers and suppliers of Packaging & Paper Products including hologram, label & tag, packaging materials, paper & pulp, & other HDPE sacks etc.

'Green' Packaging Gaining Ground

While the use of eco-friendly options is rising, adoption is limited to upscale releases due to high costs. Most makers recycle and employ fewer materials instead.

China's export manufacturers are increasingly adopting earth-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging choices. PLA is replacing petroleum-based polymers to create degradable plastic containers and gift bags. More innovative solutions include microwave-, oven- and refrigerator-safe food canisters made from natural wheat straw pulp.

Such options, however, are used only for high-end releases targeting the US and the EU. At present, conventional materials still hold sway because they are cost-effective, functional and practical. In most cases, incorporating environment-friendly packaging raises manufacturing outlay 30 percent.

Wheat straw pulp containers, for instance, are roughly 50 percent more expensive than plastic foam. A ton of the natural raw material currently stands at 5,000 to 6,000 yuan ($731 to $877). Gift and packaging bags made of paper processed with pulp culled from sustainable forests cost 2 to 5 percent more as well.

To heed the growing call for ecologically safe practices, however, suppliers have taken to recycling instead. Paper waste is reduced to a pulp and reprocessed into new sheets. Others are simplifying designs to ensure minimal use of materials.

Standardized packaging is actually the norm at many large home appliance companies so that wastage can be reduced. Buyers' logos and patterns differentiate the cartons, but even then, prints are limited to three colors. Modifications, however, are accepted for a fee.

Still there are others that work with clients to balance minimum wastage and functionality. Electric kettle manufacturer Guangdong Longde Group Co. Ltd collaborates with buyers to ensure its recycled paper packaging can still provide optimum protection.

Reusable, degradable alternatives

Paper is increasingly being used to replace wood and EPS foam as packaging material for home appliances. The inner padding or cushioning for the cartons now comes in corrugated or honeycomb paper board. Compared with EPS foam and wood, paper can be reused in multiple ways and is cost-effective. Replacing EPS foam with honeycomb paper board for the cushioning is estimated to cut outlay by about 20 percent.

Cardboard is also being adopted in lieu of film packaging for small home appliances because it is less expensive and easier to recycle. The plastic is used to laminate paper gift boxes as well. This type of surface treatment, however, results in paper that is harder to recycle. As such, several companies are now incorporating the more earth-friendly UV oil finish, which costs the same as film laminates.

Shandong Teanhe Green Pak Science and Technology Co. Ltd, meanwhile, uses the same papermaking process to produce ecologically safe food and medical packaging products derived from natural wheat straw pulp. The food-grade items are nontoxic, 100 to 120 C oil- and water-resistant, and microwave-, oven- and refrigerator-safe. Not only can the containers be recycled, they can also degrade into fertilizer after being buried in soil for 100 days.

Concerns over cost, practicality

In general, it is the large and foreign-invested businesses that first delved into implementing measures toward achieving sustainable production, including developing environment-friendly packaging. But this has not spread widely enough to the smaller and locally owned operations. As such, green manufacturing has yet to achieve economies of scale. Consequently, costs are often higher.

Shandong Teanhe's workaround over the price issue is to target the midrange and high-end market. By doing so, the company has been able to post 30 percent annual growth since 2008. Even then, R&D is being carried out to improve processing and lower outlay for the wheat straw containers.

Apart from cost issues, eco-friendly substitutes sometimes do not perform as well as conventional materials. Most gift boxes, for instance, are still film-laminated because UV oil finish does not resist air and moisture as well as traditional plastic.

In addition, a few ecologically safe alternatives are actually more polluting because of the way they are processed. To decrease paper weight while still ensuring durability, many paper manufacturers work on improving starch paste, some of which now contain formaldehyde. Safer variants free from the toxic chemical are also available but at a higher cost.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a database for manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers and suppliers of Packaging & Paper Products including hologram, label & tag, packaging materials, paper & pulp, & other HDPE sacks etc.

New Packaging Technology, Large Shipping Boxes and Environmental Concerns

New technology has come about utilizing traditional renewable energy sources such as trees and timber. It appears that paper might be going through a process of rebirth as modern societies realize the importance of trees and vegetation for human life and recreation. Part of the gradual transition back to basics is due to the fact that the long-term effects of using petroleum-based technology for packaging prove detrimental. While the quality and strength of plastics is undoubted, their decomposition and bio-degradation time sometimes ranges in the thousands of years and this is a major concern.

An example are multi-wall bags - one of the veterans of the packaging industry. Their proliferation has accompanied societies from inception of industrialization to modern times. They face challenges as related to some quality characteristics such as providing grease and moisture barriers for various products and manufacturing demands. Meeting these demands, together with the growing opposition of using trees as paper raw material naturally opened widely the door for plastics. Some of them are manufactured from waste in oil refineries etc. and they are virtually indestructible. Plastics, in turn, introduce a number of new problems which appear to be circling back to the realization that while cutting trees is bad, this could be compensated with a tree-planting strategy. What is more, statistical data shows the forests in the US have increased by almost forty percent over the passed one hundred years and by about 10 million acres in the last twenty years. Some paper is manufactured following guidelines and certification by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative - it mandates that for every tree used, two new ones are planted. Alas this data is only good for the US and is not quite representative since much of the packaging supplies and the large shipping boxes are manufactured overseas.

Certain newer packaging provides grease, moisture etc protection without the use of poly liner. This makes the new product fully recyclable which combined with the fact that it is produced from around ninety percent renewable materials makes it a viable alternative to old-school paper and plastics. Certain aspects of this manufacturing process employ proprietary, patented nano-technology via which water-based coating is applied to the walls of the paper. This coating bonds with the material and insulates it from water and gases. Furthermore, protection levels against moisture and oil can be adjusted according to product or legal requirements. Another great benefit is that this water-based coated paper recycles better since the bonded coating remains in the fiber throughout the recycling and results in stronger more durable paper. This stronger product can then be utilized as containerboard for production of durable large shipping boxes.