MrTakeOutBags.com Foodservice Mya Koch Blog

SOS! OK, now that I have your attention, I’m not really in need of any help. Instead, I’m here to offer some. No doubt as a business owner, you have folks needing to take items out of your store. And for more than 130 years, SOS bags – or Self Opening Sacks – have come to the rescue.

Invented in 1882 by Ohio-born mechanical engineer Charles Stilwell, SOS bags have been a favorite for those many years for its ability to stand and easily be filled. This invention improved the store owners’ and shoppers’ experience and led to the creation of handled shopping bags in 1912.

According to Ohio History Central, “Charles Stilwell was a resident of Fremont, Ohio. He fought in the American Civil War in the Union military. Following the conflict, Stilwell returned to Fremont, where he embarked upon a career as a mechanical engineer.

Stilwell dedicated his free time to manufacturing an improved paper bag. Paper or grocery bags already existed, but they were not easy to fold or to store. They also could not stand on their own because of their V-shaped bottom. On June 12, 1883, the U.S. Patent Office granted Stilwell a patent for a machine that manufactured a square-bottom bag. The bag also had pleated sides. The square bottom allowed the bags to stand on their own, while the pleats permitted easy folding and storage of the bag when it was not in use. …

Stilwell’s invention dramatically improved the paper bag, making it much more desirable to American consumers. In essence, Stilwell’s bag was the precursor of modern-day paper bags. In 2000, Americans used approximately forty billion grocery bags based on Stilwell’s original design.”

Take a look at Stilwell’s patent.

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By the pound

When you visit MrTakeOutBags.com and look for an S.O.S. bag, you’ll see them referred to by “pounds,” for example, 8# SOS bags. This naming convention has its roots in history, too.

Back in the day, neighborhood grocers actually would fill your bags with dry ingredients such as flour and sugar for purchase. A 4# bag would fit just about 4 pounds of sugar and leave enough room at the top to be able to fold the bag down to seal it. Back then, they even referred to “barrel sizes,” which would fit about “1/6^th of a barrel of flour.”

Interestingly – and if you’ve used them before you know this – the thickness of the paper used to make the S.O.S. bag increases along with the size of the bag to be able to support more weight.

Standard S.O.S. bags come in white or kraft paper and often many colors as well.

Grease-resistant S.O.S. sacks have a coating that makes them not only heavier, but resistant to oils. These are best for donuts, tortilla chips and fries, to name a few.

S.O.S. bags also come in what’s known as a “hardware” bag. These will hold up to a pound of nails just fine.

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Special styles cover all needs

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the special types of S.O.S. bags we offer:

• As previously mentioned, grease-resistant S.O.S. sacks will protect food – and your client’s hands, car seats and clothing. Available in three sizes, they prevent messes while being made from 100-percent recycled paper.
• Windowed candy / bakery bags are fantastic for point-of-purchase display, allowing your customers to see the product inside. Best of all, they’re grease-resistant, too. They’re available in kraft and white and sized at 4#, 6# and 8#. These are great for movie theaters, promotions, cookies, snacks and many other uses.
• Perfect for lunches, bakery items and snacks, the double wax S.O.S. bag also is available in 4#, 6# and 8# versions. They stand up on their own to fill and keep food items fresh. With their superior grease resistance, they also can be used to freeze foods without the extra step of additional wrapping.
• Sometimes the best things come in small packages, especially when you’re in the mood for fries, chips or a fresh-made bagel. That’s where our snack sacks come in. Available in two sizes, they’ll hold just the right amount of tater tots, onion rings, chicken nuggets or even berries. They’re poly-lined for grease resistance and fold flat to easily tuck away in your storage room. They work great for breakfast sandwiches and small burgers, too.

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A couple more stellar features of SOS bags

• Many have a thumb notch to make them easy to open and fill. Just pinch the top and flick your arm downward and voila! Ready to go.
• They come in a variety of color options to compliment your brand. The white option provides for a clean, classic and elegant look. The kraft is the most eco-friendly and offers a more rustic appearance. In addition, unique colors can match just about any color scheme or different colors can even be used to designate size. Check out all the colors here.

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Sustainable, eco-friendly, recyclable

S.O.S. bags are a great choice to help our environment. Let’s take a look at why.

* Most S.O.S. bags are recyclable, since they’re made of paper. The natural brown kraft version is the most eco-friendly option since it’s made using post-consumer content. White S.O.S. bags, while still recyclable, often are bleached or made with “virgin” fibers.

