How are stand up pouches made?
A brief HISTORY
So what is a stand up pouch? Simply put, it’s bag/pouch that has the ability to stand on its own. The original stand up pouch design was actually patented in 1968. However, it wasn’t until the patent expired did the stand up pouch revolution begin. The stand up pouch design and construction have evolved over the years to include innovative design features like the reclosable zipper, convenient tear notches for easy opening, and some styles have a window for easy viewing. Today, the
stand up bag is the go-to packaging choice for many well-known brands. Companies are using these airtight bags for candy packaging, coffee packaging, tea packaging, pet packaging, beauty product packaging, and more.
The CONSTRUCTION
A stand up pouch is made of multiple layers of barrier materials that have been laminated together to create one continuous sheet. The barrier materials and bag construction determine the durability and shelf life of your packaging. The chosen materials also determine the potential risk of bag punctures, leaks, and tears. Therefore, choosing a higher quality
spout bag will ultimately mean fewer problems down the road. There are typically 2-3 layers in the construction of a stand up pouch. There is an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer. Each layer provides a barrier of protection to protect and preserve the contents from environmental elements including moisture, UV light, oxygen, and external odors.
The OUTER Layer
Copious Bags? offers several exterior options; natural kraft paper, black kraft paper, clear, and our matte frosted exterior. The outer layer of the pouch communicates your brand message and what draws a customer to your product. The natural kraft paper pouches have an earth-friendly, all natural, small-scale production look and feel. Nothing says NATURAL like kraft paper. Whereas, the black kraft paper stand up pouches have a powerfully alluring look that is combined with the natural feel and texture of kraft paper. But, keep in mind, kraft paper is not used solely for its good looks. Quality kraft paper is strong, extremely durable. It has a resistance to punctures and tears. The porous, natural texture of kraft paper makes it ideal for labeling and hand stamping. Our matte frosted stand up pouches have a very captivating and compelling look that will enhance any product. The greatest benefit of our matte frosted stand up pouches is that they are water-resistant. They too can be customized with labels, hand-stamped with permanent ink, and hot-stamped.
When it comes to packaging your products, you want to avoid using cheap, poorly constructed kraft paper pouches. Insist on high-quality natural kraft paper rather than inexpensive imitation kraft paper. Insist on Copious Bags?. There is no substitute.
The MIDDLE Layer
This middle layer can be made of different film materials, but most commonly used is either (AL) aluminum foil, (VMPET) a metalized film, (PET or PETE) polyethylene terephthalate.
(AL) Aluminum Foil – an aluminum foil layer barrier keeps your product fresh for approximately 20 months, compared to 13 months when metalized (VMPET) barrier film is used. Aluminum foil film has a much higher end appearance and offers better protection. Copious Bags? uses only aluminum foil to line our bags, never metalized.
(VMPET) – a metalized film often used in lower quality packaging. Although it does offer barrier protection, this cheaper material does not offer the long-term protection that aluminum foil does. This metalized film has a metallically appearance and is not very appealing to the customers when the bags are opened.(PET OR PETE) – a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family that’s used in packaging for food and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer products.
The INNER layer
The inner layer a stand up pouch is extremely important, especially when using them for food packaging. The inner lining is the material that comes into direct contact with your product. The most common material used for stand up pouches is (LLDPE) linear low-density polyethylene. This material is used widely throughout the packaging industry because it is FDA approved and is safe for direct contact with food.
The inner layer is also what makes Copious Bags? stand up pouches heat sealable. Heat sealing your bags gives your product a tamper-evident seal, thereby giving your customer the confidence and assurance that the product has not been opened or tampered with.
The GUSSETED bottom
The expandable bottom gusset is what gives a stand up pouch the ability to stand freely on its own. Copious Bag? stand up gusset bags have a very sturdy, u-shaped gusseted which allows the pouch to stand prominently without collapsing.
Make the TRANSITION
The stand up pouch is dominating the packaging world. Top brands are transitioning from traditional rigid packaging such as jars, canisters, tins, and boxes to the flexible stand up pouch. The bags are stored flat whereby saving valuable retail space. And, because they are extremely lightweight, companies are saving a ton in shipping and freight costs.
STAND UP POUCHES ARE VISUALLY APPEALING:
Stand up pouches give you the option to really get creative with your packaging design. Unlike a static label, you can personalise the entire pouch from top to sides and back. This enables you to lay out the font, graphics, and colours in a way that reflects your brand and helps you stand out from the crowd.
This way, no matter which way the pouch is displayed, customers will unmistakably recognise your product.
STAND UP POUCHES KEEP YOUR PRODUCT FRESHER FOR LONGER:
By fitting out your stand up pouch with a resealable zip lock, up to three layers of protection (so as to keep out moisture, UV light, oxygen, and external odours), and a gusset on the bottom – your products will stay fresher for longer, while giving your customers the freedom to consume at their own pace.
If you’re packaging coffee, the inclusion of a degas valve will help release oxygen while preserving the flavour-enhancing gases. Thus, ensuring the beans maintain their freshness and last longer.
STAND UP POUCHES ARE LIGHTWEIGHT AND FLEXIBLE:
Want your customers to enjoy your product on the go? This is one of the greatest benefits of stand up pouches for food packaging.
Flexible packaging is typically made from plastic or paper, which is considerably lighter than glass and cardboard boxes. So, whether your customers are heading to work, on holiday, or just lounging about at home – your customers can enjoy your goods any time they like.
Furthermore, since the packaging is less rigid, it takes up far less space. So it can be stored in small compartments,
central seal bag, lockers, and small pantries. Again, even greater convenience for your customers!
IDEAL FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS:
Whether you produce confectionary, baking goods, coffee, small toys, or snacks, it doesn’t matter. Stand up pouches are flexible enough to store a wide range of products from a variety of industries.
So, even if you currently rely on glass or cardboard packaging, depending on the type of product you sell, there’s a good chance you can make the switch to lightweight flexible packaging. You may be surprised at how economical, affordable, and user-friendly your new packaging will be.
Best of all? It doesn’t cost you much to do a trial test run.
At The Pouch Shop, we have a low minimum order amount for all our pouches, which enables you to print a variety of test designs and help you decide whether to proceed. This way, you avoid the risk of producing a large batch that doesn’t quite meet your needs, thus you save time and money.
Our selection of Kraft pouches will help you choose the right paper pouch packaging to communicate eco-friendly values of your brand and to deliver the highest quality products to your customers.
Kraft paper is durable, resistant to tearing and offers good protective properties. It blocks the UV light and humidity, which helps to ensure the freshness of your products by preventing oxidation and other undesirable chemical reactions that would lead to deterioration of your goods.
Kraft paper stand up pouches are also decidedly eco-friendly. They require less materials and less energy in their production and leave less waste in the manufacturing process. Due to being very light and compact, they are also very easy to transport and store.
We offer classic Kraft stand up pouches, as well
flat bottom bag and various other designs of Kraft paper pouches. We also have pouches made partially of Kraft paper but incorporating a window or a whole clear side which allows the consumer to see exactly what they are buying while that product remains sealed for freshness and protected. Various designs available in our store also include Kraft resealable pouches such as Kraft zipper pouch bag.
For extra protection, we have pouches that combine aluminium foil with Kraft paper. Such construction ensures the strongest protection and durability, without sacrificing the classic, traditional look of the
3 side seal bag.