What Is Washable Paper?

Washable paper is a plant-based material made from cellulose fibre and non-toxic bonding agents. It developed from kraft paper, first made in Germany in the late 19th century, and is also sold under names such as kraft-tex, paper leather and cellulose fabric. Unlike ordinary paper, it is flexible, resists tearing and can be washed.

It has the look of leather but contains no animal hide, no polyurethane (PU) and no synthetic coating. The washable paper used by James&Co comes from Germany and is FSC-certified and Oeko-Tex compliant. It softens and creases with use, which gives each bag a lived-in look over time. See the washable paper bags.