Greetings,
I previously worked at an animal feed manufacturer where we packaged all of our feed, including multiple types of grains, in BOPP bags (we transitioned out of paper, because, simply put, paper was a pain in the rear).
I am now working for a company where my boss wants to package steam-rolled oats in 50 lb bags. I suggested that we use BOPP bags, but we've noticed that nearly everyone in the industry uses paper bags (the lone exception, ironically, appears to be that previous company I mentioned above).
My boss is very leery of using BOPP bags because they don't appear to be the "industry standard". I told him that, in my experience, paper is a pain, and that the primary reason I think these other manufacturers are using paper is because "that's they way we've always done it".
I know from previous research that BOPP bags are actually "greener" than paper bags, due to the manufacturing process, ease of recycling BOPP bags over paper bags, and even if they are burned, the BOPP bags actually give off less toxins than paper bags do, surprisingly.
Does anyone have any insight into the pros and cons of using BOPP vs paper for grains, particularly steam-rolled oats? My boss wants opinions on the subject beyond my own.
Thanks,
Brian