Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches: Sustainable Packaging Solutions for A Greener Future

A carbon-free California by 2045 is a splendid initiative to make the Golden State a land of renewable energy. Similarly, New York is also heading towards using 85% sustainable energy solutions by 2050; this is not the situation in only these two states.

The Department of State’s roadmap to achieve the aim of Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 [source] is a heartening report for us. That strategy shows we are going towards a greener future.

Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promotes recyclable packaging materials for industries. Washington State, New York, and California are leading from the front with State-Level Green Goals for Packaging [source].

Former Vice President Al Gore’s organization has also brought awareness about recyclable packaging products to our society. However, we are still facing severe global impacts from using ecologically damaging shopping bags.

At the same time, the trend of using eco friendly stand up pouches is making a mark among the masses. However, there is still a need to make people aware of renewable packs' ecological and affordable benefits.

Why To Hear The Call of The Planet About Eliminating Non-recyclable Pouches?

Social scientists predict that by 2050, oceans could contain more plastic in weight than fish [source]. Over the years, we have also seen that a big portion of Non-recyclable waste ends up in landfills. It continues to grow and emit harmful substances in the environment.

Millions of pounds of plastic pollution have become a big challenge for humanity. According to multiple surveys, microplastics are found in air, water, and even in many food products. Hence, non-recyclable materials have become a global threat to the health of the masses.  

Now, where do we stand after knowing all the dangers of harmful packaging materials? Recently, NeilsenIQ conducted a survey, and the results highly favor eco-friendly retail packaging products. 

73% of consumers around the globe stated they would likely change their consumption habits to decrease the environmental impact [source]. So, if you are a new retail setup, e-commerce company, or an existing brand, you can confidently go towards sustainable packaging pouches.

How Are Non-Sustainable Packaging Pouches More Expensive?

Non-recyclable pouches are usually made from multi-layer materials like foil, a combination of different plastics, laminations, etc. Their manufacturing process is more complex compared to recyclable materials. 

Combining diverse layers of materials to process the final form of non-recyclable stock is a hectic job. Furthermore, this long chemical method involves additional bonding and lamination procedures. Hence, it becomes unsuitable for recycling. Its high production cost is another burden. 

Similarly, non-ecological materials are getting more expensive each day. By this, if a packaging company produces non-sustainable materials to make pouches, then the next batch of pouches will most probably be costlier. So, why don’t we switch towards the natural means of product carrying?

Government and regulatory bodies often award retailers incentives, subsidies, or tax breaks for companies that use eco-friendly materials to make stand-up pouches. Using biodegradable materials for retail packaging pouches is always a good idea by all means. 

Why Are Recyclable Stand Up Pouches The Best For Retail Outlets?

A majority of consumers in the USA endorse and promote the use of eco-friendly stand up pouches. As mentioned above, within the next twenty to twenty-five years, America will be a net-zero environment to a great extent.

So, the retailers who stop using non-compostable pouches will benefit greatly today and in the future. Moreover, we are watching an emerging trend of relying on bio-friendly pouches; this is a big sign of change in consumers’ behaviors. 

A large number of chain stores are already procuring eco friendly stand up pouches wholesale deals. Likewise, we are seeing this phenomenon in New York City, Los Angeles, Illinois, Miami, Dallas, and the city of our packaging company’s headquarters.

Furthermore, stand-up pouches are way better in terms of shelf space efficiency. Retailers can display them better than rigid or sturdier plastic pouches. These pouches cover less space and give retailers the advantage of placing more products on shelves.

Why Are Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches The Most Cost-Effective Option?

Regarding packing the products in pouches, recyclable stand up pouches have become the most effective choice for retailers. The first perk is the less amount that retailers pay for these pouches. 

It is a fact that manufacturers of packaging products invest a little in making recyclable bags. Hence, when a packaging company makes them for a small number of bucks, then they sell custom printed stand-up pouches at cost-effective prices.

Flat shipping is the most economical form of transporting packaging products. On the contrary, plastic and non-reusable pouches cover a lot of space and become highly expensive to ship across the States. 

Similarly, kraft stand up pouches are no less than a blessing because packaging suppliers also ship them flat to retailers. These pouches are lightweight and cover less space. Hence, suppliers pay less for shipping. Consequently, they provide cheap stand up pouches to retailers.

