PP & non-woven bags

For concert handouts, sports event giveaways and election campaigns with five-figure runs, 70 to 80 g/m² is ideal – the cheapest promotional carrier there is, sufficient to transport brochures and small giveaways. The sweet spot for trade show bags, Christmas market campaigns and roadshow kits is 90 to 100 g/m² – noticeably sturdier non-wovenⁱ, strong on print and colour, machine-washable at 30 °C. For supermarket reusable use, weekly shopping and retail sale, we recommend woven PP from 120 g/m² upwards – genuinely woven rather than pressed, significantly higher load capacity, high-quality enough for standalone sale. If large-area motif printing across the entire front is planned, you should never go below 100 g/m², otherwise colour bleeds through and the bag becomes unstable.

Non-wovenⁱ fabric is pressed rather than woven: PP fibres are thermally or mechanically bonded into a fabric-like web. The result is an inexpensive, print-friendly non-woven fabric with a typical Fabric weight of 80 to 100 g/m² – ideal for high-volume promotional give-aways. Woven PP is truly woven from polypropylene tapes: the fibres cross in a canvasⁱ structure, making the fabric significantly more tear-resistant and capable of carrying higher loads. Typical Fabric weights are 120 to 150 g/m². Rule of thumb: non-woven for the one-off promotional appearance and give-away campaign, woven PP for multi-year retail sales, DIY store use and the weekly shop with drinks bottles.

The price per unit depends heavily on volume and print areas. For 500 units standard non-wovenⁱ shopper 38x42 cm with one-colour screen print one-sided we start from EUR 0.80 per unit - this makes the non-woven bag the cheapest advertising carrier alongside the ballpoint pen. From 1,000 units the price falls to about EUR 0.55 to 0.65, from 5,000 units to EUR 0.35 to 0.45 per unit. Woven PP models are about 40 to 60 percent higher, rPETⁱ models about 20 to 30 percent surcharge. Two-colour motifs and double-sided print each add 15 to 25 cents per unit. For a specific calculation, contact us directly with motif, quantity and target price - we deliver a non-binding offer within 24 hours.

Screen printingⁱ is the standard for large-format, single and multi-colour motifs and print runs from 100 units upwards - it works best on 90 to 100 gsm non-wovenⁱ and delivers rich, opaque colours. Ideal for logos, slogans and illustrative motifs. Flexo printing is the pragmatic choice for very large print runs from 5,000 units upwards with a simple motif - somewhat coarser in detail but significantly cheaper in acquisition price. Sublimation printingⁱ allows full-surface photo printing across the entire bag but only works on laminated or polyester-dominated PP models. Digital printing (direct-to-bag) is the right choice for very small runs under 100 units and photo-realistic motifs. Transfer printingⁱ is suitable for individualised small runs with names or numbers. It is always important that the print area maintains distance from handles and welded seams - otherwise the colour will peel off at the welded seam.

The honest answer is: it depends on the use. The pure eco-balance comparison says that Cottonⁱ bag and non-wovenⁱ bag only beat the single-use plastic bag after a two- to three-digit number of uses - non-woven already after about 10 to 20 uses, Cotton significantly later. So as long as the non-woven bag is used multiple times (e.g. as supermarket reusable or roadshow carrier over weeks), it is a clearly better alternative to the single-use plastic bag. As pure mass give-away that ends up in the museum bag graveyard, it is critical. For credible sustainability positioning there are two paths: rPETⁱ recycled non-woven from recovered PET bottles (Halfar Planet, Stamina Ocean Bag) and consistent communication of reuse in the motif or the campaign. A green slogan on a conventional standard non-woven bag quickly looks suspect of greenwashing.

Rule of thumb for trade fair handouts: calculate with 40 to 60 percent of expected stand visitors - non-wovenⁱ is lower-threshold than Cottonⁱ, more recipients actually take it. At consumer fairs and consumer events the rate is more like 60 to 80 percent. Additionally calculate 15 to 25 percent reserve for spontaneous reorders on the second fair day. For concert and sport event handouts in five-digit volumes, choose the price anchor (70-80 g/m²) and calculate with distribution to almost every visitor. For supermarket reusable campaigns at the checkout, an initial stock of 500 to 2,000 units is sufficient, supplemented by reorders depending on sales dynamics. We deliver printed from 100 units - for small orders this is the economical entry point.

Non-wovenⁱ bags are washable at 30 °C – explicitly not at 40 °C or higher, because the PP non-woven changes its structure at higher temperatures and in the worst case shrinks or melts. Avoid fabric softener because it clogs the non-woven structure and dulls colours. Turn the bag inside out before washing to protect print and motif – with intense wash cycles screen print can otherwise fade. A tumble dryer is strictly off-limits for non-woven; laminated PP models can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and are less sensitive. Ironing is not possible for any PP models because the non-woven melts at ironing temperature. After washing, pull the bag flat into shape and let it air-dry, then the base and sides remain smooth.

Yes, conditionally, but the sweet spot lies with woven PP and non-wovenⁱ with felt look. Pure 80 g/m² non-woven bags feel too light to stand at the checkout range next to cottonⁱ bags and canvasⁱ shoppers. From 120 g/m² woven PP with clean workmanship (welded seams, reinforced base, double-stitched handles) and a brand that stands for quality (Halfar, Printwear, Stamina), retail prices between 3 and 8 EUR are realistic - supermarkets, DIY stores, DIY chains and discounters use precisely these models as the reusable alternative at the checkout. Important for sales success: uncompromising motif design (no printed company logo, but standalone illustration or typography), suitable size for the weekly shop (maxi from 15 L with gusset) and a visible CSR story (rPETⁱ certificate on the label, reusable message in the motif).