Why You Need Belly Band Rolls for Your Small Business

Kraft paper belly bands are a vital part of the small business owner's packing toolkit. Belly bands add the perfect finishing touch to handmade products.

Belly bands, banding tape, paper strips for packaging - whatever you call them, these thin bands of kraft paper have a big impact for small businesses.

There is no better option when it comes to the practicality of keeping stationery bundles together or packaging products in 'cases' for wholesale orders.

But it's the potential for adding finishing touches and showcasing your products as high quality, professional and eco-conscious that makes belly bands such a magical tool for packaging handmade products.

Let's take a closer look at some eco packaging ideas.

1. What Are Belly Bands and How Do They Work?

Belly bands are thin strips of paper, typically made from kraft paper, used to wrap around a product or a bundle of products. They are commonly used as an alternative to plastic packaging, offering a sustainable way to secure items together while enhancing their visual appeal.

Unlike adhesive labels or plastic shrink wrap, belly bands are minimal, non-damaging and removable, meaning customers can see and feel the quality of the product, and easily unwrap their purchase without tearing or damaging the product inside.

2. The Benefits of Using Belly Bands for Small Businesses

Belly bands are perfect for packaging for handmade products, particularly if your small business has eco-friendly values. They might be simple, but belly bands bring a lot to the presentation of a handmade product and are invaluable on a practical level.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Packaging

Sustainability is more important than ever for businesses. Customers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious, preferring brands that prioritise plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging. Recycled kraft paper belly bands tick all those boxes, offering a simple, sustainable alternative to plastic-based wrapping solutions.

People associate kraft paper with the environment (it is 100% recycled, after all), and the brown strips can help carry your sustainable branding into your packaging. Seal the belly bands with a branded recycled paper sticker for the perfect eco finish.

Cost-Effective Packaging Solution

Belly bands are affordable and efficient. Compared to printed boxes or custom bags, belly bands allow small businesses to brand and package their products professionally without breaking the bank. Since they come in rolls, you can cut them to the exact size you need, reducing waste and making them even more cost-effective. (Check out our bulk buy discounts to get the best value for money.)

Customisable Branding Opportunity

A belly band isn’t just a strip of paper - it’s an opportunity to reinforce your brand identity. If you want to add branding to your belly bands, you can stamp or handwrite a personal message on the bands or seal them with a branded sticker.

This small but effective branding tool allows you to keep your packaging minimal while still elevating your brand presence in a stylish, eco-friendly way.

Enhances Product Presentation

A well-designed belly band instantly makes a product look more professional. Whether you sell handmade soap, greeting cards, notebooks or art prints, a belly band adds a polished, retail-ready look that assures customers they’re receiving a high-quality product.

Ideal for Wholesale Packaging

For businesses that sell wholesale, belly bands help organise and secure multi-product bundles. Retailers often require products to be packaged in specific quantities (e.g., wholesale greeting cards should be packaged in sets of six). A belly band ensures that wholesale customers receive neatly wrapped and easy-to-count bundles that look professional and store well.

3. How Small Businesses Can Use Belly Bands

For Greeting Cards & Stationery

Greeting card publishers and stationery brands use belly bands to bundle products together for retail and wholesale. Instead of using plastic sleeves, a simple kraft paper band keeps cards organised while allowing customers to touch and feel the paper quality.

For Handmade Soap & Skincare

Soap makers use belly bands to wrap around handmade bars of soap, offering a rustic and organic look. You can add a sticker with product information, stamp your branding onto the band or even tuck decorative elements inside the band, making it a functional and aesthetic packaging solution.

For Textiles & Fabric Products

Tea towels, fabric napkins and small textiles can be neatly folded and secured with a belly band, making them easier to stack and display in shops. Belly bands help create a cohesive brand aesthetic, and make a product look more well-suited to the shop shelves.

For Candles & Jars

For small businesses selling candles, spice blends or preserves, a belly band around the jar can display branding and product details in a way that will help your product stand out from its competitors. Kraft paper bands offer an earthy aesthetic, which can align better with natural branding than a sticker stuck directly onto the glass. Tuck some dried flowers or ptoperie into the band for added texture (or even smells!)

For Gift Wrapping & Seasonal Packaging

Kraft paper ribbon can also be used for seasonal promotions and gift packaging. A festive belly band wrapped around standard packaging adds a seasonal touch without requiring an entirely different packaging setup. Why not try adding white dots with a Posca marker and a little snowman to bring a festive feel to your packaging?

4. Tips for Using Belly Bands Effectively

Choose the Right Paper Weight

For belly bands to be durable yet flexible, the thickness and strength of the paper matters. Did you know that you can get the same thickness of paper at different strengths? We considered this carefully when designing the Belly Band Rolls and opted for a 28/32 BF (strength), 100gsm (thickness) kraft paper, to offer a strong but flexible band that can wrap around various products without tearing or creasing too easily.

Use Stickers or Twine to Secure

Since belly bands are non-adhesive, securing them in place is key. Many small businesses use branded stickers, paper-based recyclable tape, a spot of glue, or twine to hold the band together neatly.

Experiment with Printing & Stamping

A simple kraft paper belly band can be transformed with a custom stamp, a logo sticker, or a handwritten note. Play around with different designs to find the best look for your brand.

Keep It Minimal but Impactful

Belly bands work best when they’re simple yet effective. Instead of overwhelming the design with text, focus on a clear logo and a small brand message to keep the packaging clean and stylish.

5. Where to Buy Belly Band Rolls

If you’re looking for 100% recycled kraft paper belly bands, our recycled belly band rolls are an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and time-saving solution for small businesses. Our rolls are:

✅ 100% recycled and recyclable

✅ Strong, 100gsm paper

✅ Available in various pack sizes with great multi-buy discounts

✅ Plastic-free and biodegradable (including the core)

We’ve created these rolls to help other small business owners save time, reduce waste, and achieve a professional, eco-conscious packaging solution without the hassle of cutting paper by hand.

Final Thoughts

Belly band rolls are an essential packaging tool for small businesses that want to balance sustainability, affordability, and branding. Whether you’re a soap maker, greeting card publisher or artisan crafter, belly bands provide an eco-friendly, stylish and practical solution to elevate your packaging.

Looking to try belly bands for your business? Explore our 100% recycled kraft paper belly band rolls today!