Carrier bags

Buy best value carrier bags, from crinkly vest carriers to thick printed carriers, for all your retail needs.

Carrier bags are the essential shopping accessory, used by people all over the world to transport goods away from stores and shops to their homes. Made from lightweight yet strong polythene, carrier bags provide a comfortable method of carrying shopping, with a range of bag and handle styles - such as vest, patch handle, flexiloop and premium - tailored to fit into the human hand for an ergonomic carrying experience. Made from varying thicknesses of polythene and in a range of sizes from mini carriers to jumbo carriers, whatever you are shopping for, there is a carrier bag for you!

Carrier bags are...

• Polythene bags used to carry items, usually shopping
• Also known as carriers, shopping bags or plastic bags
• Provided (or sold) by retailers everywhere, from charity shops to high-end departments stores and corner shops to supermarkets
• Carried by billions of customers across the planet
• An ergonomic solution to carrying shopping
• Designed to be easy to carry, with convenient carry handles, allowing the shopper to carry more than one bag with each hand
• Available in a wide range of sizes to cater for small or large products
• Available in a range of thicknesses, from lightweight supermarket shopping bags to deluxe glossy luxury carriers
• Available in a range of coloured polythene, either plain or printed
• A great way for a retailer to increase publicity - add your logo to the side of a carrier bag for ready-made mobile advertising!
• An integral part of any retailer’s branding and advertising strategy
• An invaluable aid in carrying shopping from store to home
• Suitable to use and reuse for numerous shopping trips, time after time
• Multi-purpose bags - can be used for many and varied purposes, aside from shopping

What people in the street might say about carrier bags

The transport towards a biodegradable carrier bag is being driven as much by regulation and public expectation as by material science. Conventional polythene suppliers still dominates plenty packaging jobs because it is cost-effective, tough and easy to convert, nevertheless it now faces pressure on emissions, waste and stop-of-life handling. That changes the brief for converters, which must balance seal quality, film performance and shelf-life against newer feedstocks that behave differently on the line. A bag that smashs down in the proper conditions may suit certain shopping and food uses, nevertheless it still has to dash cleanly through extrusion, sealing and packing. If the material selection ignores shop-floor realities, the finished pack causes more trouble than it solves.

Large carrier bags are often chosen for fat, awkward manufacture because they can swallow a surprising volume without much fuss. In this case the appeal is apparant: tomatoes are light in weight nevertheless awkward in shape, so a larger bag gives enough capacity for a generous handover without crushing the contents also tightly. That said, a bag of this sort only works well when the film or woven structure has enough strength in the handles and seams to take the load evenly. If the bag is below-specified, the contents shift, the bottom sags, and handling becomes messy fast. A better-manufactured bag retains the load together and makes donation or transport far less troublesome.

Cheap carrier bags can do proper damage to a shop's image because the faults are visible the moment a client leaves the till. A flimsy bag with poor gauge control or weak handles is not only untidy; it sends a message that cost was saved at the expense of confidence and transport performance. Once the film stretches also far or the seal line gives method, packages drop, leakage beginnings, and the all purchase becomes awkward to manage. That kind of handling failure is noticed fast on the street or in the car park. A bag that grasps shape properly gives a cleaner handover and avoids embarrassment at the point of departure.

The value of promotional carrier bags for your business

Promotional carrier bags work optimal when the print, handle strength and board or film quality match the job they are meant to transport out. A low-cost bag that tears at the fold or stretches badly at the seal soon turns a simple handout into a complaint, while a better-specified bag retains its shape and carries a emblem properly through a full promotional dash. Trade buyers often compare ink coverage, gauge, stitch or seal stop, and how well the bag stands up in transit and at point of issue. A sensible purchase saves money if it still sees clever in the hand, because the bag becomes a moving sample of the emblem rather than wasted stock.

Coloured carrier bags can be recycled into useful sheet, nevertheless only if the mix of film and heat is controlled properly. Thin high-density polythene suppliers parts soften fast, while thicker black sack material retains its body longer, so the process is certainly about matching melt flow and dwell time rather than simply turning waste into a lump of plastic. Too much heat causes shrink-back, air traps and brittle patches close printed areas, which soon display up as poor fold performance and weak handling. A steadier lamination through a release layer gives a tighter stick and a more even sheet, which is easier to convert and less likely to split amid later packing or dispatch.

