All About Glassine Envelopes

With all of the different uses that glassine envelopes are used for, it’s actually quite unusual that many people aren’t familiar with just how glassine envelopes are made.

One of the biggest reasons for this is there really isn’t a lot of information available on how glassine is processed. For this reason, it’s been decided that information should be made available for those of you that are interested in how glassine envelopes are made, as well as some of the most common uses.

What Is A Glassine Envelope?

If you’re not familiar with what glassine is, it’s a very thin type of smooth paper that is water and air resistance. It’s very light weight, containing no chemicals, and is semi-transparent. The way it is manufactured is through a process called supercalendering. This process is done using a machine called a Calendar. This machine contains a series of rollers that apply extreme amounts of hard pressure to material to form a very smooth and almost waterproof surface. Supercalendering is a little different because the rollers are fiber covered and steel.

Glassine paper starts out being made just like any other type of paper but after the drying and pressing has been completed, the paper is then passed through the rollers of a supercalender which flattens the fibers of the paper all in the same direction. Once this process is finished and the product we know today as glassine has been completed, it is now sent off to different parts of the factory to convert it into such things as glassine envelopes, packaging and glassine bags.  So there you go.  A lot goes into making those cute little gift envelopes and bags.  But besides just looking great and a bit special, because of the way they are made they can be very useful.

Glassine Envelopes Are Also Known As Plastic Envelopes

Some people refer to glassine as plastic envelopes and you can see why.  They are very like plastic so its a simple mistake, so when searching make sure to include in your search ‘plastic envelopes‘.  Glasssine is actually a far superior substance to plastic and much safer to use especially for any edible gifts or presents.  But do not make the mistake of thinking they are they same.

What Are Glassine Envelopes Used For?

Now that we’ve received a brief history on how glassine is created, let’s talk a little about how glassine envelopes are used in today’s world. One of the reasons these envelopes are so popular is because whatever the contents may be, it will not be harmed by the envelope itself. Because glassine is chemical free, it poses no risk for any type of item that is enclosed inside.

Glassine has been classified as ‘food safe’ which means most any type of food, aside from liquids, can be stored inside glassine envelopes.  This is very important.  They are ideal for giving food type gifts.  For example chocolates or sweets.  You can buy a couple of very expensive chocolates, wrap them in a glassine envelope and not only will it look like a really cool gift, but your chocolate will be safe and no-one will get food poisoning from your thoughtful present.

If you are on a tight budget then equally unique would be to make some biscuits or sweets yourself, its really very easy.

However, one thing to remember is that the glassine will not keep your chocolate pressie cool,  it will not stop it from melting, so make sure you store these gifts in a fridge while waiting to give them to their intended recipient.  In fact in a lot of those very fancy expensive chocolate shops they will have a supply of these glassine envelopes of bags ready for sale in their fridge.

These type of envelopes are very often used as wedding favors. 4×6 envelopes are a popular choice size for this.  Now if you are thinking of doing this, then maybe chocolate is not the best idea, unless of course the place where you are holding your wedding is very well air conditioned.  Other than that think of giving either a different type of sweet or another great idea is to put some seeds into them.  The seeds can be of your favorite flowers, or flowers that mirror the color of your wedding theme. They are great for seeds becuase they will not get wet or damp inside and will be in perfect condition for planting.  Imagine that, every year when your guests flowers bloom, they will be reminded of your wedding.

Glassine Envelopes Perfect For Stamp Collecting

For those of you that like to store finished photographs, negatives, stamps, or anything else that needs to be protected without worry of it being affected by the enclosure, glassine will do the trick every single time. Some of you that collect stamps are probably already aware that stamp hinges are made from glassine. This is because there are no chemical properties in glassine which makes it very safe for stamp collecting.

Glassine envelopes are also used in craft activities allowing people to get in touch with their creative side when developing craft ideas for children, presents, presentations, gift ideas, or simple unique crafts that may require safe storage. They come in many different sizes so there is something for everyone, regardless of what the need may be. These neat little envelopes are very inexpensive, and their uses are only limited by a person’s creativity and far-reaching imagination.

Where To Buy Glassine Envelopes

Now because of how they are made, glassine stationery, whether it be envelopes or bags is not necessarily cheap to buy.  However, they last forever and can be used over and over again if handled carefully.  They really do transform an inexpensive gift into something that little bit more special though so they are worth the investment.  They can be bought locally in your high street store or mall, they we do have to say that there is not usually a great selection here, that is because of the cost of buying them in and storing them. Obviously the more you buy the cheaper your order becomes so buying glassine envelopes wholesale is a good idea.

One of the best places to track them down is online.  You will get a much better selection in size and color, you will also find that you can probably get a better deal also, with next day delivery. (oh always make sure you check the delivery/shipping charges before you press the ‘buy’ button).  Sometimes it is possible to get free shipping so do shop around for that. Buying your glassine envelopes online will keep the cost down significantly.

Glassine Bags: Beautiful, Practical & Environmentally Friendly

Glassine bags will transform any gift from ‘just a gift’ to something a little bit more individual and unique. When you present someone a gift that’s placed in a beautiful glassine bag, it shows that some extra thought went into the gift.

These bags are made from a specialty paper, which is developed by a process known as calendaring. In this process, rough paper is passed through rollers several times to smoothen and flatten the paper. In the final phase, sheen is added to the paper to give it a lustrous finish. The resultant product, called glassine paper is flat, translucent and beautiful. It is also water and grease resistant.

Why Glassine Bags are so Popular

Bags made of glassine paper look beautiful but that’s not the only trait that accounts for its huge popularity. This paper has several other characteristics that make it the preferred choice in many applications.

Glassine paper is made from rough paper. It is not made directly from wood. Additionally, these bags are recyclable and compostable as well, which puts them firmly in the environmentally-friendly category. Why use ugly, plastic bags that only kill the earth when you can use something that looks this good and is earth-friendly too?

Another benefit of glassine paper is that it can be made with a neutral pH value, which means bags made of this material will not damage its contents in any way. This, along with the fact that these bags are incredibly smooth and non-abrasive makes them the number one choice for people looking to keep their valuable collection of jewelry, CDs or stamps in storage. Last but not least, these exauisite bags come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, designs and colors to suit all purposes.

The Many Uses of A Glassine Bag

So what are these lovely bags for? Here are just a few ways that people use them:

Gift Giving: Any gift that presented in a glassine bag instantly goes from ordinary to extraordinary. Trying to earn a few brownie points but cannot afford to give her a diamond solitaire? Buy a more affordable ring, gift it to her in a glassine bag and see how her eyes light up with joy!

Product Packaging: Glassine is a wonderful way to display your products and customize your packaging whether you are selling beads, bath oil beads, soaps and bath salts.

Insect Collection & Stamp Storage:

Entomologist and philatelists simply love glassine bags. These translucent bags allow them to admire their much loved collection without having to touch them or handle them in any way. Not just that. These bags also keep the insects and stamps safe from exposure to environmental factors that could cause them damage in the long run.

Forensic Analysis: In laboratories, glassine as a material is used for collecting and storing DNA samples.

Food Industry: Glassine is very useful in the food and catering industry for storing or transporting food items because of their grease and water resistant properties.

A Final Note
Glassine bags are truly beautiful, practical and environmentally friendly. After  you’re done using them, they can be easily composted or recycled as they are biodegradable.