* Window bags are recyclable if the plastic window is removed.

* Many grease-resistant bags actually are PFAS free, which is becoming more common. Per- and Poly-fluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. Some studies have associated them with cancer, liver damage and increased risk of asthma if used extensively and over time.

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Why do SOS. bags have a serrated top?

This saw-tooth pattern at the top of the bag not only makes it easier to open and pick up. It can help to prevent paper cuts, too, since flat edges tend to be sharper to the touch.

In addition, smooth paper edges tend to stick together. The small “teeth” created by the serrated cut bend just enough to give some separation between layers.

Easily customizable S.O.S. to-go bags are a hit

No reason your fancy food should have a Plain Jane presentation. We make customizing your S.O.S. bags, and take out containers, a breeze at MrTakeOutBags.com.

With a simple, one-color design, we can hot stamp your bags with your brand or logo right here in house. If you want something more complex that showcases all of your colors, that’s no problem either. We will help you through the whole process.

In fact, we pride ourselves on becoming a partner to you throughout it all. See what we mean on our Customization page.

A variety of options. Quality. Presentation. Customer Service. It’s all in the bag!

You know the feeling. The backpacks are loaded up, the school buses are rolling, summer’s almost gone – and we’re all thinking about those warm drinks again. With coffee season and cold weather brewing, now’s the time to get moving on stocking up on the best paper coffee cups (a.k.a hot cups) – especially those sporting your custom design or logo. Customizing your coffee cups can take a little time, and you don’t want to miss out on getting your name out there to the pumpkin spice latte loving masses.

Paper coffee cups are better (in general) for those hot drinks. Plastic cups should be reserved for cold drinks since it can melt and warp if filled with hot beverages. Paper coffee cups will help keep your customers’ drinks warm and their hands safe. And the best part is, there’s a wide range of options from which to choose.

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Did You Know…?

Americans love their Lattes – Cappuccino too. According to the National Coffee Association’s National Coffee Data Trends 2022 report, those two are the most popular espresso based beverages in America. Bringing up the rest of the roster, in order of popularity, are Espresso, Café Mocha, Americano, Macchiato and lastly, Flat White.

I lean toward the Lattes, but they’re all a comforting respite during a busy day.

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Our Cups Runneth Over

If your customers are looking for one of those espressos or lattes, we’ve got you covered with just the right size – no matter what you go through the most.

When it comes to providing options for paper coffee cups for your store, MrTakeOutBags.com has several fantastic styles. Let’s take a closer look:

• Ripple Wrapped – Our ripple wrapped paper coffee cups create air channel gaps that promote insulation. The corrugated style keeps customers from scorching their hands and keeps drinks hot, meaning that with this style, no sleeve is necessary. They are price competitive versus purchasing sleeves and cups separately. And, they’re made using responsible forestry practices. Take a look at our Ripple Wrapped Coffee Cups
• Double Wall – Having to shield your customers with a sleeve to protect their hands is no longer a worry with the two layers of paper making up the double wall coffee cup. Made with premium paperboard, many of these cups are 100 percent compostable, microwave safe, contain a lining made with plant-based materials and can be custom printed in up to four colors. See our selection of Double Wall Coffee Cups
• Single Wall – For a business just starting out or an office that goes through a lot of paper coffee cups, this is the most economical option. That being said, for direct-pour drinks such as hot coffee, a second layer of some type might be in order. Many of our coffee shop clients purchase coffee sleeves – which also can be customized – or double up the cups when they serve the hottest drinks. Here’s a peek at our whole selection of Paper Coffee Cups, including many single wall options.

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Match your Paper Coffee Cups with the Correct Lids

Once you’ve selected the right paper coffee cup for your business, the next step is just as important – a lid that fits.

Without a tight-fitting lid that’s made to pair with the cup you’ve purchased, all that delicious roasted coffee may wind up on the ground – or worse. Here at MrTakeOutBags.com, we make it super easy to avoid that mistake.

When you select a coffee cup on our website, just click on the thumbnail to get all of the details then scroll down and look at the right side of the page. There, you’ll find our Related Products section, which will point you to the right lid for your cup.

Some of our hot cup lids feature cream, sugar and decaf buttons to push in for your customers’ convenience when sorting out that office coffee run order. In addition, we offer black, white and brown lids that complement and contrast the color of both our stock cups and can best match your brand colors.

Want to see for yourself? Check out our Lids for Paper Coffee Cups right here.

It’s just as important to make sure your coffee cup lids don’t leak. There are a few important tips that can help assure that, such as making sure your lids snap into place. We’ve put together a short educational video to show you how.

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Are my Paper Coffee Cups Recyclable?

While the Earth-friendliness varies from cup to cup, most paper coffee cups use a “poly” or plastic liner that deems them NOT recyclable. The reason for this is that the paper and plastic components are not easily separated.

That being said, compostable coffee cups do exist, such as our ripple and double-wall options. In addition, coffee cup lids come with an embossed recycling code with a number, which will indicate how they can be recycled. Again, this will vary from lid to lid and region to region. Check your municipality’s rules on which codes can be tossed into that recycling bin.

Our compostable lids are what’s known as PLA. This stands for Polylactic Acid. In simpler terms, that means it’s the type of plastic that is derived from renewable resources, such as cornstarch.

The bottom line here is to do your research. Read the descriptions on MrTakeOutBags.com for the cups and lids you are interested in and look carefully at the “green” symbols above the description details for each item.

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How do I get Branded Paper Coffee Cups?

So you’ve opened your shop, you’ve selected your cups. All that’s left is to put your name on them. No sweat! There are multiple ways to get your logo to the java loving masses:

• For starters, you may want to consider a branded coffee sleeve. These sleeves may cost less than having your cups printed, they fit various cup sizes, and some have a glue dot to help keep them in place on the hot cup. While this will also mean another product to inventory and stock, it may be a fantastic option to get you started. Here’s a look at our branded coffee sleeves.
• While branded cups may cost a little more, the “WOW” factor can be a whole lot more. No matter what your color scheme is, we can help you to show it off on a multitude of sizes and styles of paper coffee cup. Want to take a closer look? Here’s a primer on custom paper coffee cups. There, you’ll see a slew of beautiful cups we’ve done for our special clients like you.
• Can’t go the custom printed route just yet? You can still stand out in the crowd. Our red, blue or black ripple cups can help to set your shop apart until you’re ready to brand your takeout packaging with your unique logo.

To sum it up, we not only offer a great selection of disposable food containers for your café or coffee shop – we also give you the tools, time and talent to make them “all yours.”

Now go ahead, grab a piping hot cup o’ Joe, pull out that laptop and give us a look at MrTakeOutBags.com, your coffee cup go-to for a successful customer experience.

If you operate a restaurant, catering business, school cafeteria or other food service venture, you know all too well that one of your trickiest tasks is figuring out the best way to present your goods to the masses. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Food Tray.

Food trays are an economical, practical tool when it comes to serving patrons all types of treats – anything from sushi to sandwiches, French fries to chicken fingers. And today, there are more options than ever to choose from.

Food trays are grease-resistant, work well with either hot or cold foods and have a 1-piece design, making them easy for both you and your customers to deal with.

Let’s take a closer look at some wonderful choices available right here at MrTakeOutbags.com.

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Brown Kraft Food Trays: Natural, versatile

Brown kraft food trays are the perfect idea for serving samples, picnic items, side dishes or fried snacks. Food truck operators find them to be economical, trendy and practical, too.

They’re stackable, freezer safe, microwavable and leak resistant. In addition, you can feel good about using them for their earth-friendly properties. They’re recyclable, compostable and designated “green products.” Many of the ones we offer also are biodegradable and made of plant material in the good ole U.S.A.

The “What’s Hot 2022 Culinary Forecast” from the National Restaurant Association and American Culinary Federation found that:

“Sustainability, typically a big influencer on menus and on how restaurants operate—from serving locally sourced and sustainable proteins to practicing food-waste reduction and recycling in the front- and back-of-the-house—will continue in 2022, the survey indicates.”

National Restaurant Association, “What’s Hot 2022 Culinary Forecast”

Ranging in size from just 7 ounce all the way up to 5-pound capacity, there’s sure to be one to suit your foodie needs. Take a look at our Brown Kraft Food Trays here.

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White Flatbread Trays: Serve up some snacks

When you’re trying to come up with a plan for your concession stand or picnic, consider a White Flatbread Food Tray. They’re just the right fit for small flatbreads, nachos, fries, fruits or veggies.

Stackable and earth-friendly, they’re easy to transport, easy to fill and no problem for your patrons to tote. Take a look at the White Flatbread Food Trays we offer.

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Corrugated Food Trays: Heavy duty service

OK, so you’ve decided some type of a food tray would work perfectly for your business or event. The only hesitation you have is that what you’re serving might need a little more of a hefty tray to prevent drops and spills. Introducing  the corrugated version.

Stronger and more grease-resistant than paper food trays, they’re capable of safely holding an entrée without the need for additional packaging. Think of them as a fantastic replacement for a plastic, basket-style tray.

And again, once folks are finished with their hot or cold tasty treats, these trays can be recycled and are compostable.

We have two options to choose from, including the Natural Brown Kraft Dinner Corrugated Food Tray and Heavy-Duty Kraft Corrugated Food Tray, which also contains 20% post-consumer fiber.

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Wooden Food Trays: An eco-friendly home for fusion foods

MrTakeOutBags.com has recently introduced an exciting new line of wooden food trays to enhance your business or dress up your events.

Boasting a gorgeous natural design and adding an upscale touch to your table or serving platter, these trays are for the very eco-conscious folks out there. They’re microwavable, recyclable, compostable and contain plant material.

Some even come with lids (sold separately) to keep your items intact and lined up waiting for appreciative guests.

Starting at just 5-ounce and offering a slew of sizes all the way up to 42-ounce capacity, they’re a groundbreaking choice in food service. Take a look at all our Wooden Food Trays have to offer.

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That personal touch

As with almost all of the food service products we offer at MrTakeOutBags.com, our range of food trays is customizable with your brand, logo, or message. We make it easy for you, too. Take a look and see how, then give us a call.

We’d love to have you… we’ll leave a tray out for you.

Beloved movie character Forrest Gump said it best: “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” But if you’re the owner of a confectionery or other enterprise selling sweet treats, I’ll bet you know what you need: a Candy Box.

Candy boxes come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. Some are perfect for truffles; others work best for fudge. There are candy boxes for chocolate covered pretzels, cordials and meltaways. With chocolate sales increasing 9.2% and non-chocolate confection sales increasing 14.5% in 2021 (according to a 2022 National Confectioners Association report), an elegant candy packaging solution can help you take advantage of a rising demand. It can be a bit dizzying to figure out which would be your best pick.

Let’s make that easier for you.

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Which candy box style will work for you?

There are two main types of candy boxes available. Let’s take a closer look:

Two-Part Rigid Candy Box

Two-part rigid set-up candy boxes are the ones you are used to seeing in candy shops and kiosks. They’re durable, high-quality, ready-to-use boxes available in multiple sizes and colors.

With inserts and pads that are sold separately, they’re the perfect choice for truffles, cordials and individual chocolates. This combination of packaging protects your wares and adds appeal. I mean, who doesn’t love to lift the lid on a gift box of chocolates?

Many colors of the rainbow are represented in these beautiful boxes. You can choose from metallic, two-toned or solid colors such as mint box tops with chocolate brown bottoms, pink, cherry cordial, black, gold and solid dark chocolate – and yes, those are the colors, not the flavors.

They come in four sizes, ranging from 1/8 pound to 1 pound, offering security and style.

Check out our two piece candy boxes.

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One-piece Folding Paper Candy Box

If you’ve got small wrapped chocolates, clusters, chocolate covered pretzels or other bulk candies to offer your customers, these are a great choice for you.

Coming in two sizes – half pound and 1 pound – along with a range of attractive colors, these folding boxes are a snap to put together and easy to store.

Available colors include white, black, pink, red, chocolate brown and even leaf green.

See our choices in Paper Folding Candy Boxes.

Our candy boxes are stackable, customizable and made in the U.S.A.

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Putting together the total package

Our Two-Part Rigid Candy Boxes are meant to be paired with our protective inserts and pads. These not only prevent your goods from slipping around in transit; they also provide for an elegant, practical presentation that every candy lover and patron can appreciate.

With the inserts, there are a multitude of shapes, configurations and colors available. This includes everything from 4 cavity, all the way up to 15 cavity, round or square. There are inserts that can fit one large chocolate bar and others that can fit a candy bar surrounded by cordials.

They can even be adapted. The eight-piece truffle inserts, for example, can easily be snapped in half to fit a 4-piece box. The 1 pound box can fit 2 inserts of the half-pound size.

Take a look at our selection of candy box inserts.