Big carrier bags often become the weak link when they are used as a fast substitute for proper secondary packing. A load of tubs or mixed loose parts may seem easy enough to transport from the bench, nevertheless the weight sits badly, the sides bow out, and the contents transport about all time the bag is lifted or set down. That makes hand strain worse and raises the chance of scuffs, splits, and crushed corners before the consignment even reaches dispatch. Tubs need to stay upright and restrained, not rolling around in a soft sack. A better-packed load goes out tidier and arrives in far better shape.

Quality carrier bags are judged by how they grasp up in use, not by how cost-effective they see on a wholesaler's list. A decent bag requirements the proper material weight, sound handles, and enough strength to cope with shopping or heavier storage without splitting at the fold or around the grip points. Paper versions need a board or paper grade that will not collapse when damp or overloaded, while polythene suppliers and cotton each behave differently in the hand and below strain. Low-cost offers can be tempting, nevertheless weak seals, thin gauges, and poor finishing soon lead to handling damage and complaints. A bag that survives the journey home is the one that earns repeat use.

What is plastic carrier bag manufacturers  commercial attached insurance?

Plastic carrier bags are often manufactured to suit a very narrow job, and that beginnings with the film and handle selection. A carrier bag that feels fine on a sample table can behave quite differently on a busy packing line, where gauge, sealing settings and film tension all affect whether the bag grasps shape or splits at the gusset. Softer material may give a better stop, nevertheless it can also mean more stretch and less confidence when a client loads heavier items. A superb specification balances appearance, strength and easy handling, so the bag works in production as well as at checkout.

A promotional carrier bag has to do above transport purchases if it is being used as a moving advert. The print must stay sharp, the colours have to sit properly on the film or paper, and the handle area requirements enough strength to survive repeated use without tearing. If the bag is cost-effective in the gross places, it can fail at the handle gusset or scuff in transit, leaving the branding looking poor before it reaches a second shopper. Good specification work beginnings with the material and ends with a bag that still sees decent after a day's transport and a few parcels in the boot of a car.

Compostable carrier bags only work properly when the all use case matches the material, and food waste caddy liners are a sensible example of that. A thin bag that can transport peelings, scraps and damp leftovers requirements enough strength for handling, nevertheless it also has to smash down below the proper composting conditions, not sit around like normal plastic. The low price point recommends a small add-on rather than a leading packaging line item, yet the proper value is in reducing mixed waste at origin. When the bag is chosen for the job, the caddy stays cleaner and sorting is easier later.

Carrier bags - take your pick

Carrier bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a bag available to suit any retailer. Here are some of the most popular styles of carrier bags used today:

Vest - The best known carrier bag in the UK and beyond, traditionally used by supermarkets, smaller food stores, general stores and market traders. Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and available in a variety of colours, plain or printed, these bags are lightweight but strong. Handles are attached to each side of the bag make it look like a vest from the front, hence the name. Provided they are not over-filled, these bags are capable of handling regular shopping with ease.

Patch handle - A more glossy and sturdy carrier bag, commonly used by high street stores to impress their customers. Made from thicker polythene than vest carriers to provide extra strength, these rectangular bags have a handle punched out of the top, reinforced by an extra patch of polythene, which gives the bags its name. Available in clear or coloured polythene and the perfect bag on which to print a design or logo to advertise the retailer, hence the popularity with high street retailers.

Varigauge - Similar in appearance to its patch handle cousin, the varigauge carrier bag is rectangular in shape with a handle punched out. However, the clever use of a varied gauge - or thickness - of polythene, which is twice as thick at the top of the bag than it is at the bottom, means that the need to reinforce the handle with a patch is avoided. Available in a variety of colours, these strong bags with extra room thanks to a bottom gusset, are very popular with retailers keen to make a good impression with customers.

Clip close - These strong rectangular bags have an integral white clip attached right across the top of the bag that clip closes shut, giving the bag its name. Made from thick clear polythene with a side gusset, these bags allow retailers to display their products, whilst not compromising on bag strength or quality. The sturdy clip also allows you to hang up the bag - and contents - to really show it off.

