Flexible packaging, of course, is all about plastic materials. To summarize the process, a film converter will create plastic film via the blown film extrusion process and roll it into webs, which are then supplied to packaging converters to be made into the particular packaging, whether that is a bag or pouch. So just why is the flexible packaging market on such an upswing? A lot of that has to do with the plastic material that such packaging is created from and the benefits that packaging companies, retailers – and, of course, consumers – are experiencing from it. Here’s a closer look:

Perhaps the biggest reason behind the shift to flexible packaging is that retailers and consumers are demanding it. Consumers like it because it is reusable, convenient and very portable and easy to be packed and stored away. For instance, 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 and allows for more creative merchandise displays compared to rigid packaging. Both retailers and consumers like it because of its aesthetics – it stands out on the shelf and is eye catching, thanks in part to advanced packaging printing methods.

Not only does flexible packaging use less material than its rigid counterparts, leading to a lower overall packaging cost, it also creates less waste.  Fres-co states that flexible packaging formats create 50 percent less waste than rigid ones, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and BTU consumption.  The FPA estimates that flexible packages require 88 percent less fossil fuel to produce than rigid ones.  Flexible packaging offers up to a 20 percent space savings compared to rigid packaging, meaning more can be shipped at a time, thereby reducing transportation costs along the way as well.