Woven vs Non-Woven Bags - What is the Difference?

Reusable bags remain one of the most versatile and in-demand promotional items today. They’re practical, cost-effective, and offer a generous branding surface, making them ideal for retail, FMCG, corporate gifting, events, and giveaways.

But before choosing a style, brands must decide between woven and non-woven bags. While they may appear similar from a distance, they behave very differently in real-world marketing environments.

In this guide, we break down the differences, strengths, and best use cases for each to help you select the right material for your campaign.

What Are Woven Bags?

Woven bags are made by weaving polypropylene (PP) strips into a strong, textured fabric. This interlaced structure is what gives woven bags their exceptional durability and long lifespan.

Key Characteristics of Woven Bags:

High tear strength
Strong load-bearing capability
Water-resistant, especially when laminated
Excellent for full-colour printing
More premium look and feel

Because woven bags are built to last, they’re often reused hundreds of times, which increases brand visibility long after the promotion ends.

What Are Non-Woven Bags?

Non-woven bags look like fabric, but instead of being woven, PP fibres are heat-pressed and bonded together. This process makes them lightweight, smooth, and very fast to manufacture.

Key Characteristics of Non-Woven Bags:

Lightweight yet sturdy
Cost-effective for large quantities
Suitable for simple to vibrant prints
Soft, matte texture
Excellent for giveaways and mass events

They remain one of the most popular promotional bag types due to their affordability and quick production time.

Woven vs Non-Woven Bags: What Is The Difference?

Feature	Woven Bags	Non-Woven Bags
Durability	Very high	Moderate
Weight Capacity	Heavy loads	Everyday items
Cost Level	Medium to high	Low
Print Quality	Vibrant, full-color	Very good, matte finish
Texture	Textured, premium	Smooth and soft
Lead Time	Slightly longer	Fast
MOQ Flexibility	Moderate	Highly flexible
Sustainability	Long lifespan, high reusability	Recyclable, but shorter lifespan
Best For	Retail, premium gifting, FMCG	Trade shows, mass distribution, budget campaigns

Which Should You Choose? Practical Scenarios from ODM

Choosing the right bag depends on your marketing goals, budget, and how the product will be used.

When Woven Bags Are the Better Choice

Choose woven bags if your campaign requires:

Premium gifting

Ideal for high-value promotions in industries like FMCG, liquor, beauty, and retail.

Long-term brand visibility

These bags are often used repeatedly for months, even years.

Carrying heavy products

Coffee, wine bottles, canned goods, books, or supermarket items.

High-impact printing

Laminated woven surfaces produce bold, glossy, eye-catching designs.

When Non-Woven Bags Are the Better Choice

Choose non-woven bags if your campaign requires:

Large-volume distribution

Perfect for trade shows, expos, marathons, schools, and community events.

Budget efficiency

Lower production cost makes them suitable for high-quantity orders.

Fast turnaround

Factories can produce non-woven bags quickly without compromising quality.

Simple branding

Logos, slogans, and event messaging all print well on non-woven surfaces.

Sustainability Comparison: Which One Is More Eco-Friendly?

Both options contribute to reducing single-use plastics, but in different ways.

Woven Bags:

Built for long-term use
Reduce the need for multiple disposable bags
Can be made using rPET (recycled plastic bottles)
Excellent for brands committed to longevity and reusability

Non-Woven Bags:

Recyclable
Lightweight and uses fewer resources during production
Suitable for campaigns wanting a low-cost reusable alternative

ODM also supports eco-driven campaigns using rPET materials, GRS-certified fabrics, and recycled PP where possible.

More Factors to Consider

While the points above are important, consider the following factors to make a well-informed decision:

1. Cost

Woven bags require weaving which utilises machinery and labour. Therefore, it costs more to produce than non-woven bags. Meanwhile, non-woven bags cost less as the processes required for it are less complex with fewer resources needed.

2. Customisability

Depending on the material used, the promotional bags can be customised for your brand or promotional message. Woven bags offer a limited range of printing methods to be used due to the weaving process which is also dependent on the material used.