Flexiloop - These luxury carriers take their name from the flexiloop handle that is attached - by heat-welding - to the inside of the bag on both sides. Popular with supermarkets who sell them as ‘Bags for life’ - encouraging customers to reuse the bag - flexiloop carriers are made from thicker polythene than regular carriers, which makes them more expensive to produce. Paper versions of the flexiloop carrier bag are popular with boutique shops or fancy high street retailers.

Duffle - A sturdy polythene bag featuring a cord threaded around the top opening and down the sides of the bag. Pull the cord to close the bag tight and loosen to open. Useful for carrying bulky or weighty items and handy to carry, so often used by sportspeople as a kit bag. Also popular with sports shoe retailers.

Drawstring - Less sturdy than the duffle bag, so not suitable for similarly bulky contents, but operate on a similar principle. Drawstring bags feature two strings looped around the opening of the bag, with the ends of the drawstring appearing through separate openings adjacent to each other. When pulled at the same time, the strings tighten together and the bag closes. Typically made from clear polythene, these bags are a popular way of displaying products in a shop.

Grip Seal - A cross between a carrier bag and a grip seal bag, these bags contain an integral grip seal that runs across the width of the bag just below the cut-out handle. Simply squeeze the grip seal between forefinger and thumb to seal the bag shut, providing protection from rain or other external contaminants, then gently pull apart to open and repeat as many times as you wish. With a clear polythene front, a handle for hanging and a glossy finish, these bags are a great way to display your products.

Show off your business with printed carriers

Printed carrier bags are an ideal way for businesses to advertise directly into their local community. Take a plain patch handle carrier and turn it from the smart, sturdy carrier bag it normally is into a walking advert for your business.

Businesses have to provide carrier bags to their customers anyway, so why not pay a little more for them and get something back from the carrier bags once they have left your shop.

By adding your company logo or design to one or both sides of your carrier bags, you not only make your business look more professional and more eye-catching, but you let your customers act as mobile advertisers, when they leave your store and walk around others in the area with your company branding there for all to see.

You can even add a slogan or advertising message to tell your potential customers exactly what they need to know about your store. All this, carried straight out into the heart of your target market and the hundreds or thousands of other potential customers out there.

Not only do printed carriers help attract new customers, but they also reinforce the message to existing customers that you are a professional, reliable and smart retailer. So next time they go to their cupboard or car boot and see your carrier bag, they see your bag, that initial good impression is reinforced and they move that step closer to being a return customer.

So why bother with plain carrier bags? Go one step further and design your own printed carriers, complete with your company branding, to take your business to the next level.

Where to buy carrier bags

Carrier bag manufacturers and suppliers include:

Carrier Bags
Discount Carrier Bags provides customers with an instant quote on a range of printed carrier bags. Get your very own design or logo printed on one or both sides of a quality thick carrier for as little as 4p a bag. Get a quote in 60 seconds, any time of day, 24/7!
www.discountcarrierbags.co.uk

Personalised Carrier Bags
With instant real-time quotes on personalised printed carrier bags, Discount Printed Carrier Bags is the place to go for bespoke carrier bags at terrific discount prices. Get your design printed on strong, smooth, high quality polythene bags in a range of sizes, from just 4p a bag and with free delivery in the UK.
www.discountprintedcarrierbags.co.uk

Printed Carrier Bags
The home of printed carrier bags online - offering high quality 55-micron thick carrier bags printed with your very own design. With a free instant quote, the lowest prices online - starting at just 4p a bag - and free UK delivery, this website is the place to go for printed carriers - the best way to advertise your business.
www.printedcarrierbags.com

Carrier Bag
If you need a carrier bag of any style, size or colour, then Carrier Bags is the website for you. They provide customers with a huge range of polythene carrier bags, from varigauge carriers to vest carriers and with a selection of biodegradable alternatives.
www.carrierbags.co

Buy Carrier Bags
A useful resource for anyone looking to buy carrier bags. Featuring lots of information of different types of carriers - including bespoke printed carrier bags - and where you can buy them, this website will definitely help you find the right carrier bag for you.
www.buy-carrier-bags.co.uk

Printed Carriers
Find out more about printed carrier bags and a range of other plastic carriers at this useful website, including details of each type of bag and the best place to buy discount printed carrier bags online.
www.discountprintedcarrierbags.com

Printed Bags
Printed Bags Direct offers customers information and details on where to buy a wide range of stock carrier bags and bespoke printed carrier bags, so you can find out everything you need in one handy website.
www.printedbagsdirect.co.uk

