Pink ESD Bags Explained: What They Protect (and What They Don’t)

Pink ESD bags are typically pink anti-static bags, not shielding bags.
They are low charging and dissipative, commonly used inside an ESD Protected Area (EPA) to reduce static generation. However, pink ESD bags generally do not block external electrostatic fields and should not be used as primary protection for ESD-sensitive electronics during shipping.

Introduction

“Pink ESD bags” is one of the most confusing terms in ESD packaging. Many people assume “pink” means “ESD shielding,” but in most cases, pink bags are antistatic (low charging) bags—not shielding bags.

This page clears up the confusion with a simple goal:
help you use pink antistatic bags correctly and avoid shipping sensitive electronics in the wrong packaging.

 What Pink ESD Bags Usually Are

Most “pink ESD bags” on the market are pink antistatic polyethylene bags designed to:

• reduce static charge generation during handling (low charging)

• dissipate charge over the surface of the film

• provide a safer alternative to ordinary plastic bags inside an EPA

You’ll often see a strong industry statement like:

“These are the only acceptable ‘plastic’ bags in an EPA.”

That statement is about avoiding ordinary plastic bags (which can charge heavily), not about shielding performance.

 What Pink ESD Bags Do NOT Do (the critical part)

Pink antistatic bags typically have no shielding ability.
That means they generally do not block external electrostatic fields and are not intended to protect sensitive electronics from an external discharge event.

Antistat also summarizes this clearly: pink antistatic bags are ideal inside EPAs, but they do not provide shielding.

✅ Simple rule

• If you need shielding → you need static shielding bags (metallized)

• If you need low charging organization in an EPA → pink antistatic bags can be appropriate

When Pink ESD Bags Are a Good Choice

Use pink antistatic bags when your goal is static control inside a controlled environment:

Typical correct use cases

• Inside an EPA for non-sensitive items (nuts, bolts, paperwork, accessories)

• Kitting and sorting parts where shielding is not required

• Secondary packaging (for organization) when the primary protection is handled elsewhere

When You Should NOT Use Pink ESD Bags

Avoid using pink bags as your main packaging for:

• PCBs, ICs, and other ESD-sensitive components being shipped outside an EPA

• storage/transport where external electrostatic events remain a threat (open warehouse, courier network, customer site)

If you’re shipping ESD-sensitive electronics, you should consider static shielding bags.

Pink Bags vs Shielding Bags (Fast Comparison)

What To Do If You’re Unsure

If you’re not 100% sure whether your parts are ESD-sensitive, the safer workflow is:

1. Choose shielding for the sensitive item

2. Use pink antistatic only as supporting/secondary packaging inside an EPA

FAQ (Featured Snippet friendly)

Q1: Are pink ESD bags the same as shielding bags?
No. Pink ESD bags are typically pink antistatic bags—low charging and dissipative—but they generally have no shielding ability.

Q2: Why are pink bags called “the only acceptable plastic bags in an EPA”?
Because ordinary plastic bags can generate high static; pink antistatic bags are designed to reduce charging inside an EPA, not to provide shielding.

Q3: Can I ship PCBs in pink antistatic bags?
In most cases, shipping ESD-sensitive electronics requires shielding bags, especially outside an EPA.

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