Scientists say the world will be warmer by a few degrees by the end of this century. The United Nations (UN) predicts that the human population will rise to nine billion by the year 2050. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, which means nature is not replenishing them as fast as we are consuming them. Unless there is a major technological breakthrough, we are heading into a future where there will be fewer natural resources for each person. Governments, companies, and people are adapting to a future in which natural resources will be precious. This is affecting the way humans do things, including how they package products.

Traditional flour packaging techniques consume a lot of energy and resources. Changing environmental conditions are a potent reason to radically alter the way flour is packaged. A new type of flour packaging, which is less resource hungry and more environment friendly, is required to counter the effects of decreasing resources and increasing concern about the environment.

Although it has been nearly five years since the great financial meltdown, many companies across the United States are still reeling from its aftereffects. They are desperately looking for ways to reduce costs and increase income. Flour companies cannot control the price of grain they process, but there are a few things they can do to reduce costs. Packaging is one of them. Therefore, a new kind of flour packaging is done to reduce packaging costs.

Flour companies no longer have to compulsorily invest in expensive packaging methods when a new generation of packaging materials – less expensive and more environment friendly – is available to them in the form of custom printed stand up bags. Made from several layers of polymer and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved materials, these bags are strong and convenient to package flour.

Less expensive to produce than folded cartons, plastic jars, and other packaging materials, these food pouches save companies money in several other ways. These bags are shipped and stored flat. This reduces transportation and inventory costs. Thousands of these bags can very easily fit inside a truck.

There is yet a third compelling reason in favor of this new type of flour packaging – advertising. Stand up bags are a new generation of packaging materials. They provide a large surface area in the front and back which can be utilized to put ads and product information. The printable area on a stand up pouch is more than the printable area on a glass jar of the same capacity.