History Of Flexible Packaging

With technological advancement the manufacturing of flexible packaging has evolved over the years. The concept of flexible packaging emerged way back in 1300s China. According to the University of Florida, the bark of mulberry trees was used for food packaging. It’s an assumption that flexible packaging has emerged from plastic grocery bags.

Development in paper making technology led to manufacturing of the first machine-made bags. In the mid 1800s, paper based technology emerged in England and they started making first ever paper bags. Then later paper-based package manufacturing started in the US as well. With technological developments the light weight flexible packaging industry boomed.

Stages Of Growth In Flexible Packaging

• 1. Flexographic printing technology improved the quality of packaging making it more feasible.
• 2. Improvement in variety of package structure due to flexibility. Features like pinch, pull, zip, squeeze are now seen in a variety of food packaging.
• 3. Heat resistant, vacuum packed pouches, foil coated packaging all these things have changed the flexible packaging industry.
• 4. For the brand which prefers high SKU, flexible packaging adapts to it faster.
• 5. Demand for secondary packaging in the e-commerce industry.

Evolution Of Packaging Materials

Benefits Of Flexible Packaging

The reason why flexible packaging industry has gained popularity is due to its numerous benefits :

• 1. High Production efficiency - The energy consumption in flexible packaging is less due to its low production time. This leads to an increase in production.
• 2. Longer Shelf Life - Flexible packaging offers good quality. It protects the product from dust, moisture, UV rays and other environmental factors.
• 3. Sustainable packaging - As the flexible packaging provides longer shelf life it reduces the overall packaging costs. You will produce one pack instead of two. This also decreases the waste into the landfills.
• 4. High Quality Printing Design - Flexographic printing has led to clear printing. Improved color quality, detailed designs, graphics all these things make the packaging more attractive.
• 5. Improved User Experience - Flexible packaging is lightweight, easy to use and offers numerous features. Re-seal or zipper feature allows for storage. The vacuum sealed pouches store food for a longer period of time.

There are many brands in the market today which offer innovative packaging solutions. Brands like kisaan made small changes in Pichkoo packages for ketchup which replaced the glass bottles. This increased their pichkoo pack sales and their demand increased more than the bottled ketchup. Just by adding a small feature ‘the nozzle’ so the ketchup can be squeezed out easily the brand revenue increased. Similarly, studying the needs of its consumers the brands should redesign their packaging to give convenience to its customers. This not only gives good user experience but also helps improve sales of the product.

Various Types Of Flexible Packaging

Today flexible packaging is available in a variety of shapes, sizes and with features. Flexible packaging is available in two forms for formed and unformed products. The packaging for formed products is pre-shaped which can be filled and sealed in-house. The un-formed packaging comes in the form of laminated rolls which are sent to co-packers.

Today the flexible packaging industry has evolved and different types of flexible packaging materials are available like :

• 1. Laminated rolls and films - These rolls are made from various polymeric materials which can be shaped into different sizes and shapes. Flexible packaging also allows good printing quality. This is why you can implement your packaging design in real terms on your product. The biggest advantage of flexible rolls is that it can be customized according to the needs of the client.
• 2. Pouches - These can be manufactured with a variety of features and can be customized too. Stand up pouches, zipper pouches, vacuum pouches, heat resistant pouches, and many more similar options are available. These pouches have become a trend in the packaging industry. You will see them used in a wide variety of industries like sauces, jams, pickles, coffee powder, tea leaves, etc.
• 3. Vacuum pouches - These are commonly used to pack dry snacks. Vacuum infused pouches save the food from open air and give longer shelf life. Most foods like fresh fruits and veggies are vacuum sealed to keep them fresh for a long time.
• 4. Carry Bags - Three side sealed, semi-stand up, side gusseted and flat bottom are the various types of carry bags. They can be easily customisable as per the needs due to the flexible material used in production.

Evolution Of Packaging in India

As people are looking out for more sustainable solutions the flexible packaging industry is undergoing an evolution. Flexible packaging manufacturers are searching for ways to recycle or reuse the packaging materials. This can decrease the non-decomposable waste ending up in landfills.

Future Of Flexible Packaging

Innovations are ever evolving with development in science and technology. The need for more environmentally friendly materials and taking note of high consumer expectations, many positive changes can be brought into the flexible packaging industry.

Some of the preconceived ideas for the future of packaging are :

• 1. PETE, PET, LDPE such easily recyclable materials can be used for flexible packaging.
• 2. PETE, PET, LDPE such easily recyclable materials can be used for flexible packaging.
• 3. Easily biodegradable and high composting efficacy of packaging.
• 4. Lightweight, and thinner packaging.

Flexible packaging industry in India faces many challenges and is always striving to meet the needs of consumers. Various surveys and market research are conducted today to understand the market needs. Through technological developments these inputs from research are worked upon and are implemented.

This is how the flexible packaging industry is changing and evolving with every passing day. Innovative and smart packaging is the future of flexible packaging.