Studies have shown that in addition to the product and price, shoppers pay close attention to packaging and the benefits it offers. In many cases, people will pay more for flexible packaging that delivers key benefits. Read on to learn about how it continues to benefit you.
Protects your products
Featuring a multi-layer construction keeps food safe, keeps oxygen out, and keeps aroma in. Each layer works to prevent and reduce spoilage by keeping products together, ensuring fresh food for you to enjoy. Flexible packaging is resistant to denting and breakage, therefore protecting products through the entire shipping and delivery process!
Reduces food waste
This form of packaging was created to simultaneously protect and extend the shelf life of products without the use of preservatives. As shelf life increases, food waste decreases. This is a key benefit, as food waste is a major challenge in the United States, where approximately 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown away annually. Food waste is a major contributor of methane gas in landfills. Visit this link to see how dramatic the impact is for everyday foods stored in flexible packaging!
Material and resource efficiency
Compared to traditional forms of packaging, it can be made with less material, so it conserves resources and contributes to sustainability. It also requires fewer trucks for shipping and uses less energy to transport. This means conservation begins before you even purchase it!
Sends less materials to landfills
Although some materials such as glass and steel are recycled at higher rates, they are bulky and send more packaging material to landfills than flexibles. Because flexible packaging is lightweight, made with fewer raw materials than traditional forms of packaging, and has recycling capabilities, less plastic ends up in landfills!
Convenient
Flexible packaging can go places that other packaging cannot. It is easy to open, carry, reseal, and store! You can easily throw it in your bag and take it with you on the go. Since it is lightweight and easy to store, it also saves space in your kitchen and other areas of your home. Learn more about how it can make your life more convenient here.
Reusable
Along with reducing food waste and being environmentally friendly, flexible packaging is also reusable! According to the U.S. EPA Waste Hierarchy, the most preferred method for waste management is using fewer resources by reusing the packaging. There are many ways to reuse flexible packaging. Get started today by checking out our blog post for 16 ways to reuse flexible packaging.
Recyclable
In the U.S., approximately half of all flexible packaging can be recycled into new packaging or be recycled through store drop-off programs. Single-layer polyethylene (PE) films can be recycled through the Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) by leaving items at your local flexible packaging recycling location. Research is progressing on many fronts to develop additional recycling solutions that we can expect to see in the future. You can use the TerraCycle database to quickly find the best local recycling options and drop-off locations near you, and learn more about recycling flexible packaging in this blog post.
The features of flexible packaging make life more convenient. It’s easy to store, open, reseal, and carry. Best of all, it extends product shelf life and provides positive benefits to the environment! To learn more, visit our resources page for more information.
