If we take a look at a shopping bag, we usually don’t give it too much thought. It’s merely a plastic or canvas item that we use to put our groceries in when we go shopping. In other words, it’s an everyday item that we almost take for granted. After all, most of the time, we just throw it away or, if it’s made out of mesh or canvas, stuff it in a drawer after shopping. It’s almost stunning to think that plastic bags actually have a long, storied history to them.
In this article, we will go over the growth and development of one of the oldest branded gifts of all time – shopping bags. We will take a look at how they came into existence, how they evolved, and what the future might hold for them.
Evolution of Paper and Plastic Bags
Before the 19th century, most people who performed their shopping had to use wicker baskets. The process was fairly simple. They would take at least one basket with them to the market and stuff it with produce, dairy, or any other product. Sometimes they would also take tin buckets or leather sacks, depending on what they wanted to buy.
All of that started to change when the 1800s rolled in. One of the first people to introduce shopping bags to the general public was Francis Wolle, a school teacher from Pennsylvania. Wolle patented the first machine for making paper bags in 1851, perfecting the invention in the following decades. His original machine could produce a stunning 1,800 bags an hour, making it extremely efficient.
However, his bags had an envelope bottom and could not stand upright on their own. In addition, they could not hold heavy objects and would often tear under pressure.
The next inventor to perfect the paper bags was Margaret E. Knight. In 1871, she invented the flat-bottom roomy paper bags that could stand on their own and hold heavier objects. Later inventors like Charles Stillwell and Walter H. Deubner would further improve the design by adding pleats and handles.
Then the sixties came, and a Swedish engineer named Sten Gustaf Thulin came up with the patent for the first-ever plastic bag with handles. These bags became the gold standard and started to replace paper tote bags en masse. After all, a plastic bag is lightweight and easy to manufacture. Plus, its creation is quite cost-effective as opposed to paper bag manufacturing.
The Reemergence of Reusable Bags
Before we move on to the reusable bag revolution, we need to stress a few details. Namely, cotton bags, canvas bags, and fabric totes, in general, had existed for a long time, even when plastic bags emerged in the 1960s. However, people across the globe simply did not use them for everyday shopping.
That push came in the early 2000s when environmental issues became a hot topic in the West. Various organisations started to push for limitations or even outright bans of plastic shopping bags. Individuals also took to the streets, refusing to use plastic when shopping. Gradually, manufacturers began to make shopping totes, opting for multiple different designs and shapes.
Thus, introducing reusable shopping bags was an excellent economic move. Since it’s a product that lasts for a long time, a tote bag is an incredible marketing tool. Companies and corporations started using tote bags as part of their gift packages. Furthermore, bag manufacturers could now opt to produce custom bags for anyone’s needs. In short, it was a huge boom, and its effects are still felt in the early 2020s.
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Bag Design Evolution
In terms of design, modern reusable bags are incredibly versatile. The material that goes into making a bag varies from jute to denim, from cotton to canvas. Some of these materials can have sleek, fashionable looks, bringing some style to our shopping experience.
In addition, manufacturers can play around with the shape of the bag and its accessories. Some of them have zippers, others have hidden pockets and compartments. Certain models also come with matching wallets for spare change, as well as reinforced sides for refrigeration. There are even designs that enable us to wear a bag like a backpack.
What’s great about these bags is the fact that we can literally print anything we want on them. On the other hand, since they are usually made of fabric, we can also embroider or weave logos, slogans, or images onto them. And with new synthetic materials, modern bags are more durable, sturdy, and long-lasting than any plastic alternative.
Shopping Bags Summed Up
With the eco-friendly sentiment growing stronger every day, we can see a lot more tote bags in our future. Whether we will sell them as promo products or print funny messages onto them, we will surely be using them whenever we need to restock our fridge or get our pets some food. Therefore, we recommend going out and buying a couple of reusable shopping bags today.
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How Custom Printed Tote Bags Can Help You Advertise Your Business
Go over our vast collection of promo bags including paper bags, plastic carrier bags, and jute bags, and choose the ones you like best. Then, contact us at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today — your way to seamless marketing is just a call away!
