The Four Commonly Used Paper Types in Food Packaging Bags

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In recent years, due to national regulations restricting plastic use and increasing public awareness of health and environmental sustainability, green and eco-friendly paper packaging has regained widespread application in daily life. This is particularly evident in food-grade paper packaging, where paper bags are extensively used-from grease-resistant wrappers and snack pouches at street vendors to food containers, liners, and takeaway bags at global chains such as McDonald's and KFC. Moreover, the design of these packages has evolved from simple, monochromatic styles to diverse, visually appealing formats with high-quality printing. Given this trend, a critical question arises: what types of paper materials are commonly used in customizing food packaging for the market?

When manufacturing customized food packaging bags, producers can select from various paper types based on functional requirements and material characteristics. The four most commonly used papers are kraft paper, coated paper, white card paper, and offset paper. These differ in terms of strength, surface smoothness, printability, and aesthetic quality. Manufacturers carefully evaluate these properties to meet specific customer demands. Below is a detailed overview of the characteristics of each of these four widely used paper types.

1. Kraft Paper: Produced from sulfate-based chemical pulp derived from coniferous wood, kraft paper exhibits high tensile strength and is typically available in natural brown, light tan, cream, or bleached white. With a grammage ranging from 80 to 120 g/m², it comes in various finishes, including single-sided glossy, double-sided glossy, striped, and uncoated. Due to its durability and eco-friendly nature, kraft paper is widely used for supermarket carry bags, food delivery packaging, dried fruit pouches (e.g., chestnuts), envelope-style bags, file folders, and medical record holders.

2. White Card Paper: Composed of bleached chemical pulp, often in single or multi-ply laminated form, white card paper features a smooth surface and high rigidity. Currently, imported white card paper dominates a significant portion of the domestic market. It is primarily used in premium packaging applications such as luxury gift boxes, high-end handbags, rigid boxes, business cards, and presentation folders.

3. Coated Paper: Manufactured by applying a coating-composed of pigments, binders, and auxiliary agents-onto base paper using specialized equipment, followed by drying and calendering processes. The resulting surface is exceptionally smooth and clean, offering excellent print reproduction and ink adhesion. Available in grammages from 70 to 250 g/m², coated paper is commonly used for cigarette packaging, labels, folding cartons, and high-end printed boxes.

4. Offset Paper: Characterized by a white and relatively smooth surface, though lower in whiteness, density, and smoothness compared to coated paper. It is suitable for printing book covers, periodicals, inserts, picture books, maps, promotional posters, color trademarks, and general packaging materials. In recent years, it has also been adopted for lower-specification dried fruit packaging, such as chestnut bags.

The above outlines the four primary paper types currently utilized in food packaging applications. For further inquiries regarding food-grade paper packaging, please feel free to contact us.