Flexible Packaging VS Rigid Packaging: Pros and Cons

When it involves selecting packaging for your goods, you’ve got a lot of choices. Such a lot of that it’d be overwhelming to seek out the proper packaging. Two broad packaging classes that you simply can realize are flexible packaging and rigid packaging. But, what specifically are the variations between these kinds of packaging materials? Some of the most variations embrace environmental impact, sustainability, cost, and different numerous other things of thought.

Various flexible packaging companies pride themselves on being a good guide within the flexible packaging supplies that they provide. However, they would like to be clear that for a few goods rigid packaging could be a more sensible choice. There also are many applications where flexible packaging is the superior selection of the 2. In this article, we’ll compare the pros and cons of flexible and rigid packaging and assist you to grasp that it could be a more sensible choice for your specific packaging wants.

What Is Flexible Packaging?

Flexible packaging includes all malleable packaging. Some common samples of flexible packaging embrace shrink film, stretch film, flexible pouches, seal bands, blister or skin packs, and clamshells. In reality, flexible packaging includes any protective packaging made up of materials together with plastic, paperboard, paper, foil, wax-coated composition board, and similar materials, or combos of those materials.

Flexible packaging supplies like flexible pouches have taken the world packaging market by storm over the last 5–10 years and still expand the globe. Flexible packaging supplies are gaining quickly on rigid packaging because of their lower expense and lower environmental impact. Examples of goods pre-packed in flexible packaging supplies embrace however aren’t restricted to: turns out, coffee, meat, fish, poultry, drinks, industrial powders and liquids, natural philosophy, and many different kinds of goods.

Today, you’ll realize flexible packaging is exactly concerning each single grocery store throughout the globe.

Pros Of Flexible Packaging Supplies

Environmentally friendly — Flexible packaging takes up less space in landfills and has the lowest carbon footprint of alternative packaging supplies.

Easy to use — Flexible packaging typically has less ability to induce wrap-rage and sometimes has “easy open” capabilities like tear-away lids on flexible pouches.

Lower cost — Most flexible packaging is a smaller amount pricey than rigid alternatives.

Branding and aesthetic capabilities — Flexible packaging like flexible pouches is totally written edge to edge with eye-catching graphics.

Uses less material than rigid packaging — Made with soft plastics and fewer materials.

Cons Of Flexible Packaging

• May affect the flavor of food or liquids
• Low resistance to extreme temperatures
• Difficult to recycle as there isn’t an infrastructure set up to do so
• 1,000+ years to totally degrade in a landfill

What Is Rigid Packaging?

Rigid packaging is packaging that options heavier and sometimes stronger materials than flexible packaging. Varieties of rigid packaging materials embrace however aren’t restricted to: glass, laborious plastics, cardboard, metal, and so on. Rigid packaging supplies are sometimes costlier than their flexible alternatives and most have considerably higher carbon footprints than flexible packaging.

Some samples of rigid packaging embrace whip cream cans, pickle jars, laborious plastic cannabis containers, yogurt containers, wine bottles, and hummus containers. Rigid packaging is commonly used once packaging fragile food goods that require protection from falling. Accept the laborious plastic containers of hummus that sometimes won’t break if born on the ground. While some rigid packaging typically ensures the protection of your product, things like glass pickle jars will still break if born.

Some kinds of rigid packaging are used specifically to induce a way of luxury. In fact, many varieties of luxury packaging use multiple different types of rigid packaging in one package.

Pros Of Rigid Packaging

• Superior strength — Made up of laborious plastics and different materials.
• Gives an impression of quality — Glass for instance suggests luxury.
• Unlikely to affect the flavor of food — This is due to the lack of soft plastics.
• Often made from easy to recycle materials — for instance, glass and hard plastic.

Cons Of Rigid Packaging

• Notably more expensive in most cases
• Significantly higher carbon footprint
• Much higher shipping costs
• If not recycled, takes up more space in landfills

Which Type Of Packaging Should You Choose?

When selecting which sort of packaging choice is correct for your business, you must raise yourself a couple of questions and think about the answers fastidiously.

Do you need superior product protection? If so, rigid packaging could also be the best choice (although glass might not be).

Is the environmental impact of your packaging vital to you or your customers? If you answered yes, you must contemplate flexible packaging. Despite the fact most flexible packaging isn’t reusable, it’s a way lower carbon footprint and still leads to less pollution overall.

Are you trying to scale back the value of your packaging? If that’s the case, flexible packaging is the more sensible choice.

Once you’ve answered these queries, you ought to be able to come up with a reasonably solid plan concerning which sort of packaging is the best option for you.