Paper bags carry bread, chips, clothes and gifts, and since customers and landlords want less plastic they are in every shop and takeaway. Buying them well means knowing the difference between a flat bag and a bag that stands on its own, how thick the paper should be and what a printed bag costs compared with a plain one. South African suppliers sell plain stock bags by the pack and printed bags by the thousand. Send us your sizes and quantity and suppliers near you quote directly, for free.
SOS, flat and carrier bags
The names describe how the bag is built:
- SOS bags (self-opening satchel) have a flat base and folded sides, so they stand open on a counter. They suit takeaway food, groceries and general retail, and are usually sold in sizes numbered 1 to 12.
- Flat or pinch-bottom bags have no gusset and suit bread, biscuits, spices and small items. Greaseproof versions suit chips, pastries and fried food.
- Carrier bags with handles are made from stronger paper with twisted paper or flat tape handles, for clothes, gifts and bottles.
For gift bags, also see gift boxes.
Kraft weights and strength
Paper thickness is quoted in grams per square metre (gsm). A light 40 to 50 gsm is fine for a few biscuits, while 70 to 90 gsm carries groceries and takeaway meals. Carrier bags with handles are usually 100 to 150 gsm, and bags for bottles or heavy shopping may use 150 gsm or more. Brown kraft is unbleached and the strongest per gram. White kraft takes print and looks cleaner, but costs a little more. Greaseproof or lined paper adds a barrier against oil and some moisture, which matters for hot food.
Printing and handles
Printing on bags is usually flexographic, in one or two spot colours, and the set-up includes plates and a once-off cost. Expect a minimum run of 1,000 to 5,000 bags and a lead time of three to six weeks. Plain stock bags are sold in packs of 100 to 500 and can be stamped or fitted with a sticker if you only need a small branded run. Handles are either twisted paper, which is cheaper and recyclable, or flat paper tape, or ribbon for boutique gift bags. Always check the weight your handles are glued to carry.
The plastic bag levy and why paper
South Africa charges a levy on plastic carrier bags, and many retailers and municipalities encourage customers to avoid plastic. Paper bags are not part of that levy, but they are also covered by extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules for paper and packaging that producers and brand owners may need to meet. Ask your supplier about recycled content and whether the paper is from certified forestry. Paper bags are recyclable when clean and dry, although grease and wet food soil the paper. This is general information, not legal advice.
Many shops use paper bags next to food packaging to hold the whole order together.
What to include in your request
- Bag type: SOS, flat or carrier
- Width x gusset x height in mm
- Paper weight (gsm) and colour
- Plain or printed, number of colours
- Quantity and delivery address
Paper Bags for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: kraft bags and inserts for gift orders, thank-you items and local delivery
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: SOS, flat and greaseproof bags for bread, chips, pastries and takeaway meals
- Shops and retail stores: carrier bags with handles for clothes, gifts and homeware at the till
- Factories and manufacturers: heavy duty paper bags for packing hardware, spices and dry ingredients
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: bundled bags in cartons stored flat to save warehouse space
- Households and offices moving: paper bags for packing small items, shoes and linen, and keeping them sorted
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: paper bags for produce, nuts, seed and farm stall sales at markets
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: small branded bags for soaps, candles and boutique skincare purchases
Frequently asked questions
What size paper bag do I need?
Can paper bags hold hot or oily food?
How much do printed paper bags cost?
Are paper bags better than plastic?
Paper Bags by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg