Kraft Mylar Bags

Kraft Mylar Bags: Natural Aesthetics with Serious Barrier Performance

Kraft mylar bags bring together the natural, artisan visual appeal of kraft paper with the barrier performance of foil laminate packaging. The result is a bag that looks as though it could have come from an independent deli or a farmhouse kitchen while actually providing the kind of oxygen and moisture protection your product needs for a meaningful shelf life.

This combination has made kraft mylar bags popular across specialty food, artisan coffee, herbal tea, organic supplements, and cannabis brands who want a natural aesthetic without sacrificing packaging functionality.

What Is a Kraft Mylar Bag?

A kraft mylar bag uses kraft paper as the outer substrate (the visible, printable exterior layer) combined with inner layers that provide the barrier performance:

- Kraft/PE: a simple two-layer structure where kraft paper provides the aesthetic and PE provides a moisture-resistant inner surface. This is economical and suitable for shorter shelf life products.

- Kraft/Foil/PE: the kraft paper outer combines with an aluminium foil middle barrier layer for full oxygen and moisture protection. This is the preferred specification for products needing a meaningful shelf life of three months or more.

- Kraft/EVOH/PE: uses EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) instead of aluminium for a partially recyclable structure. Barrier performance is slightly lower than foil but better than PE alone.

The Kraft Aesthetic

Kraft paper has a distinctive warm, natural texture and colour (ranging from light brown to deep amber depending on the grade) that communicates authenticity, craft, and natural quality. Brands that use kraft packaging typically fall into one or more of these positioning categories:

- Organic and natural food products

- Artisan and small-batch producers

- Sustainability-conscious brands

- Heritage and traditional product ranges

- Farm-direct and provenance-led products

The kraft aesthetic works particularly well when printed with earthy, natural colours, handwritten or vintage-style typography, and simple illustration rather than photographic imagery. Clean label design on kraft paper reads as genuinely artisan in a way that the same design on a shiny white substrate often doesn't.

Printing on Kraft Bags

Printing on kraft paper requires some adjustment compared to printing on white or clear films:

- Colours print slightly differently because the brown substrate influences the apparent colour of inks (reds become more brown-toned, yellows become more olive, blues go slightly grey)

- White ink is often used as a base layer or for white design elements, which requires an extra print pass

- Dark colours (black, deep green, navy) often look particularly effective on kraft because they provide strong contrast

- Natural, limited colour palettes often work better than full-spectrum designs

Many brands deliberately design their kraft bag packaging around these characteristics rather than fighting them. A design that uses the kraft colour as a positive element (incorporating it into the palette rather than covering it) often produces the most authentic and effective result.

Closure Options

Kraft mylar bags are available with all standard closure options:

- Zip lock reseal strip

- Heat-seal-only top

- Tin tie closure (particularly popular for coffee bags in kraft format)

- Peel-and-stick adhesive strip

Tin tie closures are especially well-matched to the craft aesthetic of kraft bags. The metal wire tie that twists shut has genuine heritage in food packaging and feels authentic on an artisan product.

Applications for Kraft Mylar Bags

Coffee: Kraft paper coffee bags with tin tie or zip closures are a standard format for independent roasters and artisan coffee brands. The natural paper look aligns with specialty coffee's focus on craft and provenance.

Tea and botanicals: Loose leaf tea, dried herbs, and botanical blends in kraft bags have a natural, herbal shop aesthetic.

Organic food: Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, pulses, and grains in kraft bags communicate organic and natural credentials effectively.

Dog treats and pet products: Natural pet food and treat brands frequently use kraft packaging to reinforce natural ingredient messaging.

Cannabis and hemp: Hemp flower in kraft bags positions the product in the natural/artisan tier of the market, away from the high-design exotic packaging approach.

Sustainability Considerations

Kraft paper outer layers from sustainably managed forests (FSC certified) add a genuine sustainability credential to the packaging. The environmental benefit depends on the inner layers: a kraft/PE structure is partially recyclable in paper streams, while a kraft/foil/PE laminate faces the same recycling challenges as all multi-layer laminates.

For brands where sustainability is important, work with your supplier to understand the recyclability of the specific laminate structure and communicate this clearly on pack.

Ordering Kraft Mylar Bags

Custom printed kraft mylar bags are available from 500 units with digital printing. At TheCardBoardBoxes, the range includes both kraft/PE and kraft/foil/PE specifications in stand-up pouch, flat seal, and side-gusset formats. Turnaround times are competitive and the design process is well-supported.