If you are reading this, it's likely you are already aware that a foil pouch is an outstanding example of retail packaging that protects and keeps its contents fresher for longer. Perhaps you even use them to promote your brand. If so, you have first-hand experience with the strength, durability, versatility, convenience and value of foil pouches. There is a decision you have to make though:  What material should serve as the barrier for your retail packaging?  Clear film or opaque foil?  Let's compare them both.

Foil pouches are made by laminating multiple layers of specially designed film. If yours is a food, the film will also be food-grade. The barrier that results from the manufacturing process is strong, flexible, and puncture-resistant. Foil pouches will protect your products from vapor, odor, moisture, air, and/or pests, depending on the nature of the product.  If your product degrades due to sunlight exposure, you would, of course, require an opaque rather than transparent film, making foil an appropriate choice.

Foil is also an appropriate choice if your retail product is one that doesn't benefit from being seen, one whose qualities have nothing to do with appearance. For example, the sales of laundry detergent, soap, bath beads, and the like aren't much enhanced by being visible. As a result, a foil film barrier is likely not just appropriate, but preferable. 

Clear structures (transparent) are excellent when the product itself is the star of the show and are also made from film layers laminated together. Food products are certainly packaged effectively in clear food grade film.  Whether the retail packaging is completely clear or has just a clear window, the product can be seen by the consumer. Products that perform quite nicely in this type of packaging are nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, and many snack items.

Any items that need protected from sunlight or any type of UV exposure should avoid using clear structures, however recent advancements in film technology have shown that clear film can have as good as if not better barrier properties as foil. Barrier properties range from oxygen transmission rates (OTR), water vapor rates (WVR), and even strength and puncture among other variables.

Flexible retail packaging ranges from flat bags, stand up pouches, spouted pouches for liquids and coffee packaging with very similar characteristics to stand up bags.

When it comes to marketing your brand, opaque and transparent film both offer several options.:

1. You can affix product labels and/or promotional stickers directly onto the pouch barrier. 
2. Custom printing (in up to 12 colors) applied directly to the film (both clear and foil)
3. A combination of the two
4. If you prefer a foil barrier but would still like the option of making your product visible, you can order inclusion of a clear window in either or both pouch panels.
5. Regardless of whether you choose clear or foil for your retail packaging, know that it will provide you with the following features:

• Convenience:  The right flexible packaging should be easy for the consumer to gain access and then close it when done. 
• Product safety: the layers of barrier film protect and keep the items fresher for longer.
• Increased visibility in the store: a natural benefit is that retailers and consumers love flexible retail packaging and many will buy products based on the type of packaging that is used.
• Enhanced status: flexible retail packaging is recyclable and landfill friendly and companies that promote this have shown increased consumer awareness and sales.

As recently as 5 years ago there were noticeable advantages of foil over clear structures but that gap has closed or even been eliminated.  Further, foil structures and high end clear structures that have similar barrier properties are almost identical in cost.  If your product needs protected from sunlight or in some way doesn’t look “appealing” then choose on opaque structure. If you want your product to be seen on a store shelf, by retailers or consumers, then consider a clear structure.  Request your free samples below and evaluation for yourself.