What is greaseproof paper.
Greaseproof paper is paper made dense enough to hold back fat and oil: the paper of pastry bags, sandwich wraps and chip shop counters. This page explains how it keeps fat in, and how it differs from the papers it gets confused with.
The short answerGreaseproof paper is a dense paper that stops fat and oil soaking through. Its barrier comes from beating the pulp hard before the sheet is formed, so the fibres pack tightly and leave few gaps for grease.
How greaseproof paper is made
The pulp is refined for much longer than for ordinary paper. The heavily beaten fibres form a dense sheet, with too few gaps for fat to pass.
Greaseproof paper was first developed by Otto Munthe Tobiesen at the Granfoss mill in Norway in 1894.
Some greaseproof papers get extra resistance from fluorochemical treatments, which several markets now restrict. Certificates for your market are available on request with your quote.
Greaseproof, baking paper, parchment and glassine
| Paper | How it is made | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Greaseproof | Heavily refined pulp, a dense sheet | Wrapping and serving fatty food, counter bags |
| Baking paper | A paper base with a silicone coating | Ovens and trays, so food releases |
| Vegetable parchment | Paper passed through a sulphuric acid bath that fuses the fibres | Wrapping fatty food and baking |
| Glassine | Greaseproof paper pressed smooth between heavy rollers | Translucent bags for sweets, cookies and small goods |
For a counter bag you want greaseproof. Baking paper belongs in the oven. Our guide What is a glassine bag covers the translucent one.
Greaseproof bags
Our food grade bags use white or brown greaseproof kraft from 35 to 50gsm, in food contact compliant stocks. The print sits on the outside face only, so food touches plain paper.
They come flat, as satchels with a side gusset, as fries pouches and as glassine bags, from 10,000 units. The full spec is on the Food Grade Bag page.
Questions
Is greaseproof paper the same as baking paper?
No. Baking paper has a silicone coating so food releases in the oven. Greaseproof paper is dense paper that stops fat soaking through, made for wrapping and serving.
Is greaseproof paper the same as parchment?
No. Vegetable parchment is made by passing paper through an acid bath that fuses the fibres. Greaseproof gets its resistance from refining alone.
Is glassine greaseproof?
Yes. Glassine is greaseproof paper pressed smooth and dense between heavy rollers, which also makes it translucent.
What weight is greaseproof paper for bags?
Our greaseproof counter bags are 35 to 50gsm: light enough to fold around a croissant, dense enough to keep the butter in.
Are your greaseproof bags food safe?
Yes. They are food contact compliant stocks, printed on the outside face only. Certificates for your market are available on request.
Written by the Bag Bureau production team. Last updated October 2026.