Flexible Packaging Materials Buying Guide

From consumer goods to electronics. From cosmetics to medical supplies. Flexible packaging is a crucial material in the supply chain of many industries and products.

Flexible packaging combines the best qualities of plastics and films. These versatile packaging supplies are a functional solution that requires minimal production costs.

Flexible packaging is any package or any part of a package whose shape can be readily changed.” Common examples of flexible packaging include bags, pouches, shrink films, tubes, sleeves, and carded packaging.

In this article, we detail why flexible packaging is so beneficial. And, we also outline considerations for purchasing flexible packaging for your products.

Why Use Flexible Packaging?

Flexible packaging is a solution that businesses turn to for a variety of reasons. For starters, it’s less expensive than rigid packaging. But, it also offers excellent durability and product protection. Polyolefin shrink films are a popular high-quality material. These films are approved by the FDA to increase shelf life. The quality of flexible packaging isn’t its only calling card, however. It’s also touted for its ability to be tailored to fit the specifics of any product. It’s possible to package products of many shapes and sizes with flexible packaging. And, you can do this with an array of materials. That is good news for businesses creating packages that help sell their products. With flexible packaging, companies can think outside of the box to engage consumers. Speaking of consumers, flexible packaging helps designers create attractive packages. These packages are more convenient for consumers. Additionally, flexible packaging is a form of sustainable packaging. These alternatives include cardboard, glass, and other types of rigid packaging.

Flexible Packaging Material Options There are many different options for flexible packaging materials. For the sake of brevity, we’ll limit our list to the most popular items. Keep in mind that working with a packaging partner will help you select the best packaging. When you use the ideal solutions, you’ll save time and money in the long run.

Stand Up Pouches One of the best alternatives to traditional packaging is stand-up pouches. They function as their name suggests – standing upright on shelves. This packaging has an airtight closure. Stand-up pouches (also known as flexible pouches) are extremely easy to pack, and they have incredible branding capabilities through digital printing. Stand-up pouches can be custom printed with eye-catching graphics and breathtaking colors.

Stand-up pouches are fully customizable to your needs. And stand-up pouches have multiple barrier layers of protection. They can suit nearly any product, many of which are listed in the flexible films section below.

Flexible Films As you can already tell, there are many different flexible film materials. Here are 14 of the most popular: (EAA) Ethylene Acrylic Acid – A tie layer between aluminum foil and other polymers. (EVA) Ethylene Vinyl Acetate – An adhesive layer, moisture barrier, and heat-sealable food contact layer. (EVOH) Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol – An oxygen barrier typically placed between PE/PP films, EVOH must be protected from moisture. (PA) Polyamide – A film that works well as an outer layer, PA provides machinability, a gas/aroma barrier, heat resistance, and will not stick to a sealer bar. (PC) Polycarbonate – A moisture and heat-resistant barrier with machinability. (PE) Polyethylene – Another heat-sealable food contact layer, as well as a moisture barrier. It can also be combined with gas/aroma barriers such as (EVOH, PA). (PEN) Polyethylene Naphthalate – A gas/aroma barrier with machinability and heat resistance. (PET) Polyethylene Terephthalate – A film that provides machinability strength, PET is all of a gas/aroma barrier, moisture barrier, and heat-resistant. (PET-G) Glycol-Modified Polyethylene Terephthalate – A heat-sealable food contact layer. (POF) Cross-Linked Polyolefin – A heat-sealable film best suited for food packaging but also used to laminate print products. Made using a cross-direction technique in which film is stretched both mechanically and manually. (PP) Polypropylene – A moisture barrier that can be combined with other gas/aroma barriers or coated with heat-seal coatings such as acrylate and PVDC. (PS) Polystyrene – A printable and gas-permeable film