Just the other day there was an article in Packaging Digest regarding a revolutionary type of package called the Zipbox.  As the article mentioned it is an innovative new packaging format designed to appeal to those people who want the ease of filling into a "box style" while having the convenience of a ziplock top for easy open and easy close.  Made from poly coated paperboard with an attached flexible header the article states that this style allows products that historically use a box with an inner plastic liner to eliminate the liner and this new style of package can hold 40% more product.  What does this have to do with a stand up pouch?  Plenty.

Also known as a stand bag or stand up bag, these flexible pouches historically have been made with a bottom gusset, which allowed the pouch to stand on a store shelf and have a zipper for easy open and close.  Trust me, all is well and good in the stand up pouch world, as these continue to be one of the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry, whether from stock or even custom printed.

The problem came when a product, like dog food, demanded something bigger, and the base of a traditional stand bag while strong enough, just wasn't as stable and could fall over.  In order to make the pouch sturdier it required side gussets to spread the product and weight (like a box does).  Once side gussets were added, having a ziplock closure was extremely difficult.  A ziplock needs two sides of a pouch to join together and having side gussets really made reclosing cumbersome.  Not impossible, but not a great fit either.

Let me introduce the side gusset stand up bag.  A real game changer.  Made from layers of barrier film laminated together, this revolutionary style creates a "box like" pouch, is made with one substrate, meaning it is ALL plastic, not part poly coated box plus a flexible zipper on the top.  Finally, it is made with easy to open and close ziplock closure on the top.  The barrier film keeps the contents fresher for longer, is landfill friendly and recyclable too.  POW!  What a design! 

In coming posts, more on this design, printing options, and more.  Dog food, sugar, cereal, granola...anything traditionally packaged in a box and/or box with a poly liner... say hello to the side gusset stand up bag.  Want to learn more?