Paper Bags Have Revolutionized the Way People Shop

We have all been to a supermarket or retail chain and shopped to the extend where our shopping was supposed to be put in a bag because we could not carry the items out ourselves. Most supermarkets usually give you the option to carry out your items or groceries using plastic paper bags or paper bags. What most people don't know is that paper bags have been around since the 18th century. They were created by a man named Francis Wolle who in 1852 stumbled upon a solution to help customers solve their carry-out shopping dilemma.

Wolle, an ordained clergyman who actually worked in his father's store as a way of supplementing his clergy duties, teamed up with his brother and they formed the Union Paper Bag Machine company as their way of commercializing the creation of paper bags. Retail stores were elated as the paper bag revolution quickly swept the retail and supermarket chains which by this time were beginning to become quite numerous countrywide. Today, the Union Paper Bag Company trades as International Paper, the giant conglomerate that operates is more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Later on, the plastic bag also came into the market and also took the retail market by storm. This was because plastic bags are resilient, water proof and can hold a lot of groceries for a long time. But the paper bag's popularity has been steady. The bag that we know today was actually perfected by a female inventor, Margaret Knight, who created the square-bottom bags that we have come to know so well

This square-bottom bag has become not only a US phenomenon but a worldwide one. There is hardly any company in the world which does not have the square-bottom paper bag in its retail stores or supermarket chains. This is because despite strong competition from the plastic bag, the paper bag has its advantages. One of the advantages is that the bag is strong and resilient.

The paper bag can be crammed with all manner of groceries and still be able to hold the weight. The square bottom is especially advantageous because it is able to spread the weight around. The bag is able to pack fruits, canned food, greens and other items and still maintain its shape.

The bag is also able to protect the groceries that were bought especially if they are being carried in the trunk of the car. Many people prefer to carry their groceries in the back seat of their car but sometimes there may be children in the back seat and so the groceries are thrown in the trunk.

Paper bags have some disadvantages as well. If one carries fruits in the bag and the fruits are wet, the bag may soak and tear causing the bottom to fall off. Many people have bought groceries and walked into the parking lot only to find all the groceries on the floor because the bottom fell off the bag.

Theodore provides information about paper bags and recommends great paper bags

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