The most common question when buying container dunnage air bags: what is the difference between kraft paper dunnage bags and PP woven dunnage bags — and which should I choose? Both serve the same purpose — filling container voids to stop cargo shifting — but the outer materials differ, and so do performance and cost. Choose wrong and you either overspend or compromise on securing performance.
1. Different Outer Materials
The outer layer of a kraft paper dunnage bag is kraft paper laminated with PP film (paper-plastic composite) — a stiff paper surface with high friction. A PP woven dunnage bag uses PP flat-yarn woven fabric — flexible and tear-resistant. Inside both sits a PE/PA co-extruded film inner bag that seals in the air.
2. Abrasion Resistance and Reusability
The kraft composite outer is more abrasion- and puncture-resistant — it holds up next to rough wooden pallets and metal parts, and can be reused 2 to 4 times where conditions allow. The PP woven outer is light and flexible, geared toward single use — but its lower unit price gives it a clear cost edge in high volumes.
3. Moisture Resistance and Environments
PP woven fabric does not absorb water, so it performs more consistently in humid conditions and on long ocean voyages. The kraft version has decent moisture resistance thanks to its lamination, but for persistently humid environments we recommend PP woven dunnage bags.
4. Cost Comparison
At the same size, PP woven dunnage bags usually cost less per unit than kraft paper ones. If your cargo is high-value and you want reusability, kraft offers better overall value; for high-volume single use, PP is the economical pick.
5. How to Choose — a Quick Guide
- Choose kraft paper dunnage bags: heavy cargo, pallets with sharp edges, want reusability, need high friction.
- Choose PP woven dunnage bags: light bulky cargo, humid environments, high-volume single use, tight cost control.
- Need faster inflation: choose large-valve dunnage bags — bigger air intake fills a bag in a dozen seconds.
Still unsure? Tell a dunnage bag manufacturer your cargo type, void dimensions and transport mode, and let their engineers match the right bag. Shanghai Tezheng Packaging produces all three series — paper-plastic composite, PP woven and large-valve — in standard sizes from 50×100 to 120×180 cm, with custom options, long exported to Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.