Beef jerky needs protection from a number of environmental factors like moisture, UV rays, and odor. Such a level of protection cannot be achieved by a common zip lock bag, and has to done only through a stand up bag with multiple layers of barrier films. These barrier films keep the delicate jerky safe and protect it from any external damage.
It is important to keep the beef jerky fresh for a long time. This can be achieved only by removing moisture from the stand up pouch. Some barrier bags are designed with a food grade film that creates vacuum in the pouch by pulling out all air. This, however, distorts the shape of the packaging and is not a good option, as customers prefer to buy foods that are packed attractively.
Some companies tackle this problem by using nitrogen to suck out oxygen from the pouch, and then sealing it. This method requires special industrial machinery, and is therefore pretty expensive.
Another commonly used method to remove oxygen from packaging is to use a desiccator or an oxygen absorber. Oxygen absorbers are the white little packets you find in plastic pouches. They are effective in removing oxygen and retaining the freshness of the jerky while maintaining the shape of the packaging.