The right material for duvet, pillow or textile packaging depends on three questions: does the product need to breathe, should it be visible on the shelf, and will the packaging be reused afterwards? In this guide, we compare the packaging materials commonly used for home textiles by properties, use, certification and the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The short answer: cotton or PP non-woven?
PP non-woven is light, water-repellent and breathable, and suits bags for retail and for storage. Cotton is higher quality, washable and durable, and suits premium products and bags that your customer keeps for years. If you need transparency and protection against moisture in transport, choose LDPE; if you need verifiable recycled content, choose rPET.
Which material for which need
If you need … | Suitable materials |
Breathability (down, feathers, natural fibres) | Cotton, canvas, PP non-woven, felt |
Protection against moisture and dust | LDPE, polyester Oxford |
Visibility on the shelf | transparent LDPE, LDPE with PP non-woven |
Reuse over many years | Cotton, canvas, felt, polyester Oxford |
Verifiable recycled content | rPET (GRS), recycled cotton (GRS), LDPE with recycled content |
Recycling with paper and cardboard | Paper, cardboard |
A low unit price | LDPE; cotton, canvas and felt cost more |
Cotton or polyester? rPET and Oxford are both polyesters: Oxford is very abrasion-resistant, and rPET lets you prove recycled content. Cotton is the natural fibre: washable and breathable.
Breathable or airtight?
Natural fillings such as down, feathers, wool or cotton absorb moisture and release it again. In a closed film, this moisture cannot escape; with longer storage, odours or mildew stains can develop. For storage at your customer’s home, a breathable material is therefore better. For transport, on the other hand, a closed film is often exactly right: it keeps out dust, dirt and water.
Product and recommendation
Product | Recommendation |
Down and feather duvets, down pillows | breathable: cotton or PP non-woven; for transport, an outer cover as well |
Duvets and pillows with synthetic filling | both are possible: LDPE for transport and the shelf, PP non-woven for storage |
Foam and latex pillows, mattresses | LDPE or cardboard for transport and hygiene |
Wool blankets and throws | breathable: cotton or felt |
A common solution combines both: an LDPE bag with side panels made of PP non-woven. It shows the product and still lets air through, but it is made of two materials.
The materials at a glance
Cotton and canvas
Cotton and canvas are natural, washable, breathable and durable, and easy to print. Organic cotton can be certified to GOTS, recycled cotton to GRS. The unit price is higher, but your customer often uses the bag for years. Example: 100% recycled cotton bag for pillow.
PP non-woven (polypropylene non-woven fabric)
PP non-woven is a non-woven fabric made of polypropylene: the fibres are bonded rather than woven. Light, water-repellent, breathable and inexpensive; easy to print. Note: PP non-woven is a plastic and counts as plastic packaging under the PPWR. Example: PP non-woven pillow bag.
rPET
rPET is recycled polyester, usually from PET bottles, as a non-woven or woven fabric. The recycled content can be verified with GRS. This also makes rPET useful for the recycled-content targets that the PPWR sets for plastic packaging from 2030. Example: Pillow bag of recycled RPET.
LDPE film
LDPE is a polyethylene film: transparent, light, weldable and easy to recycle, also available with recycled content. It protects against moisture and dust, but it is not breathable. Low unit price. Example: Transparent LDPE bag with sealed handle.
Felt
Felt from Willems is made of virgin wool. Sturdy, breathable and reusable; looks premium. Higher unit price. Example: Felt bag for pillow or quilt.
Polyester Oxford
Polyester Oxford is a dense woven fabric, very abrasion-resistant and waterproof when coated. For travel, seat and outdoor cushions and for transport covers. Example: Polyester Oxford bag for travel cushion.
Paper and cardboard
Kraft paper and corrugated board are FSC-certifiable and recyclable with paper waste; cardboard is sturdy and stackable. Neither is breathable, and both are sensitive to water. Without a window or parts made of other materials, they are a mono-material solution; read more in our article on mono-material packaging. Example: Paper carrier bag with die-cut handle, FSC certified.
Labels: which certification fits which material
Labels by material
Label | For which material |
Organic cotton and canvas: at least 70% organic fibres, 95% for the ‘organic’ label | |
rPET and recycled fibres: at least 20% recycled material, 50% for the logo on the product | |
Paper and cardboard from responsibly managed forests | |
Blauer Engel | German eco-label (Blue Angel) with criteria per product group; relevant if you also sell in Germany |
A label logo may only appear on the packaging if the supply chain is certified. Read more about certification and environmental claims on our page about sustainable packaging.
What the PPWR means for your choice of material
If you sell in the EU: from 2030, all packaging must be recyclable, and plastic packaging needs a minimum share of recycled content, 35% for most types. This does not only apply to film: bags made of PP non-woven, rPET and polyester Oxford are plastic packaging too. If you choose a material now that can be made with recycled content and recycles well, you will not have to redevelop your packaging in 2030.
How to find the right material
First decide what the packaging has to do: protect, present, store or all of these at once. Then the product, sales channel and budget decide. You will find suitable examples in our pillow packaging, duvet packaging and textile packaging; we also make every material to measure, from 500 pieces.
Frequently asked questions about packaging materials
Which is better for pillows and duvets: cotton or PP non-woven?
Both are breathable. PP non-woven is lighter, water-repellent and less expensive, so it works well for retail and storage. Cotton is higher quality, washable and lasts longer, so it suits premium products and bags that are reused.
What is PP non-woven?
A non-woven fabric made of polypropylene, in which the fibres are bonded rather than woven. It is light, water-repellent and breathable and is often used for duvet and pillow bags.
What is rPET?
Recycled polyester, usually made from used PET bottles. As a non-woven or woven fabric, it is made into bags and covers; the recycled content can be verified with GRS certification.
Is LDPE recyclable?
Yes. LDPE is a polyethylene and recycles well, especially as a mono-material without parts made of other materials. It is also available with recycled content.
Which packaging is suitable for down duvets?
For storage, a breathable bag made of cotton or PP non-woven, so that moisture can escape. For transport, an outer cover made of film or cardboard can also be useful.
Does non-woven count as plastic packaging?
Yes, if it is made of plastic, such as PP non-woven or rPET non-woven. If you sell in the EU, the recycled-content targets of the PPWR also apply to this packaging from 2030.
Which packaging material is the most sustainable?
That depends on the use. A bag that is reused for years, a mono-material that is recycled well or a material with a high recycled content can each be the best choice. What matters is protection, use and disposal together.