The invention discloses a dunnage bag for securing loads, which includes an inflatable dunnage bag for 12 to 40 inch voids between load to be secured and consisting of a gastight polyethylene inflatable bladder provided with an inflation valve; and a reinforcing sleeve made of at least one ply of paper, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, and the reinforcing sleeve being folded to form at least one substantially rectangular end to close off at least one of the openings; and in which at least 50% of its exterior surface area is in contact with a load to be secured.
1. A method of securing a load, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing, in a 12 to 40 inch void between loads to be secured, an inflatable dunnage bag consisting of a gastight inflatable bladder, an inflation valve, and a reinforcing sleeve made of at least one material ply selected from the material group consisting of paper, plastics material, woven PP (polypropylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PVC (polyvinylchloride), the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, and the sleeve being folded to form a first substantially rectangular end to close off the first opening and a second substantially rectangular end to close off the second opening; the first rectangular end and the second rectangular end consist of flaps formed by cutting the sleeve at the respective opening being closed; and
(b) inflating the inflatable dunnage bag such that at least 50% of the exterior surface area of the dunnage bag is in contact with said load to be secured.