What is cellophane wrapping paper?
What is Cellophane or Cello?
Cellophane wrap has long been used to encase edible treats like lollies, nuts and baked goodies, however Cellophane wrapping is especially used in floristry to wrap fresh and artificial .
Originally marketed as packaging material in America in 1924, cellophane wrap was the most popular choice of film until the introduction of Polypropylene (PP) in the 1960s. PP quickly became the preferred clear packaging film choice mainly due to its low manufacturing costs and high resistance to many chemicals.
Therefore, when referring to cellophane wrap it would encompass both true cellophane (made of wood pulp and cotton) and BOPP (bi-axially orientated polypropylene which means that the PP has been shaped).
What is the difference between true cellophane (Cellulose) and BOPP?
As society is moving towards being more environmentally friendly true cellophane (Cellulose) has had a resurgence. This is largely due to it being 100% degradable and regarded as the more Eco-friendly packaging film than BOPP.
BOPP film is however degradable through exposure to heat and UV radiation from sunlight. It is also recyclable and does not react with other elements when discarded or leach toxins into soil or water.
So what is Cellophane paper?
Quite often we make the mistake of calling cellophane “paper wrapping” or “cello paper” to cover all the types of paper wrapping. However, cellophane is obviously not paper!
How do I recycle BOPP products?
As the yellow recycle bin does not accept soft plastics, the easiest way to recycle your BOPP products is to take them to your local supermarket’s shopping bag/plastics recycling bin.
Which cellophane wrap should I use and why?
Both cellophane and BOPP have similar properties and for the most part can be used interchangeably, especially for food packaging. This is due to its low permeability to moisture, oxygen, bacteria, oils and greases.
Cellophane wrap is also very popular for wrapping fresh and artificial flower as it is waterproof and has properties that can enhance the presentation of flowers.
If using cello wrapping for food and confectionery items, ensure you buy food grade cello wrap. Food grade BOPP/cellophane wrap means it can directly wrap onto edible items. The difference between food grade and non-food grade wrap is food grade resin.
Additionally since cellophane is 100% biodegradable and compostable whereas BOPP is recyclable, the decision to use either film is dependent on each individuals stance towards the environment. Cellophane is significantly more expensive than BOPP and hence is not easy to source.
Finish off your gift hampers in clear cello wrap.
How do I know how thick my Cello Wrapping paper is?
Cellophane’s thickness is measured in microns which is (1,000 microns = 1 mm). The higher the microns the thicker the cello. Confectionery wrapping may use a cello of about 20 microns, whereas a florist or someone using it for gift wrapping would use a thicker micron to wrap at around 40 microns.
Why do we measure the thickness of paper differently?
Paper’s thickness is also measured in microns however, GSM refers to the weight (grammes per square metre). It is possible to have papers that have the same thickness but different weights due to various fibres used.
Cello rolls are great for bulk packaging or wrapping large items
What types of cellophane wrapping are there?
Cellophane comes in a variety of different types that can be used for all sorts of things! Printed cellophane is cello wrap that has had patterns or designs printed onto it for a lovely detail effect. Flower wrapping and wrapping for confectionery often need their cellophane wrap customised to create beautifully presented products.
Cello wrap also comes in a rainbow of different colours, ranging from opaque to translucent styles. Coloured cellophane is often used for flower wrapping, providing a solid coloured accent to the flower bouquet. Due to it’s translucent property, tinted cellophane wrapping is often used for cakes and confectionery, so the goodies inside can be seen. Coloured cellophane is also a great alternative to kraft paper when it comes to stuffing gift bags. Clear cellophane in various widths is most commonly used for gift packaging such as wrapping hampers or packaging wine bottles.
While each type of cello wrap has its most common use, all types can be used in different ways. Keep some amongst your packaging supplies and you’ll always have the perfect materials to experiment with your bouquet and gift wrapping ventures .
Our cello rolls are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Bulk cello wrap rolls are useful for packing large items such as hampers and range in lengths of 30 to 450 meters long. Cello sheets also come in a range of sizes and thicknesses which are great for flower wrapping and confectionery gift packing.
Cello sheets come in a range of sizes and thicknesses.
How to wrap a gift hamper using cello wrap
As we mentioned there are all sorts of ways to use cello wrap when it comes to gift packaging and floristry, however we thought we’d give you a quick guide to hamper wrapping since it can get a little tricky at times.
Once you have all the goodies for your gift hamper, you will need to get yourself a tray or basket that will fit everything nicely. A basket or hamper tray is the best option for a gift hamper as it easily carries everything and keeps the goodies visible. We have a great selection of hamper trays and baskets available at Koch & Co that you can choose from.
Choosing your cello wrap is also an important part to this process. Most gift hampers are wrapped with clear cello, however if you’re feeling creative there’s no harm in opting for a patterned cello wrap to maintain that element of surprise slightly. Also, be sure to choose a cellophane roll size that will fit around the basket/hamper tray. Now you’re up to the wrapping stage!
- Start by laying your cellophane roll out onto a flat surface and cut to the appropriate size and place your filled basket or tray longways in the middle of the cello.
- Lift up all corners and bring them into the centre over the hamper.
- Now that you have the four corners brought to the centre, you will see two “flaps” on either side of the basket (four in total). While holding the four corners in the centre still, fold the flaps against the basket and secure with tape (we suggest using clear sticky tape for all gift hamper wrapping).
- Now pull the four corners up tautly and about half way down from the top, collect the cellophane inwards with your hand and twist 1-2 times. You will see a “firework” effect begin to form. Secure the twist with some more clear tape.
- Place some ribbon or string over the tape.
- Finally, use your tape to secure any awkward edges and play around with the “firework corners” until they sit nicely.
Browse our full collection of cellophane rolls and gift packaging essentials such as paper bags, tissue paper and more online from Koch & Co today!