Carrier Bag Printing
An excellent resource on printed carrier bags and stock carrier bags, with detailed descriptions on a range of carrier bag categories.
www.printedcarrierbags2u.com

Coloured Carrier Bags
Coloured Bags Direct is a website dedicated to printed carrier bags. A division of industry-leading manufacturer Polybags, they offer customers colour printing on a range of polythene carrier bags.
www.colouredbagsdirect.co.uk

Patch Handle Carrier Bags
Are you looking for printed carrier bags, patch handle carrier bags or any other style from a wide range of plastic carriers? This website is the site you need to help you make that all-important decision and find the right carrier bag for you.
www.printedcarrierbagsdirect.co.uk

Coloured Plastic Bags
Coloured Bags offer colour printing of carrier bags to help you advertise your business. Get a free quotation on your own design printed carrier bags, or choose from a wide range of stock carriers.
www.colouredbags.com

Plastic Carrier Bags
This handy website offers a useful resource on plastic carriers and printed carrier bags, including details of the types of bags available - from clip close carriers to patch handle carriers - and where to buy them.
www.printedcarrierbagsdirect.com

What people are sharing about carrier bags

200 Large Biodegradable Carrier Bags |11 x 17 x 21'' | Eco Friendly Shopping Bag

Biodegradable carrier bags need careful material selection if they are expected to do above transport a light shop purchase. A bag in this format has to balance film gauge, stretch and seal quality, because a thin film may see efficient on paper nevertheless can split early at the handle or seam once sorting, loading and shopping handling start. The size also matters, since a larger bag places more stress on the side gussets and bottom welds when filled with mixed products. If the specification is matched properly, the bag gives proper use without unnecessary waste.

Large carrier bags are often treated as a simple convenience, yet they still shape how waste is collected, carried, and left behind. A bigger bag grasps more mixed waste before it tears, which suits a fast litter select or a shop-floor transparent-up, nevertheless careless use can turn it into a dumping habit if people think size excuses mess. In wooded or concealed areas, one overfilled bag can disguise how much waste has built up until the all spot sees neglected. Stronger bag film and a sensible occupy level assist retain the load manageable and reduce split seams. Good bag selection makes clearing waste easier, nevertheless it does not excuse leaving it where it should not be.

Cheap carrier bags are often the first packaging item to be cut when a retailer wants to reduce waste and tidy up its image, nevertheless the change requirements more view than simply swapping plastic for paper. A thin polythene suppliers carrier can cope better with wet clothing, sharp packaging edges and heavy mixed purchases, while a paper bag may see cleaner nevertheless can split if the board grade or handle fixings are also light. Stores also have to think about packing speed at the till, because a bag that buckles slows down dispatch and increases handling damage. The proper selection relies on what is being carried and how it leaves the shop, not only on how it sees on the counter.

Promotional Carrier Bags XL/Helmet c/w Logos (Box 300)

Promotional carrier bags need to be judged on above print coverage, because a bag that sees superb at dispatch can still fail if the material, handle style, or seal area is gross for the load. A heavier gauge polythene suppliers or a better-stitched woven stop will take repeated handling far better than a lightweight bag that stretches, splits, or distorts below pressure. The same applies to the print: emblems should sit cleanly on a stable surface so they stay legible after folding, stacking, and being picked from a tote or shelf. When the bag is specified properly, it protects the products and carries the message without creating complaints at the point of use.

Coloured carrier bags do proper work in a warehouse, not only on a shop floor, because colour assists separate spectrums, orders and promotions at a glance. That visual cue cuts picking mistakes and makes mixed consignments easier to sort without adding additional weight or taking up more space on a pallet. The bag itself still has to transport the load, so the film requirements sensible gauge control, superb seal quality and enough stretch to cope with secondary packing and rough handling. If the polymer is well chosen, the handles and die-cut areas grasp together instead of splitting when bundles are compressed or overfilled. A bright stop is useful only when the bag still behaves like proper packaging.

Big carrier bags are a weak reply for heavy or awkward loads because they spread weight badly and give poor control once the contents beginning shifting. A bag that seems fine with a few lightweight items can fast become troublesome when filled with wet textiles, mixed products, or fat returns, since the base sags and the handles bite into the hand. That makes manual handling harder on the shop floor and increases the risk of dropped stock in a van or on a trolley. A stronger sack or purpose-manufactured secondary pack normally gives better grip, steadier carrying, and less damage in transit.

