Many consumers do not give much attention to the packaging their clothing items arrive in, whether it be a prepacked shirt, delivery through mail order or even just the plastic carrier bag you are given when out shopping, plastic bags play a very large part in fashion and they ensure that clothes manufacturers products reach the customer in the shape and condition in which was originally intended.

Importance of Textile Packaging in the UK

The purpose of using plastic bags for textiles and clothing is to keep the product free from moisture, grime, dust, and damage, such as tearing or spillages. Fashion brands go to great lengths to keep their products protected while in transit and in storage.

Plastic packaging also allows the plastic bag manufacturer to label clearly what the product is, where it was made, which materials were used, the shape and size, and, of course, it allows printed designs which can, in some cases, add to a product’s appeal.

Types of Plastic Packaging for Clothing and Textiles

Many people suggest that retail should be looking for alternative methods of packaging; however, plastic is so good at what it does that many large-scale manufacturers seem reluctant to break away from using plastic packaging.

Polypropylene is not biodegradable; however, it is fully recyclable if the consumer acts responsibly. Polyethylene, however, is biodegradable, by way of including additives in the plastic such as starch. The problem with this is that it can reduce the clarity of the product and can also encourage consumers to discard their plastic bags rather than fully recycle them, which is actually the better option. Most responsible plastic bag manufacturers and suppliers will also recycle their cardboard boxes.

A professional plastic bag company will be able to supply a wide range of flexographically printed plastic bags for use in various applications, from the textile industry right through to the food industry. Some UK factories still produce flexible packaging for the textile industry, but many are now based overseas in industrial countries such as China, India, and Eastern Europe.

Printed Garment Bags and Sustainable Packaging Options

Types of plastic packaging and bags available include polypropylene, polythene, and O.P.P. side and bottom-weld bags, carrier bags, cut sheets, as well as plain and printed film on the reel, all of which are available in any size and thickness to tailor to a buyer’s individual requirements.

For printed bags, suppliers will offer up to 10 colours process or line for better quality reproduction, which should be able to produce artwork quickly and to the customer’s design requirements.

A variety of film processes can be applied to printed textile bags, such as micro-perforated film, coloured opaque film, tinted film,co-ex polythene, anti-static, variable thickness, and embossed film. In some cases, special features such as ultra-violet filters, photo filters, photo degradable, and anti-misting can also be incorporated.

However fashion and textile brands choose to package their clothing items, you can rest assured that a great deal of research and thought will have gone into how the product reaches the consumer. The consumer simply needs to play their part by recycling the bags; recycling instructions will usually be printed on the bags themselves.