Produce Bags: Compostable vs Kraft Paper for Grocers
For loose fruit and veg, Packery stocks two kinds of produce bag: the clear Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000), made from PBAT + PLA, and plain paper bags in kraft and white. Pick the gusseted bag when shoppers need to see what they're buying, and the paper flat or SOS bags for small, dry items sold over the counter.
Key takeaways
- The Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is the only bag in this range that is compostable. It is clear, measures 250x100x450mm and costs $0.06 each ($120.59 per carton).
- The flat paper bags (2WB Flat, 2F Flat in brown kraft, and 2F Flat in white) cost $0.02 each and come 500 to a carton.
- Brown SOS bags in virgin paper stand up on their own and come in No.4, No.16 and No.20 sizes for anything from a handful of chillies to a bulk buy of potatoes.
- Soft produce such as berries, cherry tomatoes and figs sits better in a sugarcane produce tray or a wooden pine boat than in a bag.
- There is no minimum order, every order is prepaid online.
What materials are produce bags made from?
In this range, produce bags are made from either PBAT + PLA (the clear gusseted bag) or paper (the kraft flat, white flat and brown SOS bags). The choice comes down to whether customers need to see the produce and how bulky the item is.
PBAT + PLA. The Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is a clear film bag with a side gusset, so it opens wider than a flat bag and holds rounder produce like apples, onions or a bunch of bananas. Being clear, it suits self-serve displays where the cashier needs to identify the contents at the till.
Paper. The flat kraft and white bags are plain paper with no gusset. They suit small, light items handed across the counter, such as mushrooms, beans or fresh herbs. Paper is opaque, so these bags suit staffed counters and market stalls where the seller packs and prices the item.
Virgin paper SOS bags. SOS (self-opening square) bags have a flat base and stand upright when opened, which makes them quicker to fill on a busy stall. The brown SOS bags in this range are made from virgin paper.
Is the gusseted produce bag compostable?
Yes. The Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is the one bag in this group sold as compostable, and it is made from PBAT + PLA. The kraft, white and SOS bags are plain paper and are not sold as compostable.
If your shop wants a clear bag at the fruit and veg display, this is the one to stock. It comes in cartons of 2000 (see the product page for the current price).
Which paper bags work for loose fruit and veg?
The flat kraft and white bags handle small, light produce, and the brown SOS bags handle bulkier or heavier buys. They line up like this:
| Product | Size | Material / colour | Carton qty | Carton price | Price each |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) | 250x100x450mm | PBAT + PLA, clear | 2000 | $120.59 | $0.06 |
| Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) | 200x200mm | Paper, brown | 500 | $9.05 | $0.02 |
| Kraft Bag – 2F Flat (Carton of 500) | 240x165mm | Paper, brown | 500 | $9.64 | $0.02 |
| Bag – White 2F Flat (Carton of 500) | 240x165mm | Paper, white | 500 | $9.59 | $0.02 |
| No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) | 127x77x235mm | Virgin paper, brown | 2000 | $84.97 | $0.04 |
| No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) | 240x120x390mm | Virgin paper, brown | 250 | $37.25 | $0.15 |
| No.20 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) | 305x175x430mm | Virgin paper, brown | 250 | $53.54 | $0.21 |
The Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) is a square 200x200mm bag, handy for garlic bulbs or snow peas. The Kraft Bag – 2F Flat (Carton of 500) and the Bag – White 2F Flat (Carton of 500) share the same 240x165mm size; choose brown kraft for a natural market look, or white if you want a cleaner finish or plan to stamp or label the bag.
For more volume, the No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) is a narrow 127x77x235mm bag suited to small loose items, while the No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) at 240x120x390mm and the No.20 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) at 305x175x430mm take larger buys like potatoes, onions or a mixed bag of seasonal veg.
What about soft fruit that bruises in a bag?
Soft produce is better sold in a tray or punnet than a bag. For berries, cherry tomatoes, figs or stone fruit, look at the sugarcane produce trays, such as the Produce – Tray 2D 212x150x24mm (Carton of 500), or wooden pine boats such as the Pine Boats – Extra Small 90x60mm Serving Tray (Carton of 2000) for small tasting portions. Our guide to fresh produce packaging by produce type covers which tray suits which fruit.
Which one should I buy?
Match the bag to how your customers shop:
- Grocer with a self-serve fruit and veg display: the Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000), clear so staff can see the contents at the till.
- Farmers' market stall where you pack each order: the Kraft Bag – 2F Flat (Carton of 500) for small items, plus the No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) for heavier buys. Both are brown, so they look consistent on the table.
- Herbs, mushrooms and small loose items at a deli or greengrocer counter: the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) or, for a white finish, the Bag – White 2F Flat (Carton of 500).
- High-volume small items such as chillies, nuts or dried fruit: the No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000), which comes in larger cartons.
- Berries, cherry tomatoes and soft fruit: skip bags and use a sugarcane produce tray or a pine boat.
A simple setup is to stock two: a clear bag for self-serve and a kraft bag for the counter. For a wider look at lower-impact packaging across a deli or market, read eco friendly food packaging for delis, grocers and markets.
Can I get produce bags printed with my logo?
The paper flat bags and the brown SOS bags in this range are available with custom printing. The Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is not offered with custom print. See the custom print page for how logo printing works on selected products.
How do I order produce bags?
Every product is sold by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and price per item. There is no minimum order. Delivery is $35 flat to metro areas, free on orders over $750, and $75 flat to regional areas, free over $1,000. Expect 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online.
Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). Browse the full fresh produce packaging range, or if you already know your codes, add them in one go on the quick order page.
Setting up or restocking your packaging?
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No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details
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