Today is National Paper Bag Day, in honor of the paper bag machine being patented!
The first paper bag-making machine was invented by Francis Wolle in 1851. The bags were folded similarly to envelopes, and the machine could produce 1,800 per hour! Then in 1871, Margaret Knight, who was working at the Columbia Paper Bag Company in Massachusetts, decided she could improve on Wolle’s design. At the time, flat-bottomed bags were made by hand, which made them quite expensive. So she invented a machine that automated the process, cutting, folding, and gluing paper to form the paper bags that we’re familiar with today. She built a wooden prototype of her design, but needed an iron model to apply for a patent. A machinist who visited the shop where Knight’s design was being made stole her idea and patented it himself! So Knight filed a lawsuit, and after a 16-day hearing, came out victorious. She received her patent in 1871, becoming one of the first women to hold a U.S. patent. The design of the paper bag was further improved in 1883, when pleated sides were added to make them easier to store and fold.
Paper bags are biodegradable, recyclable, and made from renewable resources. However, the production of paper bags actually requires more energy and water compared to plastic. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, Americans use around 10 billion paper bags a year. Learn more here.