Are you ready to make the switch from rigid to flexible packaging?

According to a recent study by the FPA, a change as simple as switching to flexible packaging can improve product sales, decrease costs and increase a product’s appeal with consumers.  

The "Flexible Packaging Transition Advantages Study" surveyed both brand owners and consumers to measure the impact of making the shift to flexible containers. The results show a substantial trend — lightweight packaging, such as stand-up pouches, can not only improve sales and product interest, it can also decrease the costs of manufacturing, packaging and shipping a product.

Is flexible packaging just a fad? Not according to this study, which found that 83% of brand owners are already using some form of this type of packaging, and most brand owners are looking increase their use of less rigid packaging in the future.

But why are so many companies changing their product packaging to more flexible forms like stand-up pouches? Among brands who have started utilizing pouches and bags for their products, 57% reported that they were able to lower their costs of production, and, on average, they credited the shift to more lightwegiht packaging for this cost decrease.

Additionally, many companies that are switching to flexible forms of packaging are also seeing greater efficiency in shipping and transportation of their products, making the cost-reduction benefits of changing their product packaging even greater.

Besides the potential to lower the costs of production and shipping a product, many companies that have made the switch to flexible containers cited consumer convenience, ability to fit consumer lifestyle trends and a reduction in environmental impact as major reasons to use this type of packaging for their products. Clearly, these companies are seeing the greater ability of flexible pouches to meet consumer needs as one of the many benefits to changing their packaging strategy.

What is the consumer interest in flexible pouches and bags? The majority of consumers polled responded that they would prefer more lightweight packaging to other packaging if the product itself were the same. An even greater number of American consumers reported they believe there are benefits to having food products stored in flexible pouches and barrier bags instead of rigid packaging. Some of the major benefits consumers reported are that pouches are easy to store, easy to open and resealable, making them a highly desirable form of product packaging.

The average consumer reported they are actually willing to pay more for a product in flexible packaging because of its many benefits.

Clearly, the benefits of non-rigid packaging to both brand owners and consumers are much greater than those of traditional, heavier packaging. There’s no better time than now to make transition to flexible containers for your products. Don't be left behind by brands that are already making the profitable decision to switch to more modernm innovative packaging like stand up pouches.

Quick Stats:

• 61% of consumers prefer snacks that are packaged in resealable stand up pouches

• 49% of brand owners switch to flexible pouches due to reduce production costs

• 39% of brands that switched to flexible containers in the last five years saw a significant sales increase

• 49% of brands using lightweight packaging lowered costs in their supply chain and in shipping

• 57% of brands that made the switch lowered their production costs