This popular new line comes in a variety of sizes; small, medium, large and extra-large – in brown and white and with the ever-popular twist handle. 

Economy twist handle bags have a host of benefits, including:  

• Strength and Durability: The twist handles provide added strength, allowing the bags to carry heavier items without tearing. 

• Eco-Friendly: Made from paper, these bags are biodegradable and recyclable, making them a more sustainable option compared to plastic bags. 

• Comfort: The twisted handles are designed for easy carrying, distributing weight more evenly and reducing strain on the hands. 

• Resistant to Wear: The material is less likely to wear down over time compared to plastic, making them suitable for repeated use. 

• Good for Hot Items: Unlike plastic, paper bags are more suitable for hot food items, as they can help absorb moisture. 

For further information or advice on any of our products - please contact us. 

Our ever-popular twist handle paper bags offer several benefits - both in terms of environmental impact and practical use.  

Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced the bottle and can deposit return scheme moves earlier in the year.

He said: “We can be in no doubt that plastic is wreaking havoc on our marine environment.

“It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled. We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on plastic bottles to help clean up our oceans.”

What are the details of the plan?

The scheme will cover all drinks containers in England, writes The Guardian. Whether plastic, glass or metal, all will be covered by a deposit return scheme.

The forthcoming scheme is intended to cut the litter polluting the land and sea by returning a small cash sum to consumers who return their bottles and cans. Similar schemes already operate in 38 countries, and campaigners have worked for a decade for its introduction in England.

Fees vary depending on the size of the bottle or can, and many use “reverse vending machines” to automate the return. In terms of numbers, the broadsheet estimates that at present just 43% of the 13bn plastic bottles sold each year in the UK are recycled, and 700,000 are littered every day. In Germany, a deposit scheme was introduced in 2003 and 99% of plastic bottles are now recycled.

The Green party’s co-leader Caroline Lucas, a member of the Environmental Audit Committee of MPs which backed a new scheme in December, told The Guardian: “After a long delay it is good to see the government moving forward on this issue. This scheme should have been introduced long ago, and it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing plastic waste.”

The Doran Packaging view

At Doran Packaging, we are firmly behind the most sustainable forms of packaging – after all we have an extensive and ever-increasing range of environmentally friendly packaging including compostable cups, food containers and paper straws!

It’s great that the UK is getting to grips with the logic of deposit schemes, and putting in place sensible measures. We will watch this space, and keep you informed as the scheme moves forward.

Indeed, we will alert you to any moves we make regarding our product ranges, or how we may react as the deposit date approaches.

What happens next?

The Government says it will introduce the deposit return scheme in England for single use drinks containers (whether plastic, glass or metal), subject to consultation later this year.

The consultation will look at the details of how such a scheme would work, alongside other measures to increase recycling rates. For the consumer, a good guide can be found by looking at similar schemes, which already operate in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

These see consumers pay an up-front deposit when they buy a drink, ranging from 8p in Sweden to 22p in Germany, which is redeemed on return of the empty drink container.

Article by the Energy Advice (SECR) Hub. (Photo courtesy of neon signs and surge protection device firm A1 Designs)

Firstly, it's crucial to define what it is these terms actually refer to.

Compostable

In the UK, there are several different certifications, all of which all claim to set the best standard for 'compostable'. The most widely recognised is BS EN 13432's criteria, which among other elements sets times for how quickly packaging breaks down, and sets criteria for safe levels of chemicals in the end compost.

In addition, there is a home compostable standard, OK Compost, which sets safe levels for composting in your garden.

Essentially, being 'compostable' simply means packaging should break down safely into compost, in either the council's or your home composting facilities.

Recyclable

Recycling simply means using things that have already been used, to make new things.

So, it follows that being 'recyclable' makes it possible to turn old packaging into something new. For glass or cans, this is quite simple. The tricky thing is that a lot of packaging is plastic.

While it is technically possible to recycle most, if not all plastic polymers, the complexity and cost of doing so has prevented this happening in the past.

There are 4 main types of plastic; PET, HDPE, PP and PVC. Each packaging type will have a separate mark indicating the type of plastic, and hence how it should be recycled.

But in every case, the recyclable mark tells you that something can be recycled, however you should check whether your council actually does recycle it.

Degradable vs biodegradable

Being degradable simply means that something will eventually decay, perhaps over many, many years. There are all kinds of different standards for degradability, but they are very different to being biodegradable.

When packaging is biodegradable, it can be broken down, so that the carbon atoms in the chains of the polymer are broken apart and can actually participate safely in the environment, or in the creation of other organic molecules, like our food, or in animals.

That sounds complex, but it just means biodegradable packaging can safely become part of the ecosystem as it naturally breaks down over time.

The crux of the matter is that biodegradable is the best environmental option of the two.

New Edenware packaging from Doran

Doran's new Edenware cups represent the top new sustainable technology in packaging. These are completely compostable cups, lined with plant-based Polylactic Acid (PLA), and they are made from certified biodegradable raw materials.

With Doran's Edenware, you can always be sure you're opting for the most feasible and sustainable packaging options available.

Contact us today if you're confused about the various definitions surrounding packaging, or for an informal chat through our product range and how it meets the various challenges out there.

Article by Giles Cross (on behalf on strategic marketing agency and anti greenwashing content specialist Content Coms)

This September the team at Doran Packaging will be showing its support for the numerous waste and wellbeing campaigns to tackle the war on waste and educate the general public on waste disposal and the unusual materials that can be easily recycled.

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) will be teaming up with Zero Waste Week, Recycle Week  and Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Waste Less, Live More’ Week as part of a national campaign to encourage people to recycle more, waste less and take up the challenge of sustainable living.

It is estimated that UK households are throwing away 7 million tonnes of food and drink annually. However approximately 4.2 million of total household waste is said to be avoidable and can be easily recycled. On top of this, the grocery sector accounts for about 70% of the packaging market with approximately 10 million tonnes of packing being used in the UK alone. The waste and wellbeing campaign aims to educate and encourage individuals to recycle more, waste less and embrace energy efficiency.

Here at Doran Packaging we know that without sustainable packaging, such as our paper carrier bags, waste material continues to be disposed as landfill. That’s why we strongly support the numerous waste and wellbeing campaigns this September to ultimately tackle the war on waste.

Throughout September numerous campaigns, including Zero Waste Week, will be encouraging consumers to reduce landfill and effectively dispose of household waste that minimises environmental impact.  Running from the 5-9th of September, Zero Waste Week will focus on the idea of “Use it up!” which aims to reduce the estimated 4.2 million avoidable food waste.

From the 12-18th of September Recycle Week will demonstrate the benefits of recycling and the unusual products and packaging which can be recycled.  The 19-25th of September will see the ‘Waste Less, Live More’ campaign which focus on our own wellbeing and the environmental impact surrounding waste.

At Doran Packaging, we believe that there are numerous benefits for the production and implementation of recyclable packaging throughout consumers’ everyday lives. We are proud to say that our paper carriers are 100% recyclable and are made from recycled material. Recyclable and eco-friendly packaging can be considered to be incredibly versatile, finding uses in multiple industries.

Doran packaging is a South West packaging company that specialises in paper carrier bags and twist handle paper carriers that meet the needs of multiple business sectors including food wholesalers, fashion boutiques and retail outlets. For more information please visit us at https://www.doranpackaging.co.uk/

Article by technology marketing agency Content Coms and Work in Mind (Workplace Wellbeing magazine)

This Q&A was carried out by technology marketing agency Content Coms.