Frequently Asked Questions
Got a questions that needs answering? Check our FAQ's for answers to commonly asked questions. If you can't find what your looking for check out our blog with answers to even more questions.
About Us & Our Ethics
For a bag to carry the Cotton FAIRTRADE Certification Mark the cotton farmers must meet Fairtrade Standards. The production, from the growing and processing of the cotton to the manufacturing of the bag has to be complient with the Fairtrade Cotton Standard.
All of the bags in our Fairtrade & Organic range meet these standards and are certified.
All of the products in our Fairtrade & Organic range are made with 100% Fairtrade certified cotton, this means it has met all of the social, ethical, and environmental criteria required by the Fairtrade organisation.
All of our products from our Fairtrade and Organic range are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. All information about what it means to be organic and its significance can be found on this blog.
Reusing a cotton bag drastically reduces your carbon footprint, supports well paid and safe labour, and prevents harmful plastics entering the eco system.
The manufacturing process of plastic bags is ecologically damaging, unlike cotton or jute, which are made from sustainable crops, grown under rain-fed conditions and are unbleached and undyed, minimising the environmental impact.
After use, plastic bags get discarded and can enter rivers and the sea, where they kill our marine and bird life. A branded, natural cloth bag will degrade naturally to dust and in doing so, will help to save our planet.
Yes. To meet our GOTS organic criteria all of our inks are water based and non-toxic. All waste water that leaves our factory is filtered to ensure that no chemicals are releases into the water system.
For digital printing we use a transfer based system, which is less environmentally friendly in that it incorporates a paper transfer however there is no waste produced into the water stream.
We’re based in the heart of Sheffield, which is famed for its industrial heritage. We are proud to call Yorkshire our home!
Our Products
All of our products are wipe clean only. Apart from aprons and tea towels which are machine washable at 30°C. Please note, up to 10% shrinkage may occur on the first wash.
The word tote was originally used to describe carrying an object, but first used to describe a style of bag in the early 1900's. The word tote bag is used to as a name for a broad range of products, but it is most commonly recognised as being a cotton based bag with a large capacity, with two handles. Most of our product range could be described as tote bags.
Our most popular bag style is the promotional cotton bag. It's the most cost-effective option whilst also being a versatile bag. We have a bag to fit every occasion so if you require something more durable, something larger or something completely different, we can create a product to fit your needs.
Yes - please see our catalogue of UK printed bags for bag styles that we keep in stock at our eco-factory, ready for printing and dispatch on a fast-track basis.
Of course we can. We partnered with Fairtrade registered suppliers in India who produce high quality bespoke bags to suit your requirements. Our Bespoke Bags page provides some great examples of what we can do.
Our bespoke bags are produced by Fairtrade registered suppliers in Kolkata and Mumbai, India. We also use an ethical supplier in Guangzhou, China.
We are very stringent about choosing our international partners, to ensure that they comply with various manufacturing standards. Our suppliers are required to be Fair Trade registered, GOTS registered and also audited to ensure sustainable material usage, good working practices, and labour standards.
The standard delivery time via sea shipment, which is the most cost effective way is 12 weeks from when you approved the artwork with us. If your delivery is urgent, we also can arrange airfreight for you at an additional cost. The standard delivery time for airfreight is usually between 6-8 weeks from when you approved the artwork with us.
Lead times vary depending on the complexity of the project, and we will communicate this with you before commencing with production.
Your Order
At BIDBI, our minimum order quantity is 200 pieces. Our sister site Doodle Bag has no minimum order quantity and free UK delivery on all orders.
Visit doodle-bag.com for more information.
Yes! We use a combination of freight forwarders and couriers to ship your samples and orders anywhere in the world.
You can make a new enquiry by filling in the quote request form on the website or by calling us on 0114 2721201. Once you have received your quotation all you then need to do is confirm all the details and your order is placed.
Our minimum order at BIDBI is 200 bags. If you need less than 200 bags then please visit our sister website Doodle Bag where you can order from as little as 1 bag!
If you would like to order individual items or small-quantity orders then please visit our Sister website at Doodle-Bag.com.
If you are placing a repeat order without any changes to the design then screen charges are free of charge.
Yes! You can mix and match bag styles in your order. Bare in mind that some products have different print areas, so it may not always be possible to share designs.
Our standard delivery time is 10 working days. However, if you need your bags in a hurry then your order can be fast-tracked at an additional charge.
Once an order has been confirmed there is a 50% cancellation fee should you cancel your order.
Order Processing & Payment
Our standard turnaround after payment and artwork approval is 10 working days, however this can be fast tracked if needed for a specific event.
Yes you can pay by cheque but the cheque would need to clear first, so this could delay the production of your order. Our preferred and the easiest method of payment is a bank transfer as this is quick, easy and secure. We can also take payments over the phone.
Artwork and Printing
Yes! It answers many design queries and lists the printable areas of all our products. We can also answer any design questions by email. Just message our designer, Sam sam@bidbi.co.uk
Screen Printing
Screen printing starts with a photographic stencil being made of a design, which is then applied to a fine mesh, a.k.a silk screen. We print with a water based ink, which has the consistency of custard, either by hand or using an automatic print carousel. It takes about 15 minutes to register each colour of a design and about another 15 minutes to colour match the ink using a Pantone reference system. It’s therefore expensive if a design includes lots of colours and only a small quantity is required. Screen printing is ideally suited to designs with flat colours or strong lines.
Digital Printing
If a design includes lots of colours or gradient shading then we would recommend digital printing. The setup time for digital printing is very quick and therefore it’s also ideal for small print runs or one-off prints. Digital printing is most commonly restricted by size ( A4 or A3) for our in-house production and only works on light background colours such as natural undyed or white.
DST
If you need a photographic or colourful print with lots of shading onto a dark colour then DST printing is the way to go. DST printing uses a combination of screen and digital printing to allow a full colour image to be placed onto any colour product.
We can also print with specialist inks such as metallics, foils and glitters.
Just email it through to us at sam@bidbi.co.uk and we will advise you the best way to get your design printed.
We have a design service where we can create artwork from scratch, or amend your current artwork. If this is something you are interested in, get in touch with your account manager.
For screen printing we recommend you keep below 5 colours. Screen prints with more than that can take a lot longer to print. Don’t worry if your design has more than 5 colours, we can digitally print full colour designs too.
Yes! We use a method called digital transfer printing that has no design restrictions.
It all depends on your design. Generally bold logos and designs with few colours are suitable for screen printing and photographic or high detail images are suitable for digital printing. We will always help you get the right print method for your bags.
Each product listing contains the maximum print areas, or download our artwork guide below for more information
Alternatively, just ask our designer and we will let you know!
Yes! Every order is provided with a digital proof showing your designs to scale on templates; which will give you a good idea of what your bags are going to look like. We require approval of artwork just to check that everything is correct.
Printed samples are also available upon request. This may be charged depending on the print method/number of samples needed.
Just email our designer and he will get back to you pronto: sam@bidbi.co.uk