Once you have your inserts put in and your chocolates are resting in that pretty candy box, you’ll need a pad to keep it all secure. We’ve got you covered.

Our candy pads add an extra touch of class and protect lower trays of candy, even when stacking.

We have them available in brown and white reversible, bird of paradise pattern and gold – all in a range of sizes. And the best part is, they can easily be customized with your shop’s brand or logo.

Check out candy box pads at MrTakeOutBags.com

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Tailor-made treat boxes that work for you

Take your candy boxes to the next level and make them shine for your shop with customization. Candy boxes can be hot stamped with your business name in a matter of just 6-10 weeks. And again, your pads can show off your name, too.

Take a look at our selection of custom branded candy boxes for that extra touch of personalization.

With the summer fleeting as fast as it is, now is the time to think about all those holiday boxes of goodies you’ll be offering and get your custom order in now. Trust me, it’s a sweet deal.

If you own a retail business or restaurant, it can be a dizzying prospect to select the perfect packaging for your wares. In a market boasting thousands of styles of boxes, the right choice can be simple, though: the gable box.

Sometimes called a “barn box“, the gable box is a versatile choice for packing up both foods and retail products, such as jewelry, candles or scarves. A multitude of sizes and colors mean they can stylishly stash everything from a jar of jelly to an entire boxed meal.

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Gable boxes stand out from the crowd

A quick visit to MrTakeOutBags.com and you’ll find an entire section dedicated to gable boxes and barn boxes. Our boxes come in a rainbow of color options, allowing for creative ways to get your business noticed.

• Versatile, giving the benefits of a bag and a box in one attractive package.
• Larger boxes can be used for food service, gifts, lunch boxes, delis and restaurants.
• With a large variety of sizes – ranging from 4 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall all the way up to 9 inches wide and 6 inches tall – all shapes and sizes of food will find a home in one.
• Some come with windows, to show off your special gifts.
• They’re easily customizable – your logo or brand will look fantastic on a gable box.
• Feel good about them, too. Most of our boxes are made from post-consumer materials, are recyclable, compostable, green products made in the USA.

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Gable boxes recognized by industry

According to an Oct. 13, 2020, article by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Supply Chain Quarterly,  custom gable boxes are innovative and visually appealing. For those reasons, they “have become a popular choice in nearly every industry. The food industry is also making good use of these boxes to boast a convenient handle and unique shape. The gable box looks like a bag from the top, but like a box at the bottom,” it stated.

If that isn’t enough, the article noted that these boxes are made of recyclable and eco-friendly materials. Most of them are constructed of paper board, stock paper, cardboard and kraft. “Different food products can be packed conveniently inside them, while the top handle will make it easy to carry without burning your hands,” the article continued.

Read the full article here: https://www.supplychainquarterly.com/articles/3993-how-to-optimize-your-business-using-gable-boxes

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Easy to handle

Gable boxes are super easy to put together. They come folded flat. Just pop the bottom into place and insert the handle tabs in on each side to seal closed. Voila!

And, when lined with shred or a colorful tissue (which also can be custom printed), the presentation is unsurpassed.

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A colorful ‘barn’

Restaurateurs love these boxes because the wide variety of sizes make them the perfect fit for menu items ranging from a single cupcake to an entrée with a couple of side dishes.

Boutique and gift shop owners appreciate the size range because they can put in a nicely cradled necklace or an entire set of candles.

Both segments turn to them for the wide variety of colors. Especially with the holiday season coming faster than we’d like, it’s nice to have a choice between white, brown kraft, blue, green, red or even gold.

So when you’re weighing options for packaging for your unique business, give some thought to the many ways a gable box can make your life easier and help you stand out from the crowd.

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Take a look at our gable boxes

Here are some links to our available gable boxes:

• With Windows
• Holiday Style
• Brown Kraft
• Colored Pinstripe
• White

If you own a winery, wine bar or restaurant that prides itself on its ardent spirits, you know all the hard work that goes into that bottle. You don’t want to send it home with your customers in just any packaging. Wine bottle boxes are an elegant solution.

Better than worrying if that paper shopping bag will hold the weight of the bottle and its contents, a wine bottle box provides stability and style. They’re a great way not only for your customers to carry away a bottle or two – they’re also the perfect solution for gifting wine to friends, colleagues or customers – no matter what industry you’re in.

