Sustainable poly bags
Stay compliant
With new sustainability rules and anti-plastic regulations coming into play, remaining compliant with your poly bags is essential. This is where we come in. We’ll audit and advise you on the best choices, whilst always keeping sustainability front of mind.
Don’t sacrifice sustainability
Gone are the days when single-use, unsustainable plastics were the only option. We offer a range of eco-friendly poly bag materials from completely plastic-free options and water-soluble plastics to recyclable and recycled options.
Certified materials
Recycled LDPE
- Low-density polyethene
- This polybag can be made from up to 100% post-consumer plastic waste.
- Recyclable
- GRS certified
- Closure options: Adhesive strip, gripseal, ziplock.
Recycled CPE
- Chlorinated polyethelene
- Soft, flexible and frosted, this polybag has similar features to LDPE. Sourced from pre-consumer plastic waste.
- GRS certified & recyclable
- Closure options: Adhesive strip, gripseal, ziplock.
Recycled HDPE
- High-density polyethelene
- Can be sourced from up to 100% pre/post-consumer plastic waste, this material provides more strength than LDPE, with the option to be translucent.
- GRS certified & recyclable
- Closure options: Adhesive strip, gripseal, ziplock.
Cornstarch
- A bio-based alternative to traditional plastics made from materials such as cornstarch and PLA (polylactic acid), designed to be compostable.
- Frosted, translucent, soft feel.
- EN 13432 compliant OK compost certified
- Closure options: Adhesive strip.
Cellulose
- Derived from tree cellulose pulp, either uncoated (plastic-free) or with a thin protective plastic coating, both available in various thicknesses.
- Biodegradable within 6-8 weeks.
- Closure options: Adhesive strip
Green PE
- Bio-based polyethelene
- Made using sugarcane waste and is widely recyclable.
- Closure options: Adhesive strip
Water soluble
Hydropol, a water-soluble film that leaves no microplastics behind.
- Dissolvable in hot water
- Marine safe
- Non-toxic
- Closure options: Adhesive strip
Keep your garments protected and on-brand. Speak to us about custom garment bags.
Customer favourites
Our poly bags are available in various shapes, sizes and materials to meet your needs. Here are some of our most popular products to inspire you.
Customer favourites
Spruce: A plastic-free alternative
Want to go completely plastic-free? Our Spruce bags are the answer. Made from translucent glassine paper, Spruce bags are an alternative option to plastic made using pulp sourced from FSC-certified forests. With all the qualities of a plastic poly bag, it’s a sustainable alternative that you can rely on.
Download your poly bag Lookbook
Weavabel's circular poly bag loop
A practical system for real‑world supply chains
As packaging systems evolve, circularity is becoming central to how brands manage materials across their supply chains. Linear models are giving way to approaches designed for longevity and more responsible use.
Weavabel’s circular poly bag loop supports this shift by keeping packaging materials in circulation for longer. Built around real‑world supply chains, it enables circular thinking while maintaining the consistency and performance brands expect, integrating seamlessly into existing operations.
The poly bag recycling loop
Weavabel’s polybag recycling loop is a closed‑loop system that keeps polybag materials in circulation within real‑world fashion supply chains.
- Poly bags are supplied to garment factories via Weavabel’s global warehouse network
- Finished garments are packed and shipped to distribution centres
- Poly bags are collected from stores and returned to distribution centres alongside operational waste
- Collected poly bags are sorted, baled and consolidated for recycling
- Materials are processed, pelletised and used to manufacture new poly bag film
- Recycled poly bags are reintroduced into the supply chain, closing the loop
Truly sustainable sourcing
A large portion of carbon emissions comes from the logistics in the supply chain. Our sustainable stitch-to-store sourcing model aims to minimise this impact.
With global distribution centres, we can ship your chosen poly bags or packaging directly to your vendor from the facility that’s closest to the destination. We’ll also handle all the stock management, so you have less to deal with.
Your poly bag supplier, from audit to delivery
Weavabel has supplied branded trims and packaging for over 40 years, to more than 900 brands across 60 countries. As your poly bag supplier, we manage sourcing, compliance and stockholding, shipping from the distribution centre closest to each of your vendors.
Why choose Weavabel?
Minimum stock value
Our minimum stockholding value is £10,000 annually. This can be set up across multiple currencies and for several locations.
Fast delivery
A quick turnaround of your stock, with lead times typically taking between two and four weeks.
Hassle-free orders
Simple repeat ordering through our stockholding site, making your products easily accessible.
Great communication
We’ll liaise all the finer details directly with your vendors, giving you one less thing to manage.
Webinar: Which poly bag is right for my brand?
Watch our latest webinar where we discuss different poly bag qualities as well as the latest innovative materials that promote sustainability.
Download our guide to poly bags
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between compostable and biodegradable poly bags?
Biodegradable materials break down naturally over time, though the timeframe and conditions vary. Compostable materials break down within a set period under composting conditions, either industrial or home, and are certified to standards such as EN 13432. Our cellulose bags, for example, are certified home and industrially compostable.
What’s the minimum order quantity and lead time for poly bags?
MOQs vary by material, from 5,000 pieces for recycled LDPE up to 50,000 for water-soluble Hydropol, with unbranded stock sizes from 500 pieces. Sampling typically takes three to four weeks, with a further three to four weeks for bulk production.
Are any of your poly bags exempt from the UK Plastic Packaging Tax?
Yes. Our cellulose bags, coated and uncoated, are plastic-free and exempt from the UK Plastic Packaging Tax. Recycled options with 30% or more recycled content also fall outside the tax’s scope.
What certifications do you offer?
We have a range of certified materials, including FSC, GOTS, GRS, Carbon Neutral and more. You can find out more about our certifications here.
What inks do you use for printing?
We predominantly use vegetable and soy-based inks rather than chemical-based inks. This may vary, so always discuss with your point of contact.
What production locations can you produce poly bags in?
India, the EU, China, Hong Kong and the UK.
What type of poly bag is best for my brand?
With so many sizes, styles and material options, it can be overwhelming to decide which will work best for you. Get in touch with us today and our experts can guide you.
What are the important logos and signs to look out for when choosing a polybag?
Mobius loop- Product is capable of being recycled but not necessarily accepted in all recycling collection systems.
Triman - Product can be recycled through household waste disposal sorting.
Standard EN - Products certified to be industrially compostable according to the European standard EN 13432/14955.
Resin codes - There are seven codes that identify the type of plastic resin used to make a product. They feature a ‘chasing arrows’ symbol with the ‘Resin Identification Code’ between one and seven.
PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate
HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene
PP – Polypropylene
PS – Polystyrene
Miscellaneous - Polycarbonate, BPA and other plastics
CPE - Chlorinated polyethylene
AEVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
What does all the terminology mean?
Biodegradable
Biodegradable plastics can be decomposed by living organisms — usually microbes — into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. These plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, microorganisms, petrochemicals or a combination of all three.
Recycled and Recyclable
Plastics can be recycled through mechanical or chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling involves plastic being washed, ground and melted. Chemical recycling breaks plastic down into monomers to form new polymers that can be reused.
Compostable
Compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials such as corn, potato and tapioca starches, as well as cellulose, soy, protein and lactic acid. Compostable plastics and non-toxic and decompose into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Water soluble
This polymer is inherently biodegradable. Biodegradation has been observed by at least 20 different generaof bacteria and several yeasts and moulds which occur in activated sludge, compost, facultative ponds, landfills, anaerobic digesters and septic systems and in natural soil and aquatic environments. Sturm (aquatic) biodegradation tests show that the formulations degrade in the presence of activated sewage sludge at a similar rate to cellulose.
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