Stand Up Pouch Packaging Benefits for the Food and Beverage Industry

In the packaging world as in other sectors – less is more. Flexible packaging reduces the amount of raw material needed and decreases costs. Can the principle also be applied within the flexible packaging world? Polysack’s mono-material stand-up pouch demonstrates that it definitely can! A new solution that is both recyclable and sustainable

Product packaging is an integral part of product branding. One of the more attention-grabbing options that attractively stands out on the shelf is the flexible packaging stand-up pouch.

At Polysack we developed quite a few solutions for this packaging format, providing added value to our customers, and ultimately to the end users. So what are the principles and advantages of this type of packaging?

What is stand-up pouch packaging?

This packaging format is made of one or more films that are folded and soldered to obtain flexible packaging which can stand upright on the shelf. This feature is usually only available in rigid packaging and not in flexible packaging

This packaging can have various enhanced features including zippers, sliders, hanging holes, and more. It is commonly used to package liquids, detergents, dry food, beverages, and pet food, as well as for home & personal care products.

Stand-up pouch packaging is gaining momentum

Increasingly more industrial manufacturers are switching to stand-up packaging bags for several reasons. First, the mere change from rigid to flexible packaging reduces its weight, which is both economically and environmentally advantageous. Additionally, rigid packaging uses more plastic material and consumes limited fossil resources. They are heavier and less compact for logistic transportation. This is why switching to stand-up flexible packaging has sustainability and environmental advantages.

For these reasons, many find it profitable to market certain products in smaller flexible packaging, among other things for PR purposes (promo packaging). Furthermore, it is very easy to match the packaging to the packaged product, by changing the film thickness and the additives it contains, as well as the type and number of film layers, with each layer providing a property or a combination of desired properties. However, it is important to understand that in many cases the use of multilayer film for custom packaging stand-up pouches makes them unsuitable for recycling. At the end of their life cycle, they are therefore intended for energy recovery or landfill.