Flexible packaging just got a bit stronger and more sustainable

Converters working in the flexible packaging space (or who are interested in working in it … chat with your Avery Dennison representative) now have three new flexible packaging constructions available. These have been engineered to provide more of what consumers are looking for in a flex pack — convenience and portability, with added strength and sustainability credentials.

Globally, flexible packaging is the fastest growing packaging segment. According to the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the industry enjoyed $31.8 billion in sales in the U.S. in 2018, the most recent year for which it offers data. Flexible packaging is the second largest packaging segment in the U.S., with about 19 percent of the $170 billion U.S. packaging market.

The format’s popularity spans markets such as beverage, pet food, personal care, medical, pharmaceutical, consumer products, and many others. It’s easy to understand why, from a consumer standpoint, flexible packaging offers convenience. They’re functional, lightweight and portable. They can extend shelf life and use closures and fitments to keep contents fresh after having been opened.

When it comes to sustainability — also a consumer interest — flexpack’s benefits begin in the manufacturing process and now provide more consumer-friendly sustainable options.

Flexible packaging requires less materials in manufacturing than other packaging types, requires fewer resources to transport and only accounts for about 3 – 4 percent of total landfill waste, according to the FPA. Using flexible packaging also replaces the use of ancillary packaging including boxes and covers. Whereas some products come packaged in a bag within a box, flexible packaging allows for the elimination of the box while adding a functional benefit of a bag closure to keep product fresh. The effects of these reductions may not always be obvious, but they are significant.

What’s new in flexible packaging is the ability to recycle at the end of consumption, using post-consumer waste, biobased layers, the additional functionality of puncture resistance, and the use of fitments and zippers to protect food for longer shelf life. Our new flexpack offerings help address these unmet needs

We’ve updated our Rapid-Roll® Portfolio with the following new flexpack products. These expand our overall offering with the addition of high strength and sustainable options.

Offering puncture resistance, our new high strength pouch is designed for added security. The pouch has been pre-tested by Perritt Labs to validate materials recommended for applications requiring child-resistance* functionality. This product was evaluated using the Consumer Product Safety Commission Protocol and Standards which indicated that it can** fulfill the requirements for poison prevention packaging as per the current Code of Federal Regulations Title 16, Part 1700. The high strength pouch can also be a solution for e-commerce, food, and other applications where security is key.

Our clear, recyclable 4 mil stand-up pouch gives converters a solution for your customers requesting recyclable materials. This is the first time our portfolio has included a flexpack product that, off the shelf, can be submitted for How2Recycle applications. With consistent performance, this new sustainable offering complements our current stand up pouch portfolio.

Our new solution for cosmetic web applications includes post-consumer-recycled content and biobased films, along with a high-barrier foil. It offers added sustainability, while not compromising on the quality and performance consumers expect. This construction is ideal for personal care, food, OTC, nutraceuticals, and practically any application that uses a cosmetic web format.

Our new flexpack products help you further align your business with the growing consumer desire for convenient and sustainable packaging options. All are now listed in our Rapid Roll Catalog, available at label.averydennison.com/RRcatalog. To learn more, and/or order samples, contact your Avery Dennison sales representative to get in touch with one of our dedicated flexible packaging experts.

*Fit for use and additional testing may be required based on application requirements. **Additional testing may be required for each end-use application