Materials for packaging

The shape of flexible packaging materials can be changed during filling or use. They are usually produced from paper, plastic film or foil, or aluminium foil or a combination of these materials:

A little over 1/3 of all packaging materials used globally are flexible materials. Their advantage lies in their convenience. They can be made to a variety of different shapes and sizes, they are easy to peel open and can be resealed (where needed), they are light-weight and can be see-through to show the product. They are often the most cost effective packaging solution and are used in sachets, pouches, etc.  The disadvantage of flexible packaging materials is mainly the difficulty to print directly onto the material and the danger that it can be easily pierced or damaged and then no longer provides a barrier. Another disadvantage can be the difficulty to separate and recycle the different layers, causing larger amounts of non-recycable waste.