Promotional tote bags not only come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, they also are made from different types of material. Some of the terminology can be confusing, but when you are trying to decipher the cost difference between two identical looking bags; consider the material. You will find bags made from polypropylene, polyester, nylon, cotton, paper, and plastic.
First, let’s break down polyester and nylon. Generally, whenever you see this material you’ll see a number with a “D” or “T” after it (for example 600D or 210T). What do the D and T stand for?
D stands for denier, which is a measure of linear density expressed in terms of grams per 9,000 meters. Thus, one denier is equal to one 9,000 meter strand of the material that will be used to create a product. When comparing deniers of the same material, denier can be a good measure of strength and durability. For example, 600D polyester is stronger than 210D polyester. However, you cannot compare deniers across different materials. Nylon is actually more dense (stronger) than polyester. So when comparing 420D nylon to 600D polyester, nylon is actually stronger.
T stands for thread count. Thread count is a total amount of threads in a square inch. Again, when comparing the same material, thread count can be a good measure of strength and durability.
Now let’s take a look at polypropylene. Simply put, polypropylene is a form of plastic. It is a tough, flexible thermoplastic material made from polymerizing propylene. The fibers from a polypropylene tote are made from this plastic polymer. You will see polypropylene products reference by 100 GSM or 80 GSM. What does the GSM mean? GSM stands for grams per square meter. GSM measures the weight and density of the polypropylene material. Just like denier and thread count, the higher the GSM, the more durable and stronger the material. Why the term non-woven? Well, just like the name says, the material is not (non) woven. Woven material consists of threads weaved over and under each other creating a strong, high quality material. Non-woven material on the other hand is essentially a large sheet of plastic. The material is generally debossed to give it a woven appearance. Although non-woven material is not as strong as woven material, it is generally more cost efficient to purchase because it is cheaper and faster to make.
Most people are familiar with cotton material from apparel. Unlike the other material, cotton is a natural fabric. You will see cotton measured in ounces. To determine the number of ounces a certain type of cotton is done by measuring how much one square yard of material weighs.
Finally, there are also paper and plastic bags which we are most familiar with. Just like polypropylene, you will see paper measured by GSM as well. Again it stands for grams per square meter and it is an indication of the thickness of the paper. The higher the GSM, the thicker or heavier the paper is. Plastic, on the other hand, is measured using the term mil. A “MIL” is one thousandth of an inch and measures the thickness of a bag. The higher the mil, the thicker and stronger the bag will be. For reference, a credit card has a thickness of about 30 mil.
When deciding on printed bags for your next promotion, consider what the intended use of the bag will be and how long you wish for the promotional bags to last. Keep in mind the material of the bags when looking at size, features, and cost of the bags. Generally, as in other aspects of life, you get what you paid for.
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