They are sturdy and made of high-quality materials, can be customized and effectively protect their contents: Stand-up pouch. These have successfully established themselves as the optimal packaging for a wide variety of food and other products.

This is not least because they safely lock out oxygen and moisture and safely lock in the aroma. Depending on the contents, the question of how best to seal Stand-up pouch can be answered according to need. This is how contemporary and resource-saving packaging works!

Stand-up pouch from foil or kraft paper - a question of content

It is obvious that not every product can be packed in environmentally friendly kraft paper - even the inventor of Stand-up pouch, Louis Doyen, would not have got far with that. After all, in 1963 he was looking for a packaging option for olives that required little material, could be transported upright and in which the olives would stay fresh for as long as possible.

In the 60s, plastic had not yet fallen into such disrepute anyway; on the contrary, the inexpensive and above all flexibly usable material was preferred. This attitude towards it has changed fundamentally. However, the outstanding properties of modern plastics that do not contain plasticizers or similar harmful substances have remained. Ultimately, it always comes down to the question of waste disposal - and how we answer it as a society.

But back to the stand-up pouches or Doypacks: The range of products is extremely wide. You'll find various plastic variants - from transparent to single-color to colorfully printed - as well as Stand-up pouch made of kraft paper. This is tear-resistant and stable, as it consists mainly of long fresh fibers and only a small proportion of the shorter recycled fibers.

Two worlds collide here: on the one hand, paper is to be recycled, on the other hand, packaging is sometimes subject to high demands - and these can only be met with fresh fibers. Kraft paper is available in various natural shades - from white to strong browns. The color spectrum is influenced by the type of wood used and can even flatter the attractiveness of high-quality packaging made of kraft paper.


Doypacks can be used flexibly and offer the advantage of resealability.

Food safe or not - a question of certification

HACCP certification is crucial for the safe packaging of food: the eponymous Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points - a hazard analysis. It addresses the protection of consumer health by investigating and thus eliminating potential hazards and adverse events during food production and packaging.

In the case of Stand-up pouch , this means that not only the quality of the plastics, but also that of the kraft paper and any films used in the composite materials and printing inks are examined. If this certification is available, the packaging materials may be used without hesitation for animal and human foods.


Another way to make the Stand-up pouch interesting as a packaging material is to install so-called transparent windows. Consumers get a glimpse in this way, even though the Stand-up pouch are usually made of non-transparent materials.


The only question here is whether it makes sense to equip a Stand-up pouch made of kraft paper, which can be composted without any problems, with an additional plastic component.

To dispose of the waste properly, these parts would first have to be removed and recycled separately. Hand on heart: How realistic is that? The logical consequence: while plastic bags can easily be equipped with such an important addition from the seller's point of view, it is advisable to do without it in the case of kraft paper bags.


Stand-up pouch lock: There are many possibilities

However, the demands on Stand-up pouch go far beyond size, material and design: Which closures, which can also be closed multiple times if required, are available? Here are a few examples to show you the variety of possibilities:

Screw cap

You probably know these small handy "squeezies" that contain more or less healthy snacks as a small snack. Here you simply unscrew the lid, enjoy the contents and can effortlessly close the package again.

This form of packaging is now used for a wide variety of foods, beverages or detergents - and for good reason: it is lightweight, flexible, resealable and practical to use. In addition, it is a Stand-up pouch, which can be transported standing up with ease.

Many of these packages are perforated at the top edge - have you noticed that? You'll either find a simple perforation or the so-called Euro hole. This is a standardized slit-shaped recess that opens into a hole at the top.
It is not only used for stand-up or flat pouches, but also for blister and other packaging. The reason is plausible, because the comparatively small packages can be presented hanging in the retailer's display in this way. This saves space and creates clarity.


Zipper closure

The terms zipper closure and zipper are often used synonymously. However, it would be more accurate to refer to the variant used for closing stand-up pouches and other packaging as a slide closure: The two interlocking side parts are joined together with the aid of a slider - and can be separated again without any problems.

This closure is offered in plastic, which makes it light and flexible. You have certainly encountered this principle many times during your air travels, when you had to put your cosmetics into a designated bag for storage.

The development of the zipper, which originally worked with metal teeth, dates back to 1851. Elias Howe patented his "Automatic Uninterrupted Closure of Clothes" - but it was not used in practice until 1890. Whitcomb Judson used the principle for his "clamp openers for shoes," which were also patented and were intended to simplify the closing of boots.
But even the presentation at the Chicago World's Fair did not bring the desired breakthrough, so he and his partner Lewis Walker continued to develop the technology and, above all, to construct manufacturing machines. Unfortunately, the completion in 1905 brought just as little success. It took a few more years and further developments before the US Navy started using zippers in weatherproof pilot suits in 1917 - widespread use in the textile sector did not even begin until around 1930.


Tear tab

Stand-up pouch to be opened quickly and without tools and then closed again - these requirements first had to be met. In practice, special tear-off tabs are used for this purpose. In this case, these are notches on the stand-up pouches that are placed on the right or left