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What are the benefits of pouches?

What are the benefits of pouches?

The benefits of pouches

Here’s an overview of the key benefits of pouches (stand-up pouches / flexible packaging), especially relevant for both food and non-food applications:

1. Space & weight efficiency

Pouches are lightweight and take up little space, both in transport and storage.
Less weight = lower shipping costs and reduced CO₂ emissions.

2. Flexibility in design and size

Available in many formats: stand-up, flat-bottom, gusseted, with or without zipper.
Adapt the size and opening to your product (powders, coffee, snacks, non-food, etc.).

3. Consumer-friendly

Reclosable options (zipper or resealable) improve convenience.
Transparent windows show the product inside, building trust at the point of purchase.

4. Product protection

Barrier properties protect against moisture, oxygen, light, or odors.
Extended shelf life without the need for bulky extra packaging.

5. Marketing & branding

Large printable surfaces for eye-catching designs.
Make your brand stand out on store shelves, webshops, or trade fairs.

6. Sustainability

Mono-material and recyclable options support circularity.
Uses less material compared to traditional boxes, bottles, or jars.

7. Cost savings

More cost-effective than rigid packaging.
Efficient in transport: more pouches per pallet, less storage space needed.

How do they compare?

Below you’ll find a decision table that compares pouches with traditional packaging such as cans, jars, cartons, and rigid plastics. The focus is on B2B food and non-food applications, with clear advantages (+) and disadvantages (–).

Feature / Property	Pouch (plastic film)	Can / Metal	Jar / Glass	Box / Cardboard	Rigid Plastic
Weight	+ Very light	– Heavy	– Heavy	+ Light	± Medium
Transport & storage	+ Compact, flexible	– Space-intensive	– Fragile, space-consuming	+ Stackable, light	± Stackable
Product protection	+ Good against moisture, air	+ Excellent for long shelf life	+ Good for shelf life	– Limited barrier	+ Good, not always airtight
Marketing & branding	+ Large print area	– Limited print area	+ Medium	+ Large print area	+ Medium to large
User-friendliness	+ Reusable, light	– Difficult to open/close	+ Reusable, heavy	+ Easy to open	+ Reusable, can be heavy
Sustainability / recycling	+ Mono-materials possible	+ Recyclable metal	+ Recyclable glass	+ Recyclable cardboard	– Often difficult to recycle
Production costs	+ Low in larger volumes	– Expensive	– Expensive	+ Very low	± Medium
Flexibility in shape / size	+ Very flexible	– Rigid shapes	– Rigid shapes	± Limited	– Rigid shapes
Risk of breakage / leakage	± Depends on material	+ Unbreakable	– Breakable	– Can tear	+ Unbreakable
Energy consumption production (raw material)	Low – 1–2 MJ/kg	High – 15–20 MJ/kg	High – 10–15 MJ/kg	Low – 0.5–1 MJ/kg	Medium – 3–5 MJ/kg
Energy consumption production (processing)	Low – 1–2 MJ/kg	High – 5 MJ/kg	High – 5 MJ/kg	Medium – 2–5 MJ/kg	Medium – 2–5 MJ/kg
CO₂ emissions (raw material)	Low – 0.1–0.25 kg CO₂/kg	High – 1.5–2.5 kg CO₂/kg	High – 1–2 kg CO₂/kg	Medium – 0.25–0.75 kg CO₂/kg	Medium – 0.25–0.75 kg CO₂/kg
CO₂ emissions (processing / manufacturing)	Low – 0.1–0.25 kg CO₂/kg	Medium – 0.5 kg CO₂/kg	Medium – 0.5 kg CO₂/kg	Low – 0.1–0.25 kg CO₂/kg	Medium – 0.25–0.75 kg CO₂/kg
Water consumption (raw material)	Low – 0.5–1.5 L/kg	High – 10–20 L/kg	High – 7–15 L/kg	High – 10–20 L/kg	Medium – 2–5 L/kg
Water consumption (processing / manufacturing)	Low – 0.5–1.5 L/kg	High – 5 L/kg	High – 3–5 L/kg	Low – 0.5–3 L/kg	Medium – 3–5 L/kg

1. Raw material production – CO₂, energy, and water needed to produce the base material (PE, PP, PET, glass, metal, cardboard).

2. Manufacturing / processing – CO₂, energy, and water needed to convert the raw material into the final packaging product (pouch, jar, can, carton).