Customization of Recyclable Stand Up Pouches For Bulk Orders

It does not matter if new business owners are placing orders for stand-up pouches with minimum order quantities (MOQs). Even if retailers buy custom-printed kraft stand-up pouches in bulk, they save a lot of money through low-priced customization possibilities.

It can be understood in this way that eco friendly stand up pouches are always cost-saving due to less material required in their making. Furthermore, they have a minimum weight. Hence, retailers can buy thousands of stand up pouches in bulk.

So whenever they need to change the design of their pouches, they can easily modify it anew because they have already not cost much. So, even if they have to make a new batch of retail stand up pouches they can again make it at minimum costs. 

Statistics tell us that lightweight, flexible packaging like stand-up pouches can reduce shipping costs incredibly compared to rigid or plastic pouches. So, decreasing the buying costs of the products is possible for retailers through recyclable stand-up pouches.

Stand Up Pouches In Eco-Friendly Materials Are Durable Enough

Manufacturers make eco friendly stand up pouches using advanced barrier technologies. Hence, these pouches protect products from oxygen, moisture, and light; this helps to preserve the freshness of fragile commodities and food products.

Products’ shelf life also extends due to eco-friendly pouches. Whereas commodities in less protective pouches may spoil within two days. Similarly, recyclable stand up pouches have proved to have higher handling resilience.

Stand-up pouches in glass or rigid plastic materials come with breakage or shattering issues while transporting. On the other hand, bio-friendly pouches come with higher puncture and tear resistance. 

There is always a certain elasticity and flexibility in eco-friendly pouches. Hence, they bear a load of other products on them and stay robust while carrying and shipping.

Materials Behind The Making of Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• Kraft 

There are multiple methods to make stand up pouches in the United States. Kraft paper is the prime source for making custom kraft products. Paper factories collect the wood pulp from responsibly managed forests or recycled paper products.

Kraft is further processed to remove lignin. Recyclable barrier layers (bio-derived and renewable plastics) are often laminated on kraft paper. Hence, it becomes moisture- and oxygen-resistant and makes pouches. Retailers make them print in CMYK (offset colors) or screen colors.

• PE (Polyethylene)

Polyethylene (PE) is a dynamic material. It is a synthetic polymer made from the polymerization of ethylene gas. Hence, It is one of the most common bio-based polyethylene (Bio PE). Manufacturers recycle it according to the existing plastic recycling streams. 

This material is light-weight than glass or rigid plastic. So, packaging companies use less material to make pouches than non-reusable material. As mentioned above, using less material results in lower production costs, and retailers buy cheap eco friendly stand-up pouches in bulk.

• White PE (Polyethylene)

Scientific procedures produce this form of polyethylene. After treating or blending, it gets a white or opaque appearance. Retailers have found white PE stronger and better resistant to punctures and tears. Its white pigments protect the products from ultra violet (UV) rays.

Many retailers prefer white polyethylene to make eco friendly stand up pouches because this material effectively portrays all the branding features. Flexographic printing (Flexo) and Gravure printing machines provide optimum neat printing results on this stock. Digital printing is also a fair option for white PE.   

• Clear PE (Polyethylene)

Some products need transparent or semi-transparent stand-up pouches; clear PE is the best material for those types of products. It is available in both low-density (LDPE) and high-density (HDPE). This material has a commendable barrier protection against contaminants, oxygen, and moisture. 

Some retailers in America rank Clear PE stand up pouches as the most cost-effective. Because these pouches often don’t need full-scale printing, one or two external product labels are enough for the necessary guidelines. Sometimes, just gussets are enough with these pouches.

• Alu Foil (Alumunium Foil)

It is a thin sheet of aluminum metal. Retailers also like this material due to its prowess in blocking bacteria, light, moisture, and oxygen. Hence, stand-up pouches made with aluminum foil are the optimum choice for pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetics products. 

Alu foil stand up pouches can be easily heat-sealed. Hence, consumers buy the products 100% protectively secured and up-to-the-minute. Furthermore, this material’s shiny and metallic surface gives sparkling appeal to the stand up pouches, and they look luxurious on the shelves. 

• PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is widely known to make stand up pouches for food and beverage packaging. This material is an ideal combination of strength and versatility with lightweight and temperature resistance. Hence, this material is the best for making stand-up pouches for hot-filling and cold storage.

PET pouches provide extended shelf life to food products, so retailers prefer them; these pouches protect them from food wastage. This eco-friendly material is also fully applicable to make stand up pouches with spouts and zippers.

• CD Holographic PET

CD holographic PET is the same PET film material mentioned above but has holographic patterns on its surface. This material also comes with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Hence custom stand up pouches made with CD holographic PET have higher resistance against tearing and load impacts. 

This stock looks appealing without a lot of graphic design customization. Its radiant patterns glorify the appeal of the pouches by themselves. It has been seen that consumers also show more interest in buying products packed in holographic stand-up pouches than plain pouches.

• MPET (Metalized Polyester)

It is a polyester film. Usually, Manufacturers coat it with a thin layer of aluminum metal. Hence, its barrier properties increase incredibly. It comes with a glossy finish and can be neatly printed. MPET pouches are also better for delivering heavier products. 

It is also one of the most cost-effective materials. Retailers consider this material a top choice for making eco-friendly stand-up pouches. This stock is easy to print on conventional machines such as Vertical Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS) and Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal (HFFS) printing machines. 

How Are Different Materials Used To Craft Eco-Friendly Stand-Up Pouches?

Retailers should remember one thing before ordering eco-friendly stand-up pouches wholesale deals: all these pouches are always a blend of different combined layers of materials above. For instance, a recyclable stand up pouch can be a mixture of the following layers of materials.

So, a stand-up pouch will be an amalgam of eco-friendly materials almost every time. Materials’ thickness and compositions can change according to the characteristics and weight of the products. 

How Are Most American Consumers Shifting Towards Recyclable Packaging?

According to some rough stats, 51% of Americans believe they are doing their best to address climate change. 43% think they could do more. If we add these two percentages, then a total of 94% of Americans are endorsing sustainability in all walks of life. 

Now, eco friendly stand up pouches are no exception. Retailers must have to adapt to climate-friendly consumer behaviors. They can also educate the masses more by using eco friendly stand pouches only. 

Furthermore, small business owners, luxury brands, and e-commerce retailers can make their brands more acceptable by using labels like ‘100% recyclable pouches’, ‘biodegradable-made,’ or made from plant-based materials. This type of branding will surely appeal to eco-conscious consumers. 

Since recyclable types of pouches are cost-effective, retailers can invest more in premium packaging features. Choosing the right graphic designers to conceive eye-catching themes of stand up pouches can create a big difference in daily sales.

Custom Eco-Friendly Pouches Come In All Styles And Dimensions

If retailers want to make custom printed kraft stand up pouches, they can make them in any required dimensions and styles. If a packaging supplier offers customizations, retailers can personalize stand-up pouches according to their requirements.

Some famous eco friendly stand up pouch sizes with necessary specifications can be seen in the below charts.

• 1 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 2 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 3 oz to 4 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 8 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 12 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 16 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 32 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 64 oz Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

• 1 Gallon Eco Friendly Stand Up Pouches

Those above are the most usable sizes of recyclable pouches in the USA. Moreover, retailers also make stand up pouches for the weight categories, i.e., 0.5 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 18 oz, 24 oz, and 48 oz. 

As they say, ‘Sky's the limit,’ packaging companies give numerous custom size and weight options to make the pouches. So, sometimes, retailers make specialized sizes of stand up pouches, but it happens rarely. 

Which Are The Most Affordable Stand Up Pouches For Retailers?

Indeed, custom printed Kraft stand up pouches are the most cost-effective pouches. So, small business owners and new retailers can opt for these pouches for all types of product packaging. 

Similarly, it can be a good idea to ask packaging companies for eco friendly stand up pouches wholesale plans. Carefully observing the graphic design features is necessary to make pouches in bulk. Hence, buyers can make error-free stand up pouches with Print 247. 

Getting physical prototypes before placing a bulk order of stand-up pouches can be more productive for retailers. Hence, they can practically see their products' packing and carrying experience in the pouches. 

Hope this blog has been a productive support for the vendors who will make or improvise eco friendly stand up pouches.