Making a decision about which non-food packaging best suits your needs requires consideration of a number of different factors, some of them more important to consumers than others. Take vitamin and supplement packaging, for example. As industry leaders, we know from experience that consumers care about certain things more than others, things such as strength, convenience, and how well a package preserves the shelf life of its contents.  An additional feature more important to you is whether your vitamin and supplement packaging helps to build your brand. One factor that impacts both your customers and your bottom line is the degree to which your non-food packaging is environmentally responsible. In our view, flexible packaging is the right vitamin and supplement packaging for the environment. 

Before we illustrate why this is so, however, we should probably explain what we mean by "flexible retail packaging".  This category consists of foil, metalized film, or clear plastic packaging and includes stand up pouches, spouted stand up bags for liquids, flat barrier bags known as 3 side seal bags, and flat bottom flexible box bags. 

Okay, now that we've described what packaging we're talking about, we'll show you why it is the right packaging for the environment.  Recyclable?  Sure. But that's not the only reason that a flexible retail packaging solution is eco-friendly. There are several others, and all of them will likely appeal to consumers who consider a company's policies about social issues (such as the environment) when making their purchasing decisions. 

Here's why this non-food packaging is superior:

• The manufacturing process is energy efficient.
• Some styles are made with up to 15 percent less material than most other vitamin and supplement packaging. This fact benefits the environment in several ways:
• Less material means less waste upon disposal. With existing landfills reaching capacity, increasing the need for yet more landfills, every little bit helps. Empty flexible retail packaging usually doesn't take up any more room than a shipping envelope.
• It also means that each package weighs less than other competing types.  As a result, less fuel per unit is required for shipping.

Made by laminating together multiple layers of specially formulated, food grade and FDA-approved film, this packaging is strong, durable, and puncture-resistant. It has the ability to fully protect your product line from vapor, moisture, odor, pests, and (if necessary) UV light or extra oxygen. What makes this environmentally responsible is that each package does what it is supposed to do without the need of any inner liner or outer box, carton, canister, or other container. This translates into eliminating the energy and financial costs normally associated with the production, shipping, storage, and disposal of extra packaging because, of course, there isn't any.

One final note:  Because of its strength, a flexible retail packaging solution for shipping vitamins and supplements is rarely damaged during shipping and handling.  Less damage means fewer returns and fewer returns equals less waste. 

In closing, non-food packaging still must protect the contents and assure that the consumer gets the full effect of what they purchased.  Flexible packaging continues to grow in popularity because it not only looks after what is inside the pouch but looks after our environment as well.