The new decade is upon us and many are trying to reduce their personal impact on the environment. A lot of businesses have responded to the increased demand for greener products by curbing their plastic bag usage. This is why we now see a lot of paper bags when we are doing our shopping.

However regular paper bags have come under fire in recent years as some research suggests they may be worse for the environment than plastic ones. In response to this, many are looking into the long term viability of offering recycled paper bags to their customers.

  1. Recycled paper bags hit two birds with one stone

Whilst all paper is essentially biodegradable, the carbon-intensive production methods mean that it may be more damaging for the environment than plastic ones. If your business opts for recycled paper bags you will not have this issue. Recycled paper bags are made from sustainable materials that have already been processed. This reduces the carbon footprint of your business and also reduces the amount of paper waste that ends up in the landfill.

  • Using recycled paper bags is better for your business branding

When it comes to marketing your business, creating and maintaining a green image is crucial to your long term strategy. One of the ways that you can do this is through incorporating sustainable materials in your businesses product offering. Modern recycled paper bags are of high quality and look good with quality logos and branding.

  • Recycled paper bags are available in a range of different sizes and colours

In the past poor recycling, techniques tended to produce poor quality recycled bags that broke after a short amount of uses. Fast forward to 2020 and the landscape has changed dramatically; modern recycling processes mean recycled paper bags can now be produced in a range of different sizes and colours.

  • Recycled paper bags can be used to tie into your promotional sales

Offering recycled paper bags for your customers is a good way to engage with a more environmentally conscious market. However, if you go with an expert manufacturer who can print in short turn-around times, you can also tailor the bags to specific promotional sales and seasons. This can help you change up the feel of the store and keep your business fresh in the minds of customers.

How can I tell if my recycled paper bag is environmentally sustainable?

On the face of it, you may find it difficult to tell if a paper bag is made from recycled materials or not. Rest assured there are some telltale signs. It should have a recycled logo and also be taken from FSC regulated forests. Equally, as long as you have bought paper bags from a reputable manufacturer you should have no trouble sourcing high-quality recycled paper bags.

Zoe Kickhefer
zoe@everydaylifes.com