Kraft Paper
Kraft paper is a strong, versatile material made from natural wood pulp through the kraft chemical process. Available in various weights and finishes, it balances structural durability with printability, making it one of the most widely used substrates in the packaging industry.
Key Advantages
- Outstanding durability: Long-fiber construction provides excellent tear strength, folding endurance, and puncture resistance
- Highly versatile: Available in brown, white, and bleached grades across a wide range of weights and caliper options
- Eco-friendly by nature: Recyclable, biodegradable, and available from FSC-certified sustainable forestry sources
- Good printability: Accepts flexographic, offset, and digital printing with consistent results across production runs
- Cost-effective at scale: Economical base material for high-volume packaging production
Common Applications
- Paper bags: Retail shopping bags, grocery bags, and food service bags in multiple handle configurations
- Folding cartons: Product packaging for food, personal care, and retail goods
- Shipping boxes: Liner faces for corrugated shipping containers
- Wrapping and void fill: Protective wrapping material and cushioning for fragile items
- Packaging inserts: Dividers, sleeves, and structural insert elements
Industry insight: When specifying kraft, the weight matters as much as the grade. Lighter weights (80-120 gsm) suit wrapping and bags; medium weights (150-250 gsm) work for cartons; heavyweight grades (280 gsm+) handle structural packaging and premium bag applications.
Best Used With
- Details
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Overview
Kraft paper derives its name from the German word for “strength,” reflecting its exceptional durability achieved through the kraft chemical pulping process. This versatile material combines high tensile strength and tear resistance with natural flexibility, making it ideal for wrapping, bags, pouches, void fill, and protective liners across diverse packaging applications.
The material’s inherent natural brown color and fibrous texture have become synonymous with authentic, eco-conscious branding. While traditionally unbleached, kraft paper is available in bleached white and custom-dyed variations to suit different aesthetic requirements. Its ability to conform to irregular product shapes while maintaining protective qualities makes it particularly valuable for artisanal products, food service, and retail packaging.
Kraft paper’s sustainability credentials are unmatched—produced from renewable wood pulp with minimal chemical processing, it biodegrades naturally and integrates seamlessly into existing recycling streams. Brands leveraging kraft paper benefit from both functional performance and the growing consumer preference for packaging that visibly demonstrates environmental responsibility.
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