There is a huge shift going on right now in the world of product packaging, as increasingly packaging converters are moving away from standard rigid materials for example paperboard and molded plastic and into Flexible Packaging Materials such as bags and pouches.

Indeed, as per the recent “State of the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry” report, which is conducted yearly by the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the manufacturing on a domestic level has frequently experienced year-after-year growth and currently stands at near $30 billion. This market is predictable to continue to increase at about a 3 % clip – a trend that does not appear to be going away anytime soon.

Flexible packaging, of course, is all regarding plastic materials. To sum up the process, a film converter will create plastic film by the blow film extrusion process as well as roll it into webs, which are then supplied to packaging converters to be prepared into the particular packaging, whether that is a bag or pouch. Therefore just why is the flexible packaging market on such an upswing? Lots of that has to do with the plastic material that such packaging & HS PET is created from and the profit that packaging companies, retailers – and, for sure, consumers – are experiencing from it.

Here’s a closer look:

#1: Convenience and Portability

Perhaps the main reason behind the shift to Flexible Packaging Material is that retailers and consumers are demanding it. Consumers like it because it is reusable, suitable and very portable as well as easy to be packed and stored away. For example, instead of closing a box, consumers can zip up a seal. Retailers like it because it saves space on store shelves compared to rigid packaging formats also allows for more innovative merchandise displays compared to rigid packaging. Both retailers and consumers like it due to its aesthetics – it stands out on the shelf and is eye catching, thanks in part to superior packaging printing technique.

#2: Cost Savings

Another big advantage of Flexible Packaging Material is the cost savings associated with fabricating packages from plastic, compared to other materials. Generally, less material is required to create a bag or pouch, translating to a 40 % reduction in the overall packaging cost.

#3: Sustainability

Flexible packaging, which not only uses less material than its rigid counterparts, leading to a lower overall packaging cost, it also creates less waste. The FPA estimates that flexible packaging require 88 % less fossil fuel to produce than rigid one. Flexible packaging offers up to a 20 % space savings compared to rigid packaging, meaning more can be shipped at a time, thus reducing transportation costs along the way too.

 

#4: Health Benefits

There are also numerous health benefits that the plastic that makes up flexible packaging can help consumers attain. Not only is the packaging made from high-grade, FDA-approved plastic films, however such packaging can additionally be made to be UV-resistant to prevent product deterioration from the sun. Packaging can also help expand the life of products, while the resealing nature of flexible packaged products helps keep foods better for longer. The plastic film can also do a superior job of keeping contaminants that might be encountered from plant to store shelf out of food products better than rigid packaging.

In an age where consumers are more and more concerned with convenience and sustainability, flexibility packaging can be the perfect option for those in the food industry. Ayush Flexi Pack flexographic printing solutions can further improve the quality of flexible packaging, by facilitating high-class printing on the packaging itself.