Why Glassine Paper Bags Are the Answer to Beautiful and Sustainable Packaging

They’re smooth, semi-transparent, and give off a light sheen, glassine paper bags are the classier cousins of standard paper bags, and they’re becoming a game-changer for ecommerce brands. While they were initially used mostly in the food industry, now they’ve found a home in other retail spaces too. In this guide, we’re going to tell you what glassine packaging is, what it’s used for, and why it might just replace a few bag types if customers continue to push for sustainability in their packaging. 

What is Glassine Packaging?

Glassine paper bags are made out of wood pulp that is refined down into fibers. In a process called supercalendaring, these fibers are heavily compressed, which results in glassine’s super-smooth and glassy finish.

What is Supercalendering?

Supercalendering is a method paper manufacturers use to make paper extra smooth.  A calendar is made up of a set of steel rollers stacked upon each other. Putting paper through these rollers compresses them and smooths out even the tiniest bumps. 

Supercalendering is an extra step that adds gloss to the paper, and it is done by using a stack of alternating steel and cotton through which the paper is passed. As the paper passes through this combination of rollers, it is buffed and attains a soft texture and glossy appearance. 

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Why Do People Use Glassine Packaging?

Glassine packaging is a step above paper packaging, even though both items are made from wood pulp. The texture and look of glassine make it appear to be of higher quality, while at the same time giving a sustainable, eco-friendly feel. 

It Feels Premium

The tactile experience of glassine packaging alludes to high quality. In addition, the semi-transparency of the packaging itself creates a unique experience as you can see what’s inside, but not quite, and with that, you get a level of excitement.

Encourages Social Media Sharing

Additionally, unboxing reels are very popular on social media, and a glassine package lends itself to that type of moment beautifully. Customers can tease what the product is by showing the packaging without actually revealing what’s inside. This type of hook video is very popular on social media, and that means you can gain media exposure by simply providing your customers with the best packaging you can, which is geared toward their wants and needs. 

It's Sustainable

Glassine packaging’s closest competitor in terms of look and feel is the wax-coated paper bag.  The wax coating on the paper bag means it’s not quite environmentally friendly, as it takes a long time for it to biodegrade. In comes glassine packaging, which offers a lot of the same benefits as waxed kraft bags, but it is an eco-conscious version that is biodegradable. 

Additionally, glassine packaging can be recycled several times over, which means it takes its sustainability levels up one notch from other recyclable materials. 

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What is the Difference Between Glassine Paper Bags and Kraft Paper Bags?

While both glassine paper bags and kraft paper bags provide protection for the contents inside, glassine paper bags are semi-transparent, so you can see what’s inside. Food-grade kraft paper bags have a wax coating to repel grease, while glassine paper bags are naturally grease-resistant as well as static-resistant. 

One of the biggest differences between glassine paper bags and kraft paper bags from a marketing perspective is the appearance and feel of the bags. Glassine bags look more delicate and refined, while kraft bags have a more indie or utilitarian appearance. The texture of glassine packaging is smooth, while the kraft version are more rough.

Why Is Glassine Packaging Popular

There are a variety of reasons that glassine has become popular as of late, including its environmental impact, functional use, and appearance.

Appearance

For businesses looking for something different for their packaging that is also not going to cost significantly more than what they're already using, glassine has become a popular choice. It provides a smooth, glossy appearance and a peekaboo sort of feel due to its transparency, making it unique for retailers that have traditionally used paper or plastic bags. 

Functional Use Cases

Glassine packaging is virtually non-porous and is able to resist things like air and grease. For retailers that sell products that can easily be tainted by air or food vendors that sell items that contain grease, glassine packaging is a functional choice. It is also a functional use case for jewelry businesses looking for aesthetic packaging for jewelry that is also protective. The supercalendered smooth texture of glassine ensures that the jewelry inside does not get scratched and damaged.

Trendy

While making sustainable choices when making purchases is not meant to be trendy, but rather something you do to help the environment, making sustainability a priority is quite trendy. And glassine packaging is a sound, environmentally friendly packaging choice. That’s because it is a responsible alternative to many other packaging types, but especially plastic packaging.

