Flexible packaging represents a revolution in the world of packaging, offering a versatile and innovative solution for product preservation and presentation. But what exactly is custom flexible packaging, and why should you consider it for your business? Let’s take a detailed look.
What is meant by custom flexible packaging
If you’ve never heard of custom flexible packaging, it’s time to understand what it is. Composed of plastic films, often laminated with other types of materials, such as aluminum and paper, flexible packaging has experienced rapid expansion in recent years, thanks to its protective and preservative capabilities.
With an extraordinarily low packaging-to-product ratio (5 to 10 times lower than other packaging categories), it is more advantageous in terms of sustainability, functionality, safety, and customization, perfectly adapting to the product to be packaged: from the food sector to cosmetics, to the chemical-industrial sector.
Unlike rigid packaging, which maintains a fixed shape, custom flexible packaging can be folded, rolled, or compressed without losing its functionality.
Types and uses of custom flexible packaging
Custom flexible packaging is distinguished by its extraordinary adaptability and the wide range of solutions it offers.
It is particularly appreciated in the logistics and large-scale distribution sectors for its lightness, which reduces transport costs, and for its ability to optimize storage space.
Among the main types of flexible packaging, we find pouches.
Flexible pouches
Pouches represent one of the most versatile and widespread forms of custom flexible packaging, used in a wide range of sectors for their practicality and functionality. Made with materials such as plastic, aluminum, and paper, pouches offer packaging solutions that ensure the protection of the contents from external factors such as humidity, oxygen, and light. Their flexible structure makes them ideal for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and many other products.
Thanks to their versatility and ability to protect the contents, they can be used for a wide range of products.
Pouches can be designed with different features that increase their versatility:
- Zip closures, facilitate repeated opening and closing, maintaining the freshness of the products;
- Euro holes, guarantee the possibility of conveniently hanging the packs on displays to facilitate product organization in stores.
Application markets for custom flexible packaging
Custom flexible packaging finds application in a wide range of sectors thanks to its extraordinary versatility and the protective properties of the materials used.
- Food Sector: Custom flexible packaging is essential for preserving the freshness and quality of products. It is used to package snacks, coffee, tea, frozen foods, ready-to-eat products, spices, and much more. The possibility of integrating features such as hermetic closures and euro holes makes flexible packaging particularly suitable for products that require high protection and ease of use;
- CBD-Based Products Sector: Custom flexible packaging has played a crucial role in meeting the needs of this rapidly expanding sector. CBD products, which include oils, capsules, edibles, and cosmetics, require packaging that ensures protection against light, air, and humidity to preserve their quality. Pouches with resealable zip closures are perfect for maintaining the freshness of edibles and CBD flowers. Furthermore, the possibility of customizing packaging with attractive designs and detailed product information helps brands stand out in a competitive market;
- Supplements and Superfood Sector: Custom flexible packaging not only must preserve the quality and freshness of the products, but they must also be practical and attractive to health-conscious consumers. Flexible packaging is perfect for this purpose, offering effective barriers against oxygen and humidity that could damage vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients;
- Accessories Market: Custom flexible packaging offers a versatile and practical solution for a wide range of products, from jewelry and watches to glasses. The ability of flexible packaging to adapt to different shapes and sizes makes it ideal for packaging items that require light but effective protection. Pouches with hermetic or zip closures are perfect for small accessories, protecting them from scratches, dust, and humidity. Furthermore, flexible packaging can be easily customized with logos, brands, and attractive designs, improving product presentation and increasing consumer appeal;
- Cosmetics Sector: Custom flexible packaging greatly benefits the cosmetics sector thanks to its ability to combine aesthetics and functionality. Creams, lotions, shampoos, and single-dose products are packaged in pouches and tubes that can be easily customized with eye-catching prints and innovative designs.
