Benefits of Flexible Packaging

If you are a businessman/businesswomen then you need to know about the packaging of your materials and products. The packaging of goods and products are of two different designs. One is flexible packaging and another is rigid packaging. 

Now the question rises, which packaging design is the best? As a businessman or businesswomen which packaging design should you choose which meets all your business requirements? When it comes to the answer… there is no right or correct packaging design, it just depends upon certain factors which will impact your decision. These factors are:

• Budget
• Protective properties
• Ease of shipping and transportation 
• Consumers feedback
• Brand advertisement

Flexible packaging meets almost all of them correctly and has ease of transportation. It is an emerging industry in India as well as in the world. It is replacing plastics in a more innovative and appealing way. It is mostly used by food, pharmaceutical and other major industries. 

Flexible packaging, as the name suggests is more flexible when it comes to the packaging of irregular shaped products. It made from a pliable material that can be filled, sealed and retained. It is used for packaging of a wide variety of goods and products like drinking pouches, grocery bags and more.

Flexible packaging materials are made from easily yielding materials like polyethene (PE), polyvinylidene chloride (PVC), Polyesters, etc. These could be used as different types. As stretchable films, bubble wraps, paper bags, shopping bags, non-woven bags, low-density polyethene (LDPE) bags, courier bags, foil packaging, pouches, etc.

Indian packaging industry anticipated registering 18% annual growth rate, while reaching $ 73 billion by 2020, with flexible packaging and rigid packaging. Flexible packaging is expected to grow annually at 25%.

Flexible packaging has many of the benefits and advantages for the growth of your business. These benefits are enlisted below.

Benefits of flexible packaging

1.Flexibility

Flexible packaging, as the name suggests is more flexible and convenient. It can be mould to and shape and size. It can easily be used for irregular shapes of your products. 

It consumes less space in the shelf than the rigid and conventional packaging do. It also needs very less space for storage and can be easily transported. It requires less energy and less labour.

It makes the life of your customers easier and relaxing. Now your customers can easily carry and store your products with flexible packaging and can use them instantly.

2. Sustainability

Flexible packaging is more durable and long-lasting. It can withstand high temperatures, moisture, light, etc., and still, the inside product is not affected and can last for quite some time.

It has a very low-cost efficiency when compared to rigid and conventional packaging techniques. Even after making multiple films for protection of products while packaging, it will be still at the lower cost. It protects from tearing, damping and other kinds of physical hazards while transportation and shipping.

There is a broad range of products in which flexible packaging is suitable and is preferred for like protecting food items, chemicals, medicines, etc. It protects from moisture, sunlight, temperature and also from microbes like bacteria. Hence flexible packaging has barrier properties.

3. Lightweight

Flexible packaging materials are lightweight making them easier to carry for transportation as well as in shipping hence reducing the cost of shipping and also reduces the labour cost and energy.

Since the packaging material is lightweight it is easier for storage and also consumes less space as stated earlier, and also is less likely to get damaged during shipment and transport. 

4. Customizable

As the packaging material is flexible, it can be moulded to your personal business products and can be used as a custom packaging. It can take any shape and size. Any colour could be added to the material and can be used easily. It varies from small pouches to laminated tubes. It could be turned as flexible foams, paper bags of various types, shapes, size, colour and different designs, or even aluminium foils which offer chemical and thermal shielding to the products from inside. Multiple printing of brand logos or any graphics could be done with great ease and could be modified according to your product.

The designs preferred by you for your products can be controlled and changed as well. Flexible packaging allows ease of decoration and innovation to attract your customers. It is so versatile that anyone can innovate an appealing design on the packaging material and spread the awareness of their brand and attract customers and impress them. Moreover nowadays superior technologies are being used which is replacing the plastics and are using alternatives like multilayered low-density films and aluminium foils.

5. Promoting “go green”

Many of the flexible packaging materials are coming with environmentally friendly ideas and materials. Since fewer materials are used to manufacture flexible packaging materials and are not dug deep from earth’s crust, it is easily disposable and recyclable. These packaging materials could also be reused. The eco-friendly nature is solely dependent on the materials used to make it. Flexible packaging materials made from LDPE or polypropylene (PP) are used in grocery, stationery shops, etc., can be easily recycled and hence used as an alternative for plastics, and so helps to cut pollutions, land deforms and major environmental hazards. 

Moreover, using eco-friendly products with eco-friendly packaging can impress your customers and make your brand as a reputed brand in the market and all customers will then look forward to your products and service. This can help to improve and grow your business to excellence.