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Glossary

At PaperPak we are all about the little things. Little things like helping you understand the words our packaging experts use all the time, but which might be new to you.
Explore our popular packaging terms below.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z


Acid Free

We want the best for our environment, which is why our wide range of packaging items are acid free. We do this while still maintaining the colour and longevity of your packaging.

Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)

We partner with Australia's leading industry packaging body, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, to make sure that our product offering is the best it can be. APCO can also help us to help you in making the right claims on your items about a product's end of life disposal options.

Biodegradable

An item that can decompose or breakdown, with microbial action. No industry standard exists for 'biodegradable' and this term can be confusing and misleading.

Carry Weight

Maximum capacity of our paper bags with paper twist, flat fold and die-cut handles. Bags are tested with sandbags in our labs, with a small amount of agitation applied to simulate walking, until the bag fails.

Circular Economy

Decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system. The circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital. It is based on three principles:

  • Design out waste and pollution
  • Keep products and materials in use
  • Regenerate natural systems

Compostable

Our compostable packaging is made from organic materials that break down naturally in optimal conditions, leaving no toxic residue. Microorganisms, humidity, and heat is required to break packaging down effectively and when combined with green waste and food scraps, can create a nutrient dense compost to improve our soils.

Our range of paper and unlined board products are readily compostable and for all other items, various global certification standards exist, enabling consumers to understand how to responsibly dispose of their packaging.  Certain packaging requires commercial composting facilities with the right amount of heat and moisture to break down, and other items may be compostable in a home compost environment. We recommend you check with your local council re acceptance of food soiled compostable packaging through green waste collection.

Customisable

A product that can be customised from the standard stock range. This includes printing, materials, size, and other factors. Custom printed bags are a fantastic way to build your brand and carry it further. Minimum order quantities apply. Get in touch with us about custom print.

Die-cut

Where the handle is cut out of the bag to a specific shape.

Fluted Board

Board with a corrugated inner to create a thick, sturdy material.

Grosgrain

A type of fabric or ribbon made of woven silk or nylon.

GSM

The term GSM stands for 'grams per square metre'. The GSM of a product does not always correlate to the strength of a product, with other factors having an impact on the strength of a bag. The higher the GSM number, the heavier the paper.

Gusset

A triangular insert in a seam of a bag. The gusset expands the bag, beyond what simply attaching the front to the back would do.

Handle Type

At PaperPak, we have a wide variety of customers, with each of these having different preferences and requirements. That's why we offer a range of handles on our paper bags. Each has its own benefits and properties. Die-cut; Flat fold; Paper Twist; Rope. 

HWS

High Wet Strength paper is 2.5 times as strong as normal paper when wet, identified with a slight pink twinge.

Jute

A rough, natural fibre used in the production of some ropes and strings. We offer jute string that is popular for gift wrapping. It adds a rustic, natural look and is perfect for tying on labels or gift tags.

Q903S0010_PAPERPAK_SWING_TAGS_BROWN_MULTIPLE Swing Tag

Item: Q903S0010

AUD 27.46 / Pack (100) | AUD 0.27 EA

Kraft

Paper of high strength made from long fibre pulp, offered in brown (natural) or white (bleach).

Last Minute Print

For custom printing required in a short time frame. Find out more about Last Minute Print.

Linear Economy

Where we take raw materials, make a product, use and then dispose - giving materials only one life before they are sent to landfill.

MOQ

MOQ stands for 'Minimum Order Quantity', which is the smallest amount you can order. We have a MOQ for customising items. Find out about custom print and MOQ's.

Orientation

Like a photo. Orientations may include Portrait, Landscape or Square.

Pieces Per Carton

How many individual items of packaging will be inside each carton.

Ply

A layer of material.

Raw Material

The material used to create a product in its raw, unaltered state. 

Recyclable

A product or material is recyclable if it can be collected and re-manufactured into a new product. If a PaperPak product is listed as recyclable, it means this product can be readily recycled via kerbside recycling streams once food residue has been removed.

Reusable

Able to be used again. The most easily reused items are paper bags.

SOS

Self-opening satchel, which is a bag with a rectangular base.

Sustainable

The paper or board materials used in our products are responsibly sourced, and the supplier has been audited for evidence of sustainable and ethical practices.

We only use paper and board from large, reputable raw material suppliers, which means no old growth forests are used. As part of our commitment to sustainable sourcing, we use ethically sourced raw materials in all our manufactured products, including recycled on FSC/PEFC paper and board, where possible.

Waste Hierarchy

An internationally accepted set of priorities for the efficient use of resources.
Guiding through from the most favourable to least favourable outcome for material use and end of life disposal.