Paper bags are products made from paper or paper-based materials, serving various sectors such as retail, packaging, and industry. They are manufactured from materials like white cardstock, coated paper, and kraft paper; structural variations include open-mouth sewn-bottom bags and valve-type sewn bags, while handle designs range from punched-hole styles with threaded cords to attached handles without holes. Due to their biodegradability and recyclability, paper bags are often viewed as eco-friendly alternatives, and government policies worldwide are promoting their adoption to replace plastic products.
However, the environmental credentials of paper bags are a subject of debate: bags made from virgin pulp consume forest resources, while the production of recycled paper bags involves high energy consumption and pollution, potentially resulting in a total lifecycle environmental impact that exceeds that of plastic bags. Concerns regarding material safety-particularly in food packaging-have led to penalties for some companies using non-standard fillers or failing quality inspections, prompting regulators to tighten production standards and random inspection protocols. As manufacturing processes improve, the use of plant-fiber paper bags is becoming more widespread, with white kraft paper emerging as a mainstream eco-friendly material for carrier bags, largely because it does not require plastic lamination.