Compacted bag configuration and method for making the same

A folded and flattened bag comprising:

• a tube wall having a circumference extending about a longitudinal axis of the tube wall, a first region of the wall on a first side of the longitudinal axis being folded alternately inwardly and outwardly along a plurality of longitudinally extending inward and outward fold lines that are circumferentially spaced apart, a second region of the wall on an opposite second side of the longitudinal axis being folded alternately inwardly and outwardly along a plurality of longitudinally extending inward and outward fold lines that are circumferentially spaced apart, the wall then being flattened such that the first and second regions of the wall respectively define opposite first and second edges of the folded and flattened bag and such that each of the first and second edges has a plurality of outer points defined by the outward fold lines and stacked one upon another;
• wherein at each of the first side and the second side there is a top outer point and a bottom outer point and a plurality of intermediate outer points between the top and bottom outer points;
• and
• wherein the top and bottom outer points at each of the first and second sides are spaced outwardly of the intermediate outer points therebetween such that there are areas of the tube wall extending beyond the intermediate outer points and forming top and bottom edge tabs, each top and bottom edge tab being formed by two adjacent portions of the tube wall connected at the respective outward fold line, and wherein a portion of the top and bottom edge tabs are sealed together at each of the first and second edges of the folded and flattened bag to form respective opposite edge margins to enclose the intermediate outer points;
• wherein each side of the bag defines a longitudinal separation line extending through the top and bottom edge tabs and located between the edge margin and the intermediate outer points, wherein the longitudinal separation line defines a corresponding detachable release portion.