What are self-seal bags?
Self-seal bags are polythene bags that are closed by squeezing an interlocking plastic seal that runs across the top of the bag. The same seal is pulled apart gently to open the bag.
This re-usable seal allows self-seal bags - also known as resealable bags, mini grip bags or grip-seal bags - to used repeatedly, avoiding leakage and providing protection from external contamination without the need for any kind of bag sealer (e.g. tape, clip, staple), thus differentiating them from standard polythene bags.
Blessed are the cheesemakers, for they shall use self-seal bags
You may have noticed more and more food producers using resealable polythene bags to package their food in recent years, in a bid to win over consumers by allowing them to keep their food fresh for longer.
Cheesemakers have been at the forefront of the move to self-seal bags, with Cathedral City among those to lead the way, but you will also find resealable bags being used from products as diverse as Bird's Eye Field Fresh Garden Peas and Cadbury's Creme Egg Splats.
Richard Clothier, managing director of cheesemaker Wyke Farms, who introduced grip-seal packs to its cheese in 2009, believes the benefits of producing resealable packs outweigh the extra costs involved in manufacturing the packaging.
"Aside from being convenient and retaining the branding throughout the life of the product, reseal prevents the use of secondary packaging in the home such as cling film and foil," Clothier told packagingnews.co.uk.
"Reseal costs the manufacturer more money, but we see it as a marketing investment in the same way that we would view investment in more flavours and better quality. It's part of the package."
What some people say about self seal bags
Grip Seal Bags - Write-on
Grip seal bags make small-item packing faster because the contents can be closed, checked, and reopened without additional tape or heat sealing. The grip closure suits a busy shop floor where fittings, samples, paperwork, or spare parts need to be grouped quickly while still staying clean and secure. A write-on panel adds practical control, since part numbers, dates, and batch details can be labeled straight on the bag instead of relying on labels that may lift or smear. That assists stock identification amid picking and issue, and it avoids mixing up similar items. A tidy secondary pack like this retains handling simple and reduces avoidable loss.
Mini grip bags need very tight converting control because small packs leave hardly any tolerance for tolerance. A small shift in film feed, thickness or melt flow can change the finished size enough to cause problems at packing. Bags that dash also deep waste space in tote bins and carton packs, while ones that come out short are awkward for staff to handle and may need sorting out before dispatch. Good gauge stability and proper line settings retain the bags consistent from reel to reel, which means less rework and less stoppages at the packing station.
Details about Clear Self Seal Bags 5x5 - 20 Pack New
Clear self seal bags perform optimal when the film has enough body to grasp its shape through picking, filling, and closing without becoming above-heavy or awkward to use. The proper gauge retains the mouth open neatly for loading, then lets the seal bite properly so small components, samples, or dry products stay contained instead of working loose in transit. If the film is also thin, wrinkles and split edges soon appear, and the packing bench ends up slowed by rework. A bag that behaves properly on the line cuts down on waste and gives a cleaner result from the first pack onward.
Antistatic grip seal bags in a small format are a practical selection when small parts need to be counted, kept visible and packed without fuss. Screws, clips and connectours stay separated instead of clinging to the film, so the rely on a busy bench is faster and less prone to error. The bag itself gives a transparent view of the contents, which assists when sorting mixed batches or putting together kitting jobs. A proper grip seal closes the pack neatly and retains the contents together through the next handling stage. That makes small-parts packing easier to control and reduces the chance of a mixed or incomplete consignment.
Details about Gripper Bags 150 X 220Mm - Pl11
Gripper bags in the 150 x 220 mm size suit mixed packing lines because they give enough room for fasteners, small kits and folded paperwork without leaving dead space in the case. That matters in a warehouse, where loose contents waste board space and make pallets see untidy before they have even left the despatch bay. A firmer polythene suppliers body assists the bag grasp its shape, so items drop in cleanly and the pack feels more controlled in the hand. When the gauge is proper, the line runs smoothly and the finished case stays compact.
Grippa bags rely on tight control amid converting, because a small drift in gauge, slip or seal position can turn a tidy pouch into a troublesome one on the line. If the web wanders or the closure sits off-middle, filling slows down and the bag is more likely to split or crease when it is lifted, stacked or packed with other stock. A proper polythene suppliers structure gives enough puncture resistance for repeated handling without making the bag stiff or awkward to use, which matters when counts are high and speed matters. Solid process control at the reel stage retains waste down and stops faulty bags reaching dispatch.
