Choosing the Right Reusable Bag: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

In the present times, there is an ever-growing emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness. We’re seeing many businesses taking eco-conscious decisions and contributing to the “Go Green” movement. For instance, focusing more on reducing carbon footprint, providing branded reusable shopping bags, making manufacturing processes environmentally safer, and many actions alike. In all its entirety, the collective effort and initiatives are commendable. Eco-conscious consumers highly appreciate the companies that are putting in such an effort to protect the environment.

In case you’re also planning to launch reusable bags or totes for your business, that’s great, more power to you. But if you’re clueless about how to choose the right bag and what things you’re supposed to keep in mind while placing your bulk tote bag orders, then you’ve landed at the right place.

In this blog, we’ll answer all your bugging questions and provide you with the essential information that will help you pick the right product. So without further adieu, let’s begin!

What are reusable bags and what makes them important? 

Reusable bags can be used for a long period of time, are durable, and can withstand changes in temperature. They’re easy to carry, and clean, and offer multipurpose functionality. For instance, some of the common use cases for branded tote bags are groceries, food takeaways, retail stores, trade shows, and corporate conferences, and there are more on the list.

If a particular business provides reusable bags, this is a testament to its commitment to environmental friendliness. It shows that it cares. In addition, they promote and market the brand in a great way. And with today’s consumers – especially younger generations – being more environmentally conscious, they trust brands that share eco-friendly values.

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to picking the right reusable bag. Like, first thing first, what kind of materials should you go for? And deciding this can be a lot tough than it seems. Let’s have a rundown of the different reusable bag materials.

1) Material Preference

When it comes to reusable bags, there are myriad material options present for businesses. There are laminated materials, cotton, non-woven polypropylene, polyester, nylon, recycled PET, and natural jute/bamboo/hemp.

Cotton — it is one of the top options for branded reusable shopping bags. Cotton is ideal for environmental safety because no harmful pesticides are used in its production. The only downside is that it is not cost-friendly material. You can also choose recycled cotton which is comparatively cheaper.

Polypropylene Non-woven — it simply refers to the nonwoven fabric manufactured from polypropylene (PP). This specific material is strong, lightweight, and lasts a long period of time without losing its quality. Moreover, it is also perfect for the multiple-color printing process.

Laminated Materials — they include different natures of materials, for instance, laminated nonwoven propylene, laminated woven propylene, and laminated recycled PET. Their highlighting traits are strength, durability, and water resistance.

Recycled PET — this material is manufactured from recycled plastics, mostly from water and soda bottles. It is also one of the increasingly popular materials for creating branded tote bags.

Natural Materials — being one of the most environmentally friendly options, these materials are more expensive than the others. They include bamboo, Jute, and Hemp.

2) Size

The size of the reusable bag depends on what products or collections of products you’re offering to customers. According to that, consider picking the right size of the bag. For instance, small bags are suitable for jewelry or the miniature art business.

Medium and big-sized reusable bags work for retail stores. You can also offer a range of sizes, this way, every product will have its own complimenting bag. Remember, if the bag can’t hold enough or too much, you need to pick a different size. Because a right-sized bag will be more used by your customers for running their daily errands, and giving free promo to your business wherever they go. So, take your time and pick the right size.

3) Style

In order to pick the right tote bag style and aesthetic, you need to do competitor research. If you run a high-end bakery and want to launch reusable bags for different sugary treats, then analyze what style of bags your competitors have. Do they have a minimalistic style or something eye-catching and bold? Study what is their gusset size, handle length, number of zips, insulation, snap, and other features as well.

4) Colors & Logo Placement

Picking the colors can be a breeze if you have a designated brand palette. Because all you have to do is now incorporate those selected colors, and adjust the logo placement, and viola, you’re done with it!

In case you don’t have the chosen brand colors yet, you need to decide on that first. You can take assistance from creatives in your team or hire a designer for this purpose. This way you can have an opinion from the professional regarding selecting the right hues for your tote bag. It means spending an additional cost to get the job done but it will surely offer benefits in the long run.

5) Order the Right Volume

Okay, this can be a critical job to nail, as it differs from business to business. You need to take out the estimate for your weekly or monthly sales, then figure out the appropriate number for your bulk tote bag orders. In addition, you also need to consider the peak sales time and days and other contributing factors too, like, any upcoming event or holiday, etc.

As a matter of fact, it will take you some time to determine how many reusable bags you end up selling and how often you run out of bags in your existing inventory. With patience and the right strategy, you’ll learn to balance the right volume of the order every time.

And the important tip, make a financial strategy for your order. Ensure product margin incorporates the costs associated with packaging and presentation into its calculation. It will ensure a holistic assessment of profitability.

Conclusion

Launching a reusable bag for your business’ promotional item is the smart way to elevate brand visibility, engagement, and growth at a large scale. Investing time and effort in deciding material, size, style and other specifics is the only way to get your perfect branded bag. So plan and choose wisely, good luck!