Kraft Paper Bag Wholesale Suppliers

Kraft paper bag formats, materials, and food contact compliance

Kraft paper bags are produced from kraft paper — a strong, coarse paper manufactured from the kraft pulping process. Natural brown kraft retains its characteristic brown colour from the unbleached wood pulp; bleached white kraft is treated to produce a brighter white surface suitable for high-quality printing and clean, modern retail aesthetics. The main bag formats are: flat-bottom (square-bottom) bags — the most common retail bag format, with a flat base that allows the bag to stand upright when filled — used for bakery, deli, take-out, retail, and promotional applications; SOS (self-opening-style) bags — a flat-bottom bag format that opens easily by the packer (the common grocery and retail bag format); pinch-bottom bags — a simple flat bag sealed at the bottom with a pinch-and-fold closure — used for bread, bakery items, and dry foods; multiwall kraft bags — multiple layers of kraft paper for strength — used for large-format packaging of bulk dry goods (flour, sugar, starch, dry cement). For food contact applications, the kraft paper grade must comply with applicable food contact regulations — confirm that the paper uses food-grade inks and coatings and that the manufacturer can provide food contact compliance documentation. PE (polyethylene) inner lining or coating is added for moisture resistance, grease resistance, or water barrier, enabling kraft paper bags to contain oily, wet, or frozen products. PFAS-free grease resistance is increasingly specified for food applications in EU and US markets — traditional PFAS-based grease-resistant coatings are being phased out; cellulose-based or PLA-based grease-resistant alternatives are available.

Custom printing, handle options, and ordering guidance

Custom-printed kraft paper bags are a high-visibility marketing medium for retail, takeaway food, bakery, and gifting applications. Print options include flexographic printing (1–4 colours on the kraft surface, the standard for bakery and food service bags), offset lithography (higher print quality for branded retail bags), and digital printing (for short-run, variable-data, or premium small-batch applications). For retail shopping bag applications, handle options include: twisted paper handles (rolled and twisted paper cord inserted into the bag top — a premium appearance option for gift and retail shopping bags), flat paper handles (a flat paper strip — lower cost, widely used for food service bags), ribbon handles (for gift boxes with a bag-style lid), and die-cut hand holes (cut through the top of the bag — the most economical handle format for food service and takeaway). When ordering kraft paper bags, specify: bag format (flat-bottom, SOS, etc.), dimensions (width × gusset depth × height), paper weight (gsm), lining or coating requirements, print specification, handle type and position, and certification requirements (FSC, food contact DoC). MOQs for plain kraft bags from Chinese manufacturers are typically 500–2,000 units; custom-printed bags are typically 1,000–5,000 units per design.

Frequently asked questions