Write-on minigrip bags in the 205mm x 280mm size work well on busy packing lines because they combine containment and identification in one simple pack. The interlocking seal gives a more proper close than a weak press strip, which matters when the film has poor memory or the rib profile is slightly uneven after converting. Small parts, dust and mixed samples stay together instead of creeping loose amid sorting, storage or despatch. The write-on panel also retains batch notes and inspection labels tied to the contents, so the information does not vanish when cartons are moved through a damp store or rubbed in transit.
A self-seal bag can make picking and pack-out much quicker because the contents are visible at a glance and the pack closes without additional equipment. That matters where mixed consignments contain plenty similar screws, clips, samples or fittings, since a fast check through the transparent film assists stop mis-selects before they leave the dispatch bay. The tidy rectangular shape also pays off in the warehouse, because it sits square in trays and cartons and uses less wasted space than strange-shaped packs. That leads to cleaner secondary packing, easier stacking and less handling time when stock is moving fast.
Grip Seal Bags Market 2020 | COVID 19 Impact Estimation and Innovative Solutions By: packaging suppliers, 3A Manufacturing and polythene suppliers manufacturers Group Limited
Grip seal bags work well because they retain small items contained without slowing down the packing line. A solid closure gives a tidy grasp on parts, samples, labels, and loose components, so items stay clean and are less likely to be lost or mixed with other stock. The bag can be opened again for checking, then closed properly for issue, which suits kit assembly and stock-room work where speed still has to be matched with control. Film gauge matters here: a light bag may be fine for gentle internal use, nevertheless weak seals and thin material can fail once boxes are moved, stacked, or handled hard. The proper selection saves rebagging and retains small consignments tidy.
Mini grip bags suit small components optimal when the pack requirements to stay compact and tidy instead of wasting space in a carton. A flat bag sits better in trays, stacks more securely on a shelf, and makes picker work quicker because the contents stay visible and organised. Clear film also assists spot counts and labels at a glance, which reduces opening and re-closing at dispatch. When the bag size is matched properly to the parts inside, the all pack sees cleaner and takes less effort to handle, so the job feels more controlled from packing bench to warehouse.
It's a WRAP - report finds self-seal bags are a winner with consumers
A March 2013 report by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a government-funded not-for-profit company tasked with increasing recycling and reducing waste, found that consumers are in favour of re-closable packs.
The paper, entitled 'Consumer Attitudes to Food Waste and Food Packaging', reported that consumers viewed re-closable packs as the most useful packaging innovation available to them.
Presented with 13 "recent changes to food packaging" and asked to choose up to four that "are/would be most useful", 56% of respondents chose re-sealable packaging.
The report also found that, when presented with two cheeses - one packaged in a resealable pack and the other in a non-resealable pack - two-thirds (67%) of consumers chose the resealable option. Their reasons for the choice were as follows:
- The top reason for choosing either option was a preference for how the packaging looked (18% mentioning this for the normal pack, 33% for the re-closable pack).
- Of those who chose the re-closable pack, 20% said they did so for exactly that reason (despite the fact the text was not enlarged in any way, i.e. they recognised or were looking for this functionality).
Source: Consumer Attitudes to Food Waste and Food Packaging - WRAP, March 2013
Top 5 practical uses for self-seal bags
- Save time at airport security by buying yourself a clear self-seal bag and arranging your toiletries for your hand luggage before you set off for the airport. Watch with a smug grin on your face while other passengers lose their place in the queue as you waltz by
- Take a self-seal bag on your trip to the beach, swimming pool or fun park (one with water rides) and use it keep your camera and other valuables waterproof while you're all having a whale of a time splashing about in the water
- Staying on the theme of water, large self-seal bags are a great way to keep your wet swimming costume and towel away from your dry clothes after a trip to the swimming pool or the beach. If big enough, you could even use the same bag as that used to keep your valuables dry - just make sure you've taken them out of the bag first!
- Chop up your half-time orange wedges before the big match and stick them in a self-seal bag before putting them into your kit bag. This will leave you free to concentrate on the half time team talk, rather than worrying about chopping up oranges on the touchline, plus it will keep your kit free from orange juice!
- For all you chefs out there, your self-seal bag is a handy tool in the kitchen. Use it to shake up the ingredients for a delicious salad dressing, or do the same for a marinade before adding the meat or fish straight to the bag. This same technique can be applied to dry coatings (e.g. breadcrumbs, fajita spice mix) provided your self-seal bag is clean and dry!