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Christmas in July

I know, while you’re firing up the grill and enjoying summer nights it’s a little bit difficult to think about Christmas. But now is the time if you’re planning to gift wine — or know you’ll be selling a lot of it at the holidays for your customers who want to do the same. Wine bottle boxes are a hot item, nearly always tend to run out-of-stock long before the holiday shopping rush settles in.

A quick trip to MrTakeOutBags.com and you can get a jump on it and avoid the low inventory problem. There, you’ll find several styles of functional and beautiful wine bottle boxes that are readily available right now.

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Handled Carrier Wine Bottle Boxes

Known for their construction and strength, these wine bottle carriers have several important features. First, there’s a handle slot strong enough to carry the bottles. Second, the front window shows off your wine label, creating a divider in the process to prevent glass hitting glass. Lastly, the bottom of each carrier is an automatic style, ensuring quick assembly.

• They feature a laminated, high-quality finish on micro fluted corrugated cardboard
• A die-cut handle with integrated window shows off your business logo
• Each holds from one to four bottles of wine / spirits.
• Beautifully designed boxes are imported from Italy. They come in colors including kraft, gold, silver and black.

Take a look at them here: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/handled-carrier-wine-bottle-boxes.html

Special thanks to Refucilo Winery – friends and customers of MrTakeOutBags.com: https://www.refucilo.wine

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Imported, Corrugated Wine Bottle Boxes

Just like the handled ones, these strong wine bottle boxes are a showcase for your spirits. Coming in silver, gold, black linen – as well as snowflake and barnwood designs – they offer elegant style and can carry one or two bottles, depending upon which you choose.

With many of the same features as listed above for the handled boxes, some of the finishes mean they’re also recyclable and compostable, too. Easy to put together, they ship flat to save you on shipping costs and storage space, and require just folding flaps for easy assembly.

Just remember when you’re at MrTakeOutBags.com to click on one and take a closer look at all of the specifications, which do vary between color and style.

Take a look: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=corrugated+wine+box

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That personal touch

Perhaps the best thing about our wine bottle boxes and carriers is that you can customize them to show off your business name, brand or even a special holiday wish. Your logo or special message can easily be added, making that gift or takeaway bottle all the more special.

Here’s how to get started: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/product/custom-packaging/custom-wine-gift-boxes.html

So no matter which style you choose, you’ll be offering your customers, clients or friends a beautifully packaged bottle of wine or spirits that you can feel good about sending off with them.

As a restaurant owner, you take pride in your menu. People enjoy your offerings so much, they don’t just come by for a sit-down meal. They pick it up and take it home to enjoy, too.

You didn’t realize how much you’d need a good takeout bag until the pandemic hit.

A wave bag is a fantastic option – even for those of us who are environmentally minded.

These plastic bags have a distinct wave-like handle, allowing a sleek shape that can easily be customized for marketing. They can sit open on a flat surface, too.

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Biodegradable vs. compostable vs. recyclable

If you’re wondering if biodegradable wave bags are compostable, the short answer – in many cases – is yes.

To be sure, it can sometimes be a bit confusing to know the difference. Let’s try to break that down for you.

Take a visit to MrTakeOutBags.com, and you’ll find the following information:

• Biodegradable – Products break down through the action of a naturally occurring microorganism, such as bacteria, fungi, etc., over a period of time. These products are made from plant or animal sources. Some forms of plastic are even made from ingredients such as corn starch.
• Compostable – For products to be considered compostable, they must be able to break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass at the same rate as paper. The result needs to look like compost, should not be toxic and should be able to support plant life. Compostable items are made from plant materials such as corn, potato, cellulose, soy and sugar.
• Recyclable – When a product is said to be recyclable, it qualifies to be processed then recreated into a new recycled product. Reusing products to create new products reduced the harm put on our environment through the making of everyday products.
• Environmentally friendly – guidelines, laws and policies that claim minimal, or no harm upon the environment. We aim to only buy products that follow these guidelines.
• Green product – Products that have less of an impact on the environment or are less detrimental to human health compared to traditional products. Green products might be formed or partially formed from recycled components, be manufactured in a more energy conservative way, or be supplied to the market with less packaging.

 

For a complete glossary of Earth Friendly terms, visit Mr.TakeOutBags.com and see this link: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/glossary.html.

And take a look at our bio-friendly wave bags here:  https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=biodegradable+wave+bag

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A new mindset toward plastics

The bottom line is, many folks are being forced to rethink plastics. Many areas of the country are even banning one-time-use plastic. According to the Footprint Foundation, eight states have banned single-use plastic bags.