A crackdown on low-grade carrier bags only works when the product normal is transparent and the market can in reality tell the contrast between a proper reusable bag and a flimsy copy. If a non-woven bag is manufactured with poor stick strength, weak stitching or also small material, it may see acceptable on the shelf nevertheless fail as soon as a heavy load is carried. That leads to split seams, handling damage and more waste back in the system. Good specification control, tested gauges and consistent finishing matter because enforcement alone cannot fix inferior production. A bag that lasts through repeated use gives the client confidence and retains waste out of the stream.

Related Posts of "White Plastic Carrier Bag"

A white plastic carrier bag gives a simple carrying option, nevertheless its proper value relies on the film grade, handle strength, and how well it survives the shop-floor and the journey home. Thin gauge material can save resin, yet it also raises the risk of split handles, stretched seams, and complaints at the till if a load is heavier than expected. A cleaner white stop can also conceal dirt less effectively than a few people think once bags have passed through storage and picking areas. When the gauge, seal quality, and intended occupy weight are matched properly, the bag works without drawing attention to itself.

Size 3 Laminated Paper promotional Carrier Bag

A promotional carrier bag has to do above transport a purchase if it is meant to reflect a emblem properly. The optimal versions use paper with a quality feel, because the bag is handled twice as much as the product inside and any weak stop shows fast in transit and at the till. A translucent paper effect can give a lighter, more open see without making the carrier feel flimsy, nevertheless the board grade still requirements enough body to retain its shape. Good handles, clean folds and proper glue lines matter only as much, since a poor bag sags, creases badly and ends up looking cost-effective before it leaves the store.

Compostable carrier bags can be a sensible replacement when the aim is to cut down on single-use plastic, nevertheless the material selection still requirements care. A bag may see straightforward on the shop floor, yet it has to transport mixed groceries, resist splitting at the handles and stay usable long enough to acquire products home. If the gauge is also light, load-bearing drops and basket packing becomes awkward; if it is also heavy, material use rises without much benefit. Good specification means balancing strength, shelf life and stop-of-use treatment. That is what makes the contrast between a tidy swap and a bag that causes fresh waste.

Research & Resources

For more information on carrier bags, the wide range of polythene and biodegradable carriers available, their many uses and how to recycle them, please visit:

Goldstork: A free online 'best-of-the-web' directory listing specially selected information on a wide range of plain and printed carrier bags.

PackagingKnowledge: The UK's premier polythene packaging knowledge website, containing loads of useful information and in-depth articles on carrier bags, as read by those in the industry.

PlasticBags.uk.com: List products for free as a manufacturer or, if you're shopper, simply browse a massive selection of carrier bags websites on this unrivalled polythene packaging directory.

Single-use carriers? No such thing!

The carrier bag is often portrayed in the media as the single biggest cause of pollution and litter on the planet.

Most commonly, the high density polythene (HDPE) carrier bag used by supermarkets is singled out as the biggest culprit. These bags, which are subject to a government levy in many countries - meaning customer have to pay a few pence or cents for each bag they use - are often referred to as “single-use carriers”, which is a term that is not only misleading but also irresponsible.

Carrier bags should be reused as often as possible and by calling them “single-use carriers” - including in newspaper articles widely criticising the use of such bags - the implication is there that the bags should be thrown away.

This is giving entirely the wrong message to customers and does not represent the facts. 82% of UK households reuse over half of all carrier bags they use, with 59% reusing all of them (Waste Resources Action Programme report, 2005).

There are so many things you can do with a carrier bag once you’ve used it to carry your shopping home. The most obvious is to take it back to the shop and use it again for its original purpose - to carry shopping! But you can also use carrier bags for wrapping your packed lunch, or as a portable laundry bag when you go on holiday, or wrapping shoes in a suitcase to keep your clothes clean. There are loads of things you can use it for if you put your mind to it, so use your carriers again and again.

Even when your carrier has seen better days and you’re ready to throw it out, you can give it one final hurrah and use it as a rubbish bag before throwing it in the bin. There’s no such thing as a single use carrier bag - at least there shouldn’t be!