Because glassine is made out of wood pulp, it is recyclable as well as biodegradable. Additionally, glassine can achieve the same result that other smooth and glossy packaging has without having to use coatings. Coatings are a big culprit in making otherwise recyclable materials unrecyclable, such as kraft paper bags lined with wax. 

Glassine is also made out of a renewable resource, and itself can be recycled multiple times.

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Who Is Glassine Packaging Best For?

Ecommece 

If you’re selling wearables online, glassine packaging is a good choice to set your products apart from all of the other ecommerce stores that sell the same thing that you do.  Customers look forward to packages they order from almost the very second that they place the order. If you want to really surprise them, or wow them, providing a good packaging and ‘unboxing’ experience can put you ahead of your competitors in two ways. On the one hand, your customer will be happy and feel like she is dealing with a high-end brand because of the packaging.

On the other side, for your marketing needs, if you package your items in aesthetically pleasing packaging, this can lead her to share your brand and packaging with her friends and family, and also her online social media friends, in the form of a story or reel. 

There is no better marketing tool than having users make content for you and send accolades your way. Each customer who shares a photograph of them unboxing your brand’s clothing creates a chance that you will get a new customer. And those kinds of benefits can accrue and multiply if you are able to do it strategically.

Sustainable Brands

Not only is glassine considered an eco-responsible form of packaging because it is created from a renewable source, but some manufacturers take it one step further. Glassine packaging that is FSC certified means the raw material for the packaging has been sourced from forests that are managed responsibly. Responsibly managed forests must adhere to strict environmental standards. All of that means that brands that require their products and packaging be sustainable will be able to use glassine packaging.

Small Shops and Boutiques

Glassine packaging allows retailers with smaller budgets to differentiate themselves through packaging at a lower cost. Glassine bags have an elegant and unique look and feel, and can be printed on, too, but price points are still reasonable for businesses with smaller budgets. 

Cafes and Bakeries

Glassine packaging is able to provide air resistance, which helps to keep foods like baked goods fresh. Additionally, food businesses selling foods that are somewhat oily can also use glassine packaging, as it is also grease-resistant.

Jewelry Shops

Jewelry can be packaged in glassine packaging as glassine’s smooth surface ensures the jewelry will not be scratched. At the same time, the semi-transparent nature of glassine makes for an intriguing package. 

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What Are the Benefits of Using Glassine Paper Bags?

Save on Shipping

If you are an ecommerce brand, you spend a lot on packaging, and so anywhere you can save is likely welcome. Glassine bags are extremely lightweight as the paper has been flattened and smoothed to be as thin and smooth as possible. That means using glassine bags and other forms of glassine packaging provides a lightweight option for your shipping needs.

Create a Unique Brand Story

Both the texture and the look of glassine paper bags are quite unique, as these types of bags are not common in the market. You can take the unique factors of these bags and make them your own. The translucence gives you the ability to showcase your product in a way that is uncommon.

Depending on your product, you can even tie the smoothness, the gloss, and the transparency to your product and brand.

Prevent Oil Seepage

If you are selling a product that contains oil, then your packaging needs to be able to prevent that oil from leaking through its packaging. The composition of glassine as a non-porous material ensures that you can place your greasy goods in without having the grease leak through and cause damage to things like clothing.

Even foods that are not particularly greasy, but have oily elements like sandwiches with greasy dressings or pizza when it's hot, r

Instantly Stand Out

Glassine bags are still quite unique in the marketplace, and their look and feel are an instant differentiator. If kraft paper bags are commonly used within your sector, using glassine bags will instantly help you stand apart. 

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How does Glassine Packaging Compare to Other Materials?

Plastic

Plastic bags are durable and cheap, but they come with a lot of preconceived notions. People who are interested in sustainability prefer not to use plastics. On the other hand, glassine is a little more expensive than poly bags, but its appearance is sustainable-friendly, and it provides an added premium experience of extremely smooth and clean-looking packaging. 

If you’re not interested in the look and feel of your packaging and cost is your only concern, then poly bags may be a better choice. If you’re interested in standing out and providing your customers with a unique experience, then glassine paper bags may be for you. 

