What is custom printed Flexible Packaging?

Custom printed flexible packaging refers to the process of designing and producing packaging tailored specifically to a brand's or product's needs.

1. What is Flexible Packaging?

Flexible packaging is versatile, allowing for a wide range of design possibilities, and is commonly used as an alternative to rigid packaging for packaging food, beverages, pet food, cosmetics, household products and much more.
Materials used to form the packaging such as plastic, foil or paper are easily mouldable and can be formed into formats such as stand up pouches with bottom gusset, flat bottom with side gussets, 3 side seal bags, sachets and roll film to store and protect products efficiently.

2. Benefits of Custom Printed Flexible Packaging

Custom printing allows brands to fully personalise the design of the packaging.

• Branding: Adding logos, brand colours, and unique designs that can help improve product visibility on the shelves and align with brand identity.
• Consumer Appeal: Custom designs can enhance the appeal of the product, providing a professional look and communicating value to the consumer.
• Marketing Flexibility: Brands can create packaging for limited editions, seasonal products, or special promotions, easily adapting the design as needed.
• Graphics and Imagery: High-quality images, patterns, and graphics that resonate with the target audience.
• Text: Customisable product descriptions, ingredients, usage instructions, and legal information.

3. Customisation Options

• Size and Shape: Apart from the printed design, packaging can also be customised in format type, size and shape.
• Material: Depending on the product's needs, choose from materials that offer moisture barriers, oxygen barriers and UV protection.
• Finish: Options like matt, gloss, metallic effects, spot varnish or tactile elements such as soft touch finishes and embossing can be selected to enhance the visual appearance and tactile experience.
• Special Features: Include transparent windows to showcase the product, die-cuts for hanging holes or handles, and resealable closures such as zip lock or spouts.

4. Printing Techniques

• Digital Printing: Uses digital printing technology to directly print artwork from a digital file onto the substrate, without the need for physical printing cylinders.

Pros and Cons: Best for short runs, multiple SKUs, variable data printing and projects requiring fast turnaround times with no set up costs, low MOQ’s (1000) but generally higher unit costs.

• Rotogravure Printing: Involves engraving artwork onto printing cylinders which are used to transfer ink onto the substrate.

Pros and Cons: Used for high-volume runs that is more cost-effective for large productions, but incurs initial setup costs, high MOQ’s (10,000) and longer lead times.

5. Applications for Custom Printed Flexible Packaging

Often chosen as a space saving, lightweight, sustainable solution for securely containing a huge range of applications* such as:

• Food Products: Snacks, confectionary, dried fruits, coffee, tea, spices, powders and more.
• Liquids: Beverages, liquid concentrates, gels, creams, soup and stock.
• Pet Food: Treats, dry or wet food, fishing bait and supplements.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: Lotions, creams, bath salts, and hair and beauty products.
• Household Products: Detergents and other consumer goods.

*room temperature applications only.  For hot content applications or packaging that can withstand very high temperatures, retort packaging is required and must be specified.

6. Environmental Considerations

• Sustainable Materials: Many brands opt for eco-friendly materials or recyclable options for their custom printed packaging, to support sustainability goals and to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
• Reduced Waste: Custom printed packaging meets production demands, reducing excess inventory and waste.
• Fewer resources: Less material and fewer resources are used to manufacture flexible packaging compared to rigid packaging.
• Lightweight and compact: Flexible packaging is less costly to transport resulting in producing fewer carbon emissions.

Summary

Custom printed flexible packaging is a tailored approach to packaging that allows brands to create unique, eye-catching designs that meet specific product requirements. By customising every aspect of the packaging, from types such as stand up pouches with bottom gussets or flat bottom gussets and sachets, size and shape, to graphics and finishes, brands can create packaging that not only protects the product but also enhances its market appeal and aligns with brand identity.