For pouches: raw material = plastic film (PE/PP); processing = cutting, sealing, printing.
For glass and cans: raw material = glass or aluminum; processing = forming jars/cans, possibly coating or printing.
For cardboard: raw material = paper/board; processing = folding and printing boxes.
For rigid plastic: raw material = PE/PET/PP; processing = injection molding or extrusion.

In short:

Pouches score highest on weight, flexibility, transport, marketing, and reusability.
Cans and jars offer strong protection and long shelf life, but are heavy and costly.
Cartons/boxes are cheap and light, but provide limited protection.
Rigid plastics sit somewhere in between, but can be difficult to recycle.
Pouches clearly win when it comes to energy, CO₂, and water efficiency, mainly due to their low weight and reduced material use.
Cans and glass consume a lot of energy and water due to melting, shaping, and processing.
Cardboard is cheap and eco-friendly in production, but less protective.
Rigid plastics are average in terms of energy and water use, and recycling is more challenging compared to mono-materials.

Average energy, CO₂, and water consumption during recycling

Material	Explanation
Pouch (plastic film, mono-PE/PP)	Plastic film requires separation, washing, shredding and extrusion. Mono-materials are easier than multi-layer, but film is light and thin, which means a lot of energy per tonne is needed.
Can / Metal (aluminium, steel)	Metal recycling is energy-intensive, especially melting. Aluminium is highly energy-efficient in recycling compared to primary production, but steel also requires cleaning and sorting.
Jar / Glass	Glass is relatively easy to recycle (washing, melting). Low CO₂ emissions, but melting requires energy. Reuse of jars (deposit/return) strongly reduces impact.
Box / Cardboard	Cardboard recycling requires separation, washing and pulping. Energy use is low, but water use is high due to pulp water and cleaning of ink/contaminants.
Rigid Plastic (PE, PP, PET)	Rigid plastic can be mechanically recycled, but sorting and cleaning require extra energy and water. PET bottles are relatively efficient, PE/PP more difficult due to contamination or additives.

Looking for a quick answer? Check out these FAQs!

Benefits

Why do brands choose stand up pouches like doypacks, flat bottom bags and side gusset bags?

Because stand up pouches are light and compact, you use less material and reduce transport. They offer strong protection and are often reclosable, which helps prevent product loss. You can brand them easily with print, a label or a sticker, plus options like a window or a matte finish, often at a lower cost.

How do pouches save CO2 and costs?

Lightweight materials and compact formats mean less raw material, less energy in production and more pouches per pallet. That reduces fuel per shipment, CO2 emissions and logistics costs. In the warehouse you save space and handling. A zipper helps reduce waste, which saves additional cost and emissions. Prefer mono material, such as mono PE or mono PP, and size the pouch to your product. This lowers grams per unit and emissions per order.

Are stand up pouches suitable for food and non food applications?

Yes. With the right barrier and finish, pouches like doypacks, flat bottom and side gusset bags work for coffee, tea, snacks, nuts, granola, powders and also for non food such as cosmetics, pet food, supplements and parts. Choose the barrier, zipper and optional valve to match your product and industry, and you are set.

Which stand up pouch formats are available?

Doypack stand up, flat bottom and side gusset bags. With or without a reclosable zipper, optionally with a valve for coffee and with a window. Finishes in matte or glossy. Choice of sizes, thicknesses and barrier levels, also as a 100% recyclable mono material option. Available from stock or with custom printing. If you cannot find your product, ask about a custom pouch. We are happy to advise and can send samples if needed.

Are mono pouches really recyclable?

Yes. Mono PE and mono PP fit European sorting and recycling routes. The outcome still depends on the country and collection system. Design for recycling, keep the structure simple and add clear sorting instructions. Dispose of the pouch empty, clean and dry for the best chance of actual recycling.

How do pouches compare to cans, glass or cardboard?

Stand up pouches score on low weight, compact logistics and strong branding with printing, windows and matte or glossy finishes. You get more units per pallet, save transport and often cost. Cans and glass offer very high protection and long shelf life, but are heavy and less efficient for storage and transport. Cardboard offers a paper look, but without an inner layer it provides less barrier. Choose pouches if you want lightweight, efficient and strong branding. Choose cans or glass if you need extreme barrier or heat processes.

Can I personalise stand up pouches?

Yes. You can customise doypacks, flat bottom and side gusset bags with your own print, size and specification. Choose a matte or glossy finish, with or without a window, zipper or valve, and optionally as a 100% recyclable mono material option. We help with artwork specifications, templates and, if needed, a print proof, so your design is technically correct and looks sharp.

Want to know more or have questions? Contact us - we'll be glad to help!

Curious to learn more about pouches?

Feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to help you find the best packaging solution for your product!