California was the first. Hawaii has a de facto statewide ban. New York became the third state in 2019 and five others have followed suit – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Oregon and Vermont.

Check out some more plastics news on the Footprint Foundation’s site here.

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Wave bags for the perfect takeout

This style of bag is versatile, economical, strong and flexible. Bowls, lunch-style boxes, drinks and baked goods alike can all find a cozy, safe home in a wave bag.

Still trying to decide on a wave bag for your restaurant, bakery or home-based business? We have a vast selection of colors, thicknesses and styles – most of which have several earth-friendly components.

You can check them all out here: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=wave+bags

So go ahead, pack up the goods and, well, feel good about it, too.

By Mya L. Koch

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re rolling full-speed into summer. And with Covid concerns waning, we’re all getting together to enjoy the best that summer has to offer.

Think ballgames, picnics, celebrations, food trucks and restaurants offering summer fare and outdoor seating.

Now think about all of those cold drinks that will be part of all of those festivities. Clear plastic cups filled to the brim with iced tea, lemonade, fruity sorbet or something a little more adult. I mean, who hasn’t looked forward to that first summer brew?

Your patrons welcome those refreshing flavors. And they’ll carry them throughout the park or the party in your crystal clear cups – emblazoned with your eatery’s logo or your well-known brand.

You’ve thought of all of that. But you may still be wondering: Which lid works best for my clear plastic cold cup?

Finding the right lid for clear plastic cups is a snap

Probably the most important thing to remember is to select the appropriate lid for the cup size that you are offering. Finding out last minute that you ordered a case of lids that don’t fit the cups you have on hand could cause you to, well, flip your lid.

The fact is, a lid from one manufacturing plant may not fit a clear plastic cold cup made by another company. You simply have to feel and hear that “snap” to know your contents are safe inside.

Here at MrTakeOutBags.com, we try to eliminate the guesswork for you.

Make a match

When you select a clear plastic cold cup at MrTakeOutBags.com and click on it to get the details, just a scroll down will tell you what you need to know. Just below the description of the cup, you’ll see a title showing “related products.” It is here you’ll find the perfect lid for your cup.

We have them for all sorts of cups – and all sorts of uses. There are lids for drink cups, souffle cups, yogurt and parfait cups, too.

Just take care to select the right one. For example, the lid for a .75 oz and 1 oz. portion and condiment cup will not fit a 2 or 4 oz. souffle cup.

A compostable PLA dome lid with a hole slot for 9 to 24 ounce PLA cold drink cups won’t hold tight if you’re looking to cover an 8 oz. drink.

So be sure to do your research and read all of the easy-to-understand information that we have built into the site for you.

A topper for every treat

When you’re deciding what lid to use for your clear plastic cold cups, take into account who will be using them and what product you’re selling.

We have sipper lids that work great for an icy, cold drink – no straw needed. There are strawless lids for all types of beverages – spills don’t happen as often and your drinks won’t seep out through the straw slot.

And yes, we have flat lids with slots for straws, too, to serve your sips classic style.

Our dome lids are great for slushies and thicker products. Some come without a hole in the top, for yogurts, puddings and other thicker treats. This dome shape allows room for toppings like whipped cream and allows extra space for your beverage.

We even carry 2 oz parfait cup inserts, or 4 oz granola inserts that fit 12, 16, 20 or 24 oz. cups — perfect for yogurt with a crunch.

So go ahead, pour it on – we’ll make sure you have the perfect way to top it off.

Can I recycle clear plastic cups and lids?

The answer to that questions changes cup-to-cup and even location-to-location. Different cups are made from different types of plastic and different local recycling programs accept different plastics. Some of our cups are even compostable, so be sure to check the plastic type.

That little number in a triangle on the bottom of your cup will tell you what type of plastic it is – and you’ll have to see if your local program accepts that type.

Generally, our disposable plastic cups are #1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic (accepted by most U.S. recycling programs.)

This link from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency details some information regarding plastics recycling and what the different codes stand for.

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Helpful links

Lids for clear drink cups: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=lid+for+clear+drink+cup

Dome lids: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=Dome+lids

Lids with straw slots: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=lid+with+straw+slot

Yogurt cup inserts: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/shop.html?Search=yogurt+cup+insert