Also referred to as American Bristol Grade Paper; a type of coated board used for luxury bags and boxes. “C1S” means “coated one side” - the outer side is smooth and perfect for printing, foiling, or laminating, while the inside remains uncoated. Often used as the starting point for matt or gloss finishes.
→ See: Luxury Paper Gift Bags | Rigid Presentation Boxes

A multi-layer plastic film, usually with a black inner layer (for privacy/security) and a white outer layer for branding/printing. Used in mailing bags. Typically 60 micron but thicker options are available.
→ See: Mailing Bags

Embossing raises your design above the surface of the packaging, while debossing presses it into the material. Both techniques add tactile texture and a premium feel without using ink or foil. These techniques work beautifully for logos, patterns or elegant text, giving packaging a sophisticated, tactile quality.
→ See: Luxury Paper Gift Bags | Rigid Presentation Boxes | Luxury Tubes

Rigid board used for the structure of luxury boxes and tubes, available in multiple thicknesses. The printed or laminated paper is glued to the greyboard to create the finished product.
→ See: Rigid Presentation Boxes

The gusset is the folded side or bottom panel of a bag that allows it to expand. It gives extra space for bulkier items and helps the packaging hold its shape when filled. Bags or boxes without a gusset are flat and have less internal capacity.

For example on a 15×18×3” patch handle bag the 3” is the gusset (depth).

Twisted Handles: Twisted paper cords, strong and stylish, common on retail bags. Our paper bags use these.
Flat Handles: Economical, flat paper strips for takeaways or functional packaging.
→ See: Paper Bags

Patch Handles: Reinforced cut-out polythene handles for carrier bags.
Loop Handles: Flexible polythene loops for a soft, premium finish.
Punched Handles: Simple holes cut directly into a polythene bag for carrying.
→ See: Patch & Loop Handle Bags

PP Rope: Durable polypropylene cords, strong and smooth, ideal for luxury and retail bags.
Cotton Rope: Soft cotton cords, comfortable to carry and premium in feel.
Paper Rope: Twisted paper cords, eco-friendly yet stylish, perfect for boutique packaging.
Satin Ribbon: Smooth, glossy satin, elegant and luxurious for gift or fashion bags.
Cotton Herringbone Ribbon: Textured cotton with a herringbone weave, classic and sophisticated.
Paper Ribbon: Lightweight and versatile, gives a natural, understated finish.
Diecut: Handles cut directly from the bag material, sleek, minimalist, and modern.
→ See: Luxury Gift Bags

Hot foiling is a premium finishing technique where metallic or coloured foil is pressed onto your packaging using heat and pressure. It creates a shiny, luxurious effect, often seen on logos, text or patterns. Hot foiling is perfect for adding a high-end, eye-catching finish to packaging
→ See: Luxury Paper Gift Bags | Rigid Presentation Boxes | Luxury Tubes

Pantone (Spot) Colours: Pantone colours are pre-mixed, standardised inks created by the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Each colour has a unique code, ensuring that the exact same shade can be reproduced consistently across different printers, materials & production runs.
Example: Your brand’s exact pink (Pantone 219C) will always look the same whether printed on a luxury bag, box or tube.

CMYK (Process) Colours
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) - the four base inks used in full-colour printing. By combining these inks in different percentages, printers can create virtually any colour.
Example: A photograph of your product or a full-colour promotional design would typically be printed in CMYK.

Kraft paper is a strong, durable paper used for bags, boxes & tube packaging. It comes in brown, white or black, each with its own design possibilities:

Brown Kraft: Natural and rustic, ideal for eco-friendly or boutique packaging. Works best with foil, spot UV or darker inks. Printing bright colours is usually limited, though white ink can be used as an exception.

White Kraft: Smooth and versatile, perfect for printing in any colour. Great for vibrant logos, patterns and custom designs.

Black Kraft: Luxurious and dramatic, typically printed using silk screen or hot foil. Bright colours are challenging, so metallics or subtle highlights work best.

Kraft paper combines strength with style, and choosing the right colour and print method ensures your branding really stands out.

Lamination is a finishing process where a thin protective film is applied over printed paper or board to enhance durability, appearance & tactile quality.

How it works:
Printing First: Your design is printed onto coated paper.
Applying the Laminate: A thin film is applied over the printed surface using heat and pressure. This can be done as a roll-to-roll process for bags or sheets for rigid materials.
Finishing Touches: After lamination, the paper is cut, folded or glued into the correct shape. The laminate protects the print, enhances the finish and can also add texture.

Lamination Types:
Matt: Smooth, elegant, non-shiny finish. Softens colours and adds sophistication.
Gloss: Bright, reflective, high-impact. Makes colours pop and adds visual punch.
Soft Touch: Velvety, luxurious feel. Perfect for tactile branding and premium bags.
Anti-Scratch Matt: Same elegant matt look, but resistant to scuffs, marks and handling wear. Perfect for darker colour backgrounds.

→ See: Luxury Paper Gift Bags | Rigid Presentation Boxes

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): A flexible, durable plastic widely used in mailing bags, carrier bags, and patch-handle bags. Our LDPE contains 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable, making it a practical and sustainable choice.

Key Features:

Durable & Tear-Resistant: Protects products in transit.

Lightweight & Flexible: Reduces shipping costs and fits various bag sizes.

Customisable: Stock colours or full-colour printing on white stock.

Recyclability:
LDPE is plastic #4, recyclable where facilities exist. Recycled LDPE reduces reliance on virgin plastics and can be turned into new bags or products. We provide guidance to help your customers recycle responsibly.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest number of units a supplier can produce in one order. MOQs exist because producing packaging has setup costs - like printing plates, materials and labour - so larger runs are more cost-effective. Understanding MOQs helps you plan your budget, order sizes and timelines. Some suppliers offer flexibility for small brands, while others may require higher quantities for specialised designs or luxury finishes.

Different products have different minimums. For instance luxury gift bags have an MOQ of 100 and a twisted handle paper bag is 10,000.

A printing plate is a metal or polymer template used in traditional printing methods, like offset or flexography, to transfer your design onto packaging. Each colour usually requires its own plate, which is why initial setup costs can be higher for small runs. The good news is that once a plate has been created for a specific size and design, it is saved by the printer. For repeat orders of the exact same packaging, the plate doesn’t need to be recreated, which typically makes subsequent orders cheaper than the first. This makes printing plates ideal for maintaining consistent colours, logos, and patterns while saving money on future production runs.
Our paper bags, carrier bags & mailing bags all use printing plates.

In packaging and printing, a proof is essentially a sample or test version of your design before the full production run. It’s used to check that everything looks right - colour, layout, text and overall quality-so you can catch mistakes before committing to a large order.

There are a few common types:

Digital Proof: A computer-generated version, often used to check layout & general colour.
Physical / Hard Proof: A printed sample that shows actual colours, materials & finishes. This is the most reliable way to see exactly what the final packaging will look like. There is typically a cost associated with this.
Pantone / Colour Proof: Specifically used to verify brand colours against Pantone standards to ensure colour accuracy.

Think of a proof like a dress rehearsal for your packaging - it lets you see and approve the final look before mass production.

Spot UV is a glossy coating applied to specific areas of your packaging - like a logo, text or pattern - rather than the entire surface. It creates a striking contrast with matte or uncoated areas and draws attention to key design elements. It’s ideal for highlighting branding details or adding a modern, stylish finish to luxury packaging.

This means that 30% of the material used to make the bag or packaging comes from recycled plastic, often post-consumer or post-industrial waste. The remaining 70% is virgin polythene, which ensures strength, durability, and a consistent finish. Using recycled content helps reduce environmental impact by giving plastic a second life and lowering the amount of new plastic needed.

Importantly, packaging made with recycled polythene can usually still be recycled, depending on local recycling facilities, just like standard polythene. The inclusion of recycled content does not prevent it from being processed again, making it a more sustainable choice for shipping or retail bags without compromising quality.