What Types of Products Are There in Flexible Packaging
Every time you choose packaging for your business, there are certain check boxes which have to be compulsorily be checked off. So what are the questions that ring a bell when you are searching for packaging products? Which type of packaging will help increase the product shelf life? Can the packaging be recycled and reused? Is the packaging cost effective? There are different types of packaging that can be used in this case. There is rigid packaging, material handling and flexible packaging.
Flexible packaging is the answer to almost all of the above questions.
You give us an irregularly shaped product; we give you its packaging. You give us a chemically sensitive product, we provide its packaging. The magic of flexible packaging lies in its ability to change its shape according to the requirement. Flexible packaging does all the moisture absorption, oxygen scavenging and temperature control, to keep the product fresh during transit or its idle life. Flexible packaging is made from easily yielding materials like polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and polyester. The packaging could be materialised into film, bubble wraps, paper bags, etc.
Flexible packaging has become one of the fastest growing packaging industries. Indian packaging market is estimated to reach $ 73 billion by 2020. Indian packaging industry is anticipated to register 18 percent annual growth rate, with the flexible packaging and rigid packaging expected to grow annually at 25 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
The advancements in flexible packaging have given us a wider range of packaging materials to choose from, depending on your bundling needs. Below are some of the examples of flexible packaging-
Flexible packaging type #1: Packaging bags
Flexible packaging type #1.1: Paper bag
Commonly used as shopping bags, these paper bags have become the next fashion statement. These environment friendly bags come in various vibrant and attractive colours, shapes, and are quite sturdy and durable. These can be used as shopping bags as well as gift bags.
Flexible packaging type #1.2: Non-woven bags
Non-woven bags are made by entangling the fibres together with the help of an adhesive. The main feature of these bags is that they are environment friendly. These bags are durable, waterproof, easy to carry and can serve all your shopping bag needs.
Flexible packaging type #1.3:HM (High molecular) carry bags
These bags can be used to carry food, medicines, stationery, etc. These bags are available in various colours and are reasonably priced. Also, these bags are very spacious, lightweight and durable.
Flexible packaging type #1.4:BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) bags
BOPP bags have high tensile strength. They are also waterproof and provide a better protection for your product. These bags are available in various colours and sizes. They are used to package confectionaries, fresh produce, animal feed, and other perishable items.
Flexible packaging type #1.5:LDPE bags
From grocery shop to stationary, these bags can be found everywhere. These bags have low melting points because of which these are ideal for storing food and for transport purposes.
Flexible packaging type #1.6:HDPE bag
HDPE trash bags are available in various sizes and can be used in offices, restrooms, kitchens etc. These bags are lightweight and very easy to carry. But they have less resistance to sharp objects and can easily tear off. Be careful of what and how you dispose your garbage.
Flexible packaging type #1.7:PE bags
Polyethylene is a very popular packaging material and can be used to package different products like food, marbles, antiques, food grains etc. These bags are ideal for storing dal and other kinds of rice and pulses as well.
Flexible packaging type #1.8:Biodegradable bags
These bags are made out of plants and vegetables which can be decomposed by bacteria. They are renewable, environment friendly and require less energy to produce. They can be easily used as an alternative to plastics for carrying grocery, personal care items, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Flexible packaging type #2: Protective packaging
Flexible packaging type #2.1:Adhesive tapes
These tapes could be coated with adhesive on one side or both. These are generally used for holding wound injuries and joining two materials. It is cleaner to use than glue and provides excellent adhesion.
Flexible packaging type #2.2:Courier bags
These bags are versatile and easy to utilise. Courier bags are used by parcel and freight companies, e commerce portals and other online portals as well.
Flexible packaging type #2.3:Bubble wrap
It is one of the most used packaging items. Bubble wrap has been used to package fragile products during transport. But there are a whole lot of other products that can be packaged using bubble wrap. It is available in different sizes and is a cheap option for excellent protection. If carefully used, they can be repetitively utilized thus, saving costs. It also provides shock and pressure absorption which makes it an ideal packaging product.
Flexible packaging type #2.4:Air bubble pouches
Air bubble pouches are generally used for packaging small electronics products. These are lightweight and provide a brilliant and secure cushion around the product. These are widely used in ecommerce packaging while shipping electronics.
Flexible packaging type #2.5:Foam packaging
Foam packaging provides excellent protection against shock and vibration during transit. These are suitable for all types of packaging needs from small products to huge equipments.
Flexible packaging type #3: Flexible films
Flexible packaging type #3.1:BOPP (Bi-axially Oriented Polypropylene) films
This film is made using cross direction technique where the film is stretched both mechanically and manually. These are versatile, sophisticated and have barrier properties. BOPP films can fulfill every packaging need, from biscuits to print lamination. As it is a heat-sealable film, it is generally suited for food packaging industry.
Flexible packaging type #3.2:Foil packaging
Foil packaging is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. This type of packaging acts as a blockage to air, light, dampness and bacteria, to keep your food fresh and safe, thus increasing its shelf life. Additionally, they are completely recyclable and reusable.
Flexible packaging type #3.3:Stretch films
The most common use of stretch films is palletized boxes. This highly stretchable film is used to secure products to each other and bind them tightly together. It is very easy to use and is available in various sizes.
Flexible packaging type #4: Packaging boxes & cartons
Flexible packaging type #4.1:Corrugated roll
These rolls can be utilised to package furniture, electronics, industrial merchandise, etc. One of the advantages of using corrugated rolls is its ability to be used to package products of all shapes and sizes. It has elastic properties and has shock absorption qualities, making them an ideal packaging product, as the transit damages are hugely reduced.
Flexible packaging type #4.2:Corrugated box
Popular for their strength, quality and cost-viability, these boxes are frequently used for shipping a variety of items. They are recyclable and perfect for transportation. Small corrugated boxes are generally used by ecommerce companies as mobile cover boxes. Corrugated boxes are the generally preferred packaging because these boxes can be molded and folded into variety of shapes and sizes and can be customised to one’s needs of the respective packaging.
Flexible packaging type #5: Pouches
Flexible packaging type #5.1:Zip lock
Organise your mess with these strong and sturdy zip lock bags. These can be utilised at home to store food items and can also be used to carry food. These pouches lock in the freshness of the food and keep the air out.
Flexible packaging type #5.2:Stand up pouches
These are one of the best packaging alternatives with a strong base and amazing display capability. These packages stand upright on the shelves, have an airtight closure and are extremely easy to pack.
So if you are looking for an extra-ordinary way to package your product, remember that there is a range of extra-ordinary packaging to satisfy all your packaging needs!
