Big things come in small packages, as they say. And small polythene bags are probably the best packaging of all for small items. You might not give them a second thought, but these miniature marvels are up to some heavyweight jobs – especially the super heavy duty variety!
From protecting life-saving medical devices, to keeping miniatures and hobbyist model parts intact, small polythene bags are everywhere. And if you’re overlooking them, you could be missing out on some serious benefits for your business, your budget, and even the environment.
Come with us, into the miniature world of small polythene bags – and discover why they matter far more than their size suggests.
What counts as a “small” polythene bag?
In polythene packaging terms, “small” means really small. We’re talking about bags that can be as narrow as 20mm – that’s narrower than most adults’ fingers. These tiny bags are designed for products that are tiny themselves; think screws, beads, pills, and all those other little things that are essential but easily lost.
Despite their small size, these bags offer some mighty performance. Small polythene bags offer all the advantages of their big siblings – like clarity and durability – but in a perfectly proportioned package. And because they’re designed for right-sized packaging, that means you get the protection you need, without using more material than necessary.
Big jobs for tiny bags
What exactly are we packaging in these little pouches? Well, you’ll find small polythene bags doing the heavy lifting across a wide range of industries…
Jewellery and crafts
Jewellery and small craft items are a natural fit for small polythene bags. Their transparency lets customers and staff easily see the contents, which is a real time saver when you’re hunting for a specific clasp or pendant. They stop small components like beads, gemstones, and chains from getting tangled or scratched – and offer the small amount of impact resistance needed for lightweight items.
Read next: A Guide to Packaging for Small Businesses
They’re a big part of model-making and hobby packaging, too. Lead miniatures, injection moulded kit parts, radio controlled model components – anything tiny that needs protection will find sanctuary in a small polythene bag.
Medical and pharmaceutical
In the medical world, small polythene bags are indispensable. You’ll find them used for packaging everything from miniature pharmaceutical devices, to pathology specimens and dental instruments. For these applications, medical grade virgin polythene is always used, because its ease of sterilisation and non-shedding properties make it suitable for clinical and cleanroom environments.
You can also get them with grip seals, which is perfect for lab and medical sample use. Follow the link to learn more about choosing medical packaging, including sizing information.
Small parts and hardware
If you’ve ever bought a piece of furniture from IKEA or B&Q, you’ve almost certainly encountered a small polythene bag as part of flat pack furniture packaging. They’re the perfect solution for separating and organising components like screws, washers, nails, and nuts. Nothing goes missing, nothing rattles about, nothing gets scratched – and the customer has everything they need for assembly at hand.
Electronics and tech
Small polythene bags are also super useful in the electronics industry. They’re used to package small, sensitive components – shielding them from moisture and dust. They can be made with anti static additives, to protect electronics from static discharge, a major consideration for electronics manufacturers.
Learn more about The Art of Electronics Packaging
And the rest…
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Other common uses include packaging for fuses, fishing hooks, buttons, earphones, and product samples. You’ll also find them in the world of ecommerce packaging, where they’re ideal for small items that need a bit of extra protection. The point is, small polythene bags are remarkably versatile, and they’ve found their home in countless industries.
Should you be using small polythene bags?
If you regularly need to package up small components or tiny products, then the answer is yes. But, like any packaging solution, small polythene bags have their own set of advantages and disadvantages that you should weigh up first.
Pros of small polythene bags
- Smaller bags use less material, reducing upfront costs
- Right-sized packaging minimises waste and saves on shipping
- Highly versatile
- Excellent protection against moisture, dust, and damage. Right-sizing enhances this
- Transparency makes inventory management and product identification easy
- Can be integrated into automated packing lines
Cons:
- Because they’re plastic, some may view them as an environmental burden
- End-of-life concerns from poor disposal and perceived difficulty to recycle
Small polythene bags are easy to discard in general waste streams because they feel insignificant – but all that material eventually adds up, contributing massively to plastic waste. But what’s the alternative?
Polythene versus paper for tiny items
We’ve noticed a trend towards using more paper wrappings in packaging now, in an attempt to reduce plastic consumption. This is good for some applications, but not for all.
It all comes down to what’s right for your product.
Paper offers little to no transparency, but with small polythene bags, you can see the contents immediately. This simplifies inventory management and helps customers identify the contents quickly.
Paper offers basically no moisture resistance at all – but polythene is waterproof, which is vital for protecting small metal components from rust, or pharmaceuticals and electronics from moisture damage.
Polythene bags are flexible and tear-resistant, protecting small items from damage during transit and storage – but paper offers very little in that regard. And all this comes before cost and weight. Polythene bags are lightweight and cheap to produce compared to paper alternatives.
Read more – How to Reduce Packaging Costs
And, as mentioned, polythene bags can be manufactured with anti static additives, which is a big deal for sensitive electronics. This is much harder to achieve with paper, which also doesn’t seal as well.
Small polythene bags in automated packaging
Small polythene bags aren’t just for manual packing – they can also be designed for high-speed automation. These “auto bags” are ready to be fed into an automated packaging machine. Products are pushed into each bag, sent down the line for sealing, and you’re done!
This system massively reduces the need for manual labour, speeds up the packaging process, and reduces the risk of human error. It’s a perfect example of how a tiny bag can make a huge difference to a business’s efficiency – but it’s important to tune our bags to your machine (and vice-versa).
Learn more about Auto Bags and Automated Packaging Systems
Get small polythene bags from NPF Packaging
Create your own custom small polythene bags. Choose your polymer blend, performance enhancing additives, colours, print – and any width from 20mm and up.
NPF Packaging manufactures small polythene bags in-house, using custom tooling to create your ideal packaging solution. Ready to get a quote? Contact us or call 01773 820415.