When presentation sells the product, the bag has to disappear and let the item do the talking. That is where clear display bags earn their place. The two clear films most Australian businesses choose between are polypropylene (PP) bags and BOPP film, and while they look similar on the shelf, they suit different jobs. Picking the wrong one means a bag that creases where you wanted gloss, or a machine line that jams on film it was never made for.
This guide sets out the difference in plain terms, then gives you a straight answer on which clear bag is right for your product. Plastpack (formerly Churchill & Coombes) manufactures clear packaging film in Australia, extruding, printing and cutting in-house, so the advice here comes from making the film rather than reselling it.
What are clear display bags?
Clear display bags are transparent plastic bags used to present and protect a product while keeping it fully visible. In the Australian market, the term covers a few different films, and the names get used loosely. Polypropylene bags and BOPP are both made from polypropylene, and much of what is sold as “cello” or “cellophane” is in fact BOPP rather than true cellulose cellophane. Knowing which film you are actually buying matters, because clarity, stiffness and how the bag closes all change with the material.
The quick version: a polypropylene bag is a ready-made bag you fill and seal, while BOPP is a film supplied as rolls or sheets for wrapping a product or box. The rest of this guide unpacks when each one is the right call.
Polypropylene (PP) display bags
Polypropylene display bags are open-top clear bags you fill and then close by heat sealing or tying. The film is noticeably clearer than polyethylene, with a crisp, glass-like finish that makes it a strong choice wherever product presentation is the priority. Plastpack produces super clear blown polypropylene bags with an open top, flexible enough to handle yet tear-resistant, and finished with a flap for sealing.
They come in size bands to suit the product. Our polypropylene display bags under 200 mm wide suit jewellery, craft supplies, small hardware and boutique retail items, giving a snug fit that stops contents sliding around. Larger widths take bigger retail goods. Where you want the bag to reseal rather than seal once, our resealable polypropylene bags use a peel-to-seal strip and are authorised for food contact.
PP bags are the everyday workhorse for bagging individual products for display: clear, clean and cost-sensitive at volume.
BOPP film for premium presentation
BOPP stands for biaxially oriented polypropylene. During manufacture, the film is stretched in two directions, which makes it stiffer, shinier and more resistant to moisture and grease than a standard polypropylene bag. The result is a high-gloss film with superior clarity, which is why it is used where the finish has to look premium.
BOPP is supplied as film rather than pre-made bags. Plastpack’s BOPP films come as rolls and sheets, single-wound and slit to your requirement, and they are designed to run on high-speed overwrappers and flow wrapper machines. That makes BOPP the pick for tight, glossy overwrapping of boxed goods such as gift boxes, cosmetics cartons and confectionery, and for any product where a sharp, professional wrap is part of the presentation.
Polypropylene vs BOPP: which clear bag is right for your product?
The choice comes down to how the product is packed and how premium the finish needs to be.
Choose a polypropylene bag when you are bagging individual items for display and want high clarity at everyday value. It suits fill-and-seal packing by hand, small retail, craft and boutique products, and situations where a resealable or heat-sealed bag does the job. If the product goes into a bag, PP is usually the answer.
Choose BOPP film when you want maximum gloss and stiffness, a premium presentation, and a tight overwrap applied on machinery. It suits boxed products, high-speed wrapping lines, and goods that need a moisture- and grease-resistant finish. If the product is wrapped rather than bagged, BOPP is usually the answer.
A simple test: bagging a product points to polypropylene; wrapping a product or box points to BOPP. If you are unsure, tell us the product and how it is packed, and we will match the film. For a wider look at the transparent options beyond these two, see our guide to transparent plastic packaging.
Choosing thickness for clear display bags
Thickness is measured in microns, and the right gauge depends on the weight of the item and how the bag is handled. Lighter display items such as cards, small accessories and single craft pieces sit comfortably on a thinner film, where clarity matters more than strength. Heavier or firmer products, or bags that get handled repeatedly, call for a thicker gauge so the film holds its shape and resists scuffing and tearing.
As the manufacturer, we can match the gauge to the job rather than leaving you to force a product into a stock thickness. If you are not sure which gauge suits your product, our team can recommend one based on the weight and how the item is packed and displayed.
Food-grade clear bags
If the bag holds food, the film has to be right for the job. Plastpack produces food-grade polypropylene bags authorised for food contact, which suit snacks, dry goods, produce and resealable retail food packs. A general display bag is not automatically food-grade, so tell us the bag is for food when you enquire, and we supply the correct film made to the relevant Australian food safety requirements.
Custom clear bags and buying in bulk
Because we control the full process from film to finished bag, clear display bags can be made to your size, thickness, seal and print rather than the nearest stock option. With up to six-colour printing in-house, your logo, product details or handling text goes straight onto the bag or film, so the packaging presents the product and carries your brand at the same time.
For businesses using clear bags for packaging in volume, ordering direct keeps the per-unit cost sensible and the supply consistent. We hold around 50 tonnes of film at the factory, so the material for most orders is already on site. If you are planning a larger order, our guide on buying plastic bags wholesale covers how to lock in a reliable bulk supply of clear plastic bags.
To choose the right clear display bag for your product, contact the Plastpack team with your product, quantity and how it is packed, and we will recommend the film, size and finish that suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between polypropylene and BOPP bags?
Both are made from polypropylene, but BOPP is stretched in two directions during manufacture, which makes it stiffer, glossier and more moisture resistant. Polypropylene bags are ready-made bags you fill and seal, while BOPP is film supplied as rolls or sheets for wrapping.
Which clear bag is best for retail display?
For bagging individual products, super clear polypropylene bags give the presentation most retailers want at everyday value. For a premium, high-gloss wrap on boxed goods, BOPP film applied by overwrapping is the stronger choice.
Are polypropylene display bags food safe?
Only when they are made from food-grade film. Plastpack produces food-grade polypropylene bags authorised for food contact, so specify food use when you enquire and we supply the correct film made to the relevant Australian food safety requirements.
What thickness should a clear display bag be?
It depends on the weight of the item and how the bag is handled. Light display items sit on a thinner film where clarity leads, while heavier or frequently handled products need a thicker gauge to resist scuffing and tearing.
Can I buy clear display bags wholesale or in custom sizes?
Yes. We supply clear display bags in bulk across Australia and, as the manufacturer, produce custom sizes, thicknesses, seals and printing to order, with film held on site to keep lead times short.