Materials for custom flexible packaging
Custom flexible packaging can be made with a variety of materials, each with specific properties that meet different preservation and sustainability needs. The three main categories of materials are the following:
- Aluminum Custom Flexible Packaging: Offers an excellent barrier against oxygen, humidity, heat, and light, maintaining the freshness and quality of products;
- Recyclable Plastic: For a sustainable choice that reduces environmental impact;
- Recyclable Paper: Ideal for those seeking ecological and recyclable packaging.
Among the various options, it is therefore possible to opt for sustainable flexible packaging, attentive to environmental protection.
Production of custom flexible packaging
The production of custom flexible packaging is a complex process that involves various phases, each of which requires specific technologies and skills.
- Design and Development: Analysis of customer needs to then proceed with the evaluation of samples to examine and test design and functionality;
- Materials Selection: Choice of the most suitable material based on specific customer needs;
- Printing: Optimization of print files to obtain maximum yield with digital technology;
- Lamination: For the union of the different layers selected to enhance the characteristics of the materials;
- Packaging: Phase during which the packaging is shaped;
- Addition of Any Special Components: Such as closures and euro holes;
- Quality Control: During which the conformity of the packaging is verified;
- Packaging and Shipping: Preparation for final distribution.
Adopting custom flexible packaging as an alternative to rigid packaging
Custom flexible packaging is revolutionizing the consumer experience, which is increasingly demanding in terms of practicality, customization, and responsibility.
One of the great strengths is, in fact, that of meeting the expectations of modern consumers, who seek comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally friendly solutions.
The continuous innovations in the custom flexible packaging sector promise to further improve these aspects, making packaging a key component in customer satisfaction and in promoting responsible consumption.
Many good reasons to choose custom flexible packaging
Switching from rigid to flexible packaging can bring numerous benefits:
- Preservation: Maintaining shelf-life is one of the main advantages of flexible packaging, which can preserve the product over time by protecting it from oxygen, light, and humidity;
- Safety: Made with raw materials that are safe for the environment and the consumer, flexible packaging is certified for food contact, respecting the most stringent standards;
- Practicality and Efficiency: Thanks to their compactness, flexible packs are easy to carry and store, facilitate transport and storage operations, reducing costs and CO2 emissions;
- Sustainability: Increasingly light and made with minimal thicknesses, packs promote the circular economy by promoting material recycling;
- Reduction of Transport Costs: Being lighter, flexible packaging reduces the overall weight of products, lowering shipping costs;
- Optimization of Storage Space: Occupies less space, facilitating warehouse management;
- Design Versatility: Allows you to create attractive and functional packaging, improving the consumer experience.
But why should a company seriously consider the idea of using flexible packaging for its business?
Custom flexible packaging and the advantages for companies
In addition to the general advantages, it is possible to identify aspects that particularly benefit companies that choose custom flexible packaging to package their products:
- Cost Optimization: Thanks to the reduction of the amount of material used to make the packaging, there are lower costs related to production and transport;
- Marketing Opportunities: It is possible to create packaging that is personalized in every detail without limits in terms of design, also to promote new products or special editions. All without additional costs;
- Brand Visibility: What better occasion than the pack to convey the brand’s values? Thanks to the large printable surface, in addition to communicating multiple information, companies can also make the pack interactive, linking it to post-purchase marketing activities to effectively stand out from the competition.
Custom flexible packaging and the advantages for retailers
The advantages are not exclusively in favor of companies, even retailers can benefit from custom flexible packaging by optimizing:
- Shelf Space Management: Thanks to packages that are easier to handle and position;
- Product Presentation: With attractive designs that attract consumer attention;
- Waste Management: The longer duration of packaged products limits losses due to expiration.
Custom flexible packaging is truly a winning choice
In conclusion, choosing custom flexible packaging, as a replacement for other types of packaging, is increasingly proving to be a significant decision for companies.
Imagine having the freedom to create a pack that perfectly 1 adapts to the product to be packaged, without compromising in terms of customization and protection. All with a significant containment of production and logistics costs. Fantastic, right? That’s why custom flexible packaging really represents a winning choice today.
