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Wash bag

German military bread bag

A bag (also known as a sack) is a non-rigid container normally made of paper, cloth, thin plastic, or some other flexible material. A bag may have one or two handles, or none at all. A bag may be closable by a zipper, snap fastener, etc., or simply by folding (e.g. in the case of a paper bag). Sometimes a money bag or travel bag has a lock. Sachets may be fabric bags that are filled with pot pourri and tied off with ribbons.

Youth giving a purse to a sitting courtesan

The word probably has its origins in the Norse word baggi[1]. Although paper had been used for purposes of wrapping and padding in ancient China since the 2nd century BC,^[1] the first use of paper bags (for preserving the flavor of tea) in China came during the later Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).^[1]

Bags vary from small ones, like purses (e.g. as an alternative to putting small objects in pockets of clothing) to large ones for use in traveling like a suitcase.

Cheap disposable paper bags and plastic shopping bags are very common in the retail trade as a convenience for shoppers, and are often supplied by the shop for free or for a small fee. Customers may also take their own shopping bags to the shop.

There are environmental concerns regarding use and disposal of plastic shopping and trash bags. Efforts are being taken to control and reduce their use in some European Union countries, including Ireland and the Netherlands. In some cases the cheap bags are taxed so the customer must pay a fee where they may not have done previously. Sometimes heavy duty reusable plastic and fabric bags are sold, typically costing €0.5 to €1, and these may replace disposable bags entirely. Sometimes free replacements are offered when the bag wears out. A notable exception to this trend is the UK, where disposable plastic bags are still freely available and are dominant.

• Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4, Part 1. Taipei: Cave Books, Ltd. ISBN 9780521087322

• Airbag
• Backpack
• Bag knot
• Baggage
• Bin bag
• Burlap sack
• Burn bag
• Duffel bag
• Holdall
• Mathematical bag
• Messenger bag
• Packaging
• Plastic bag
• Plastic shopping bag
• Paper Bag Records
• Handbag (British English) / Purse (US English) a clutch bag is a type of purse
• Shopping
• Sleeping bag
• Tea bag
• Trash bag
• Travel bag

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Bags