Non-woven bags, on the other hand, can be customised in many more ways. It is advisable, however, to use lamination so as to protect the print and add a layer of elegance to the finished product.

3. Durability

When it comes to durability, woven bags are preferable by a huge margin since it is resistant to puncture and can support heavy weight. Contrary to non-woven bags which are made for lighter objects.

Woven bags also require less attention in maintenance like washing and can be used for a long time. In contrast, non-woven bags require proper care in order to last as long as woven bags.

4. Purpose

As mentioned above, the durability and cost of the two types of bags differ. Subsequently, choosing whichever one is more suited for your promotion may depend on the purpose of the branded merchandise.

If you are aiming to give a positive impact through the tough quality of the merchandise, woven bags are the better choice for you. However, if you are looking to give customers something that they can use every day and is made to carry around lighter products, non-woven bags is the way to go.

5. Type of Bag

When choosing the material for your brand, it is also very important to take note of the type of bag you will be giving away to your target market. Afterall, the type of bag will dictate how often it will be used or the weight limits the bag can withstand.

Types of Bags

To give you a headstart, we listed some of ODM design bags that you might be interested to use for your promotion with both woven or non-woven materials.

Check out how brands utilised promotional bags in their marketing:

1. In this promotion, Johnnie Walker gave away a complimentary tote bag made from woven jute as part of their “the gift of big flavour” promotion. Find out more details here

2. In a supermarket in Vietnam, customers simply have to spend $25 to get free reusable custom bags with a market value of $12.90. It comes in 4 designs that customers can collect.

3. Cloudy Bay offered its customers a raffia picnic bag for free with every purchase of their selected wines. The bag has a market value of HK$520 so it’s a promo that anyone will find irresistable.

4. In an airport in Cyprus, this promotional backpack is up for grabs for customers spending a minimum of €100. Get to know more details about the promotion in the blog below:

5. Customers can get a tote bag or a bucket bag made from bamboo in a Starbucks promotion. People can get this for free by purchasing the Star Ice Dumpling set.

Check out our unique customized bags here:

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Woven vs Non-woven Bags FAQs

All you need to know about woven and non-woven bags!

What is the difference between woven and non-woven bags?

Non-woven bag doesn’t include woven in its manufacture. The product can be produced mechanically, chemically or thermally. Whereas the fibres used for the non-woven bag are entangled together through whatever process is applied to them, as opposed to being woven together.

Are non-woven bag eco-friendly?

Yes because non woven bags are made from recycled materials. Thus, recycled materials cause almost no pollution.

What are the benefits of woven fabrics?

Woven fabrics are flexible Woven fabrics are strong, therefore, bags can be reused multiple times. Bags can be put in the washing machine Can be designed in a laminated or matte finish. Non-laminated woven bags are not recommended as they will have a cheap look.

Can I wash woven bags?

Yes by using the gentle program on your washing machine. However, woven bags don’t resist to dryer.

Essentially,

The woven and non-woven bags differ in their manufacturing procedure. From there, the advantages and disadvantages of each bag material come in from the customisability and durability, up to the cost of the production.

Ultimately, choosing what to use for your brand will require you to consider the purpose and the branding or marketing goal you have to reach through this promotional merchandise.

Work with ODM!

We have worked with many clients to produce tote bags. ODM has extensive manufacturing contacts throughout Asia and can produce practically any size or design of tote bags. Get in touch today and talk to us about your custom-designed tote bag. Ideal for a gift with purchase promotion.

We recently worked with a number of clients to supply them with Patented Reflective Bags. Patented reflective piping on the bags increases the visibility of the user at night. This safe and practical promotional product is perfect for retailers to replace traditional plastic bags, whilst promoting personal safety.

Contact ODM for more ways and explanations on how you can vastly improve your business. Our product designers, Mindsparkz, will be able to provide you with multiple unique and interesting ideas for you to impress your audience and increase brand recognition. The specialists here are capable of assisting you throughout every process to ensure a pleasant experience!