Key Factors That Impact Flexible Packaging Production
                     Key Factors That Impact Flexible Packaging Production
The FMCG industry has become highly competitive in the use of flexible packaging for  
products. Consumers can find the same product by different brands in lucrative  
packaging and often make the final buying decision based on the aesthetics of the  
product. So it is necessary for brands, too, to create unique flexible packaging designs  
that attract the right audience, provide efficiency and boost sales. The key is to make  
packaging functional & appealing by factoring in elements like transparency for product 
 display, printability, barrier & heat resistant properties, and re-seal features for reuse.
This can often result in a complex design that is hard to implement in reality.
In this blog post, we’re going to talk about the key factors that you need to take into 
 consideration with flexible packaging.
Achieving Transparency & a Secure Bond
Good transparency makes your product aesthetically appealing and is user 
friendly,
allowing the customers to see what they are buying. Secure bond helps improve the 
 shelf life of products.
These are key to packaging products, especially in the FMCG industry, where a lack of 
 secure bond can lead to spoilage. To achieve this, converters use two or three-
layered  packaging, each for their respective properties.
You can instead use a single flexible packaging material that serves both needs. Mono-  
material packaging promotes sustainability, unlike the two or three-layer structure that is 
 hard to separate and hampers the recycling process.
Barrier & Heat Resistance Properties
The conventional BOPP films do not have heat resistance properties and tend to shrink
during the conversion process. Thus, while choosing your flexible packaging raw  
material, you must take heat resistance property into consideration. Also, it’s essential 
 to check if your barrier film is capable of providing protection against moisture, gases,
chemicals, and other outside elements and increase the shelf life of the packaged 
 product.
Eliminate Blocking
Blocking is a phenomenon where stacked or layered packaging films cling & form a  
block, causing damage or optical impairment during separation. While selecting raw  
materials, consider the blocking factor. Materials that are high blocking pose converting
challenges; they make the manufacturing process complex and majorly impact logistics 
 and shipping. It can also result in production issues and downtime.
However, flexible packaging films are now gaining popularity as they are low blocking. 
 They make the process easier and facilitate storage and shipping.
Converting Compatibility
You must select the lamination material wisely & use the ones that are compatible with 
 your packaging. For instance, often flexible packaging film converters seal PET trays
with traditional lid films using a layer of LDPE. This makes the process complex and 
 requires an additional layer to ensure compatibility.
However, the PET-based heat-seal layers are compatible with rigid PET trays and do 
 not require an additional sealing layer.
Print Compatibility & Quality
Often, certain flexible packaging films lack compatibility with print technologies and/or
result in inferior quality print. No or misprinted packaging goes on to reflect your brand  
and can discourage consumers from buying your product. Thus, print compatibility &  
quality is one of the most important factors to consider while selecting flexible packaging 
 material.
You should make sure that the packaging material is compatible with the print  
technology you use. Also, there are films that support long-lasting print and are friendly  
to customizations in design. This provides you the opportunity to create an aesthetically 
 appealing packaging solution and boost your chances of sales.
Discuss With Your Supplier
Before you make the final decision, you must discuss with your supplier all the details 
to
make sure that the product you choose simplifies & streamlines your converting  
process. Cosmo Films, a global leader in specialty films, has a friendly support team
that will walk you through all the details and answer all your questions about our  
products & services. Its R&D team innovates to provide value to clients by ensuring:
- High-quality packaging to reduce food wastage,
- Sustainability through packaging material rationalization & recyclability,
- And a smooth converting process by providing compatibility with various print & 
 converting technologies.
Cosmo Films’ experts will help you analyze & find out the best packaging solution for 
 your requirement to make sure of a smooth & easy converting process. Click here to 
 connect.