# Recyclable paper mailing bags, 100 pack > Kerbside-recyclable paper for buyers who care about plastic. - Mailers, Best value - Typical UK price: £18 to £28 (a typical band, not a live price) - Platforms: Whatnot, eBay, Vinted, TikTok Shop, Depop, Etsy - Orders a week: 0–2000 - Not yet checked by a person Costs about twice as much per bag as grey poly, and buyers notice the paper. It suits vintage and handmade shops that sell on character. ## Kit rankings - #2 in [Best mailing bags for Vinted](https://sellersetups.com/kit/mailers-vinted) - #4 in [Best mailing bags for Vinted and card mailers](https://sellersetups.com/kit/mailers) ## Setups - [Baby clothes bundle setup for Vinted and eBay](https://sellersetups.com/setups/baby-clothes-age-band-bundles): Eight tubs labelled by age band, a rail for coats and snowsuits, and grey mailers that take a 3 to 6 months bundle in one parcel. - [Whatnot clothing setup for live shows and TikTok Shop](https://sellersetups.com/setups/clothing-live-show): A rail, a tripod at eye height and soft light: the spare-room kit for selling women’s fashion and vintage live, then packing the sold pieces the next day. - [Depop vintage clothing starter setup](https://sellersetups.com/setups/depop-vintage-starter): Softbox lighting, a tripod and a flat-lay table for styled streetwear photos, plus a rail and paper mailers to post 10 to 30 Depop orders a week. - [Handmade dog bandanas and collars on Etsy](https://sellersetups.com/setups/etsy-handmade-pet-accessories): A sewing corner that makes and posts bandanas, collars and lead sets on Etsy, with off-cuts and seconds cleared on Vinted. - [Etsy handmade studio setup](https://sellersetups.com/setups/etsy-handmade-studio): A light box for clean product photos, plastic-free packaging that feels like a gift, and a spare room laid out to make, wrap and post 10 to 40 Etsy orders. ## Who paper mailers suit Paper mailing bags suit you if your shop sells on character: vintage clothing, handmade knitwear, small-batch beauty and gifts on Etsy, Depop and Vinted. Buyers notice kerbside-recyclable paper, and some leave feedback about it. They work for soft items that fold flat. At 100 bags a pack, a weekend seller lasts a season and a shop posting 50 orders a week reorders every couple of weeks. ## Paper weight, gussets and seal strips Choose kraft paper with a stated weight in gsm. Heavier paper resists tearing on sorting belts, and a gusset at the base lets the bag take a folded jumper without splitting. Paper cannot stretch round a bulky item the way poly does, so the peel-and-seal strip has to be strong. If you accept returns, pick bags with a second adhesive strip, and find FSC or recycled-content claims on the supplier's own page. Describe the packaging to buyers using only the claims the supplier makes. Paper handles rain worse than poly. Some bags carry a water-resistant coating; find out whether that coating changes the recycling advice. ## Storing, labelling and finishing Fold the garment to fit the bag, wrap it in a sheet of acid-free tissue paper and slide it in flat. Paper creases and scuffs, so stack the bags flat in a drawer or tray. Thermal labels stick well to plain kraft. Smooth the label from the centre out: paper bags flex, and an air bubble under the label can stop the barcode reading. Finish with a thank-you sticker on the back, if your stickers are paper too, so the whole parcel goes in one bin. ## Grey poly, padded envelopes or honeycomb Grey poly mailing bags (10 x 14 in, 100 pack) cost about half as much per bag and keep rain out. Pick them for low-priced clothing on tight margins, or for bulky items that might split paper. For items that need padding, use kraft padded envelopes (D/1, 100 pack), which have a bubble lining. For a parcel with no plastic, use these bags with honeycomb paper wrap (100 m roll) to cushion anything inside. ## Paper against poly, per bag At £18 to £28 for 100, each bag costs roughly 18p to 28p, about double a grey poly bag. On a £20 vintage sale that extra cost is small next to the price, and buyers notice the paper. Weigh a sample bag before you switch. Paper weighs more than poly film, and on a light order close to a weight band the extra grams can change the postage you pay. ## Common mistakes - A bulky coat tears a paper bag at the seam. Heavy knitwear goes in a box or a large poly bag. - Keep bags flat; stood upright in a box, the paper creases. - Repeat only the supplier's claim. Calling a bag compostable when the supplier says recyclable misleads buyers. - Keep paper parcels indoors until pickup, because rain soaks through them. - Smooth a label from the centre out; pressed from one edge, it traps air. ## Guides - [Small business packaging ideas that look professional](https://sellersetups.com/guides/look-professional): Thank-you cards, stickers, a QR code and tidy mailers: small touches that make a home-packed parcel look like it came from a real shop. - [Reseller storage ideas: organise 300 vintage items](https://sellersetups.com/guides/organise-300-vintage-items): A numbering system, two rails and a shelf that let you find any sold vintage piece in under a minute, even at 300 items. - [How to package clothes for Vinted](https://sellersetups.com/guides/package-clothes-vinted): Fold, wrap and bag a Vinted clothing sale so it arrives clean and uncreased, using a mailing bag sized to the garment rather than a reused box. - [How to start a small business from home in the UK](https://sellersetups.com/guides/start-selling-from-home): Which platform suits what you sell, what the first kit costs, and a checklist for your first week of orders from home. ## Questions ### Can buyers put paper mailing bags in the recycling? Uncoated kraft bags go in household paper recycling in most areas. Buyers should check local rules, and should remove the plastic label if their council asks. ### Do paper bags survive rain? A short spell is fine, but paper resists water less well than poly. Keep parcels dry until collection. ### Do paper bags cost much more than poly? Roughly twice as much per bag at our price bands, a few pence more per order. ### Will a thermal label stick to paper? Yes. Press the label on flat, working from the centre out, so the barcode reads. ### Can I post heavy items in a paper bag? Keep them for folded clothing and soft goods. Heavier or bulky items belong in a box.