Paper bags are bags made of paper or paper-containing materials, covering multiple fields such as shopping, packaging, and industry. Materials include white cardboard, coated paper, and kraft paper. They can be categorized by sealing method (open-top sewn-bottom bags, valve-sealed bags, etc.) and by handle design (perforated drawstring, drawstring only, etc.). Due to their biodegradable and recyclable properties, paper bags are often considered an environmentally friendly alternative, and policies in various countries are promoting their gradual replacement of plastic products.
The environmental impact of paper bags: Virgin pulp paper bags consume forest resources, and recycled paper bag production has higher energy consumption and pollution levels; their overall environmental impact may exceed that of plastic bags. Material safety controversies exist in areas such as food packaging, and some companies have been penalized for using unconventional fillers or failing quality inspections. Regulatory authorities are gradually strengthening production standards and sampling procedures. With process optimization, the popularity of plant fiber paper bags is increasing, and white kraft paper, which does not require lamination, has become the mainstream environmentally friendly tote bag material.