Wax

While waxed packaging is great for products that are greasy, this type of packaging is not environmentally friendly, as the wax coating is hard to separate from the kraft paper. When trying to recycle kraft paper with a waxed coating, the kraft paper does not work very well in real-life recycling scenarios. If you’re not concerned about sustainability, then the wax version could be useful for you. However, if you’re more interested in a cleaner, visually and tactiley appealing package, then glassine may be best for you.

Kraft Paper

Kraft paper packaging is a very popular option. Kraft paper bags are affordable, strong, and give a very rustic and eco-friendly appearance. However, kraft paper requires coatings for it to be grease and air-resistant, while glassine provides those measures inherently, thanks to the pressing process that occurs during manufacturing. While the rustic look of kraft paper may be appealing for some brands, if sleek and smooth is more congruent with your brand story, then glassine packaging is likely better for you. 

Tissue

Tissue paper has a similar look to glassine, but it is far more delicate. That means tissue paper may be a good packaging choice ifyou’re using it strictly for decorative reasons. However, if you need your packaging to be protective while also looking delicate, then glassine packaging would be better for you.

Why Packaging Is So Important for Your Business

Packaging is very important for your business because it is the one thing you can immediately do to set your product apart from other businesses in your industry. It is also one of the best ways to spend your marketing dollars, as you can get incredible marketing coverage for a relatively low price. 

Signals Professionalism

The type of packaging you use says a lot about the product inside the package as well as about you as a brand. When a customer is not familiar with your brand, they judge on a variety of things, and one of the easiest ways to judge you is through your packaging. Since you have the choice of what you want your packaging to say about you, make sure you make the right choice and the choice that aligns with your brand story. 

Differentiates You From Competitors

E-commerce businesses can have similar products when they are in the same niche. If that’s the case, then what is going to set one ecommerce shop apart from another? The packaging. If you’ve ever watched any amount of social media, you know that sharing the contents of your package delivery is a very popular form of content. And you will often hear people talk about the quality of the packaging when they open a box or bag. 

You can make this an easy win for yourself by choosing packaging that influencers and everyone else posting on social media can say something good about. Oftentimes, people can get the impression that if the packaging is nice, and the business owner spent time on creating beautiful packaging or their product, there is a good chance that the product is going to be great too. 

Compete With Larger Brands

You may not have the budget to o head to head with your biggest competitors, but packaging can level that playing field somewhat. You too can customize your packaging with a logo, thanks to lower MOQs. You can also choose packaging materials that signal your brand culture at affordable rates. Sometimes, a lot of what makes a brand successful is not the product itself, but the story of the brand. And if you can tell that story through your packaging, it is much easier to share your brand messaging.

How to Decide if Glassine is Right for You

Glassine packaging is not for all products or brands, as it has very specific attributes that are useful for very particular needs. Its aesthetic appeal is also distinctive with it's semi-transparent paper and gloss.

The pricing for glassine is more expensive than standard kraft paper which means you need to take budget into consideration. Buying glassine paper bags wholesale can help you in this department by significantly reducing costs when compared to retail or low quantity prices. 

If you can say yes to the following questions, then glassine packaging might be a good choice for you. 

• Having artistic packaging is important to me
• My product needs protection from the air
• My product is greasy
• I need moisture barrier protection
• Sustainability is important to my brand
• I don’t need heavy product protection
• Paying slightly more per bag is worth it for added marketing and branding

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Important Things to Consider With Glassine Bag Design

The most important thing about your design, if you want to use it as a marketing tool, is that your brand name and/or logo should be visible. The best branding on glassine bags is usually composed of a simple one to two color logo and brand name set against a contrasting backdrop. This allows the best chance for your brand to be recognized while allowing the beauty and delicate nature of the glassine packaging to speak for itself. 

Glassine Paper Bags and Packaging Create Opportunity for Your Business

Whether you’re an ecommerce business, a storefront, or a hybrid of the two, making smart packaging decisions is essential. Packaging is not simply a functional element of your business; it is an important part of your business that intersects with marketing, product quality, brand story, and brand recognition. You can utilize your brand’s packaging as your brand’s sales team. 

Whether your packaging is seen in the store, online, in a social media post, or in somebody’s hand, it instantly says something about you. If you are using glassine paper bags, the instant message someone gets is that you care about sustainability, quality, and are a high-quality brand. If you’re interested in learning more about glassine bags, one of our custom packaging specialists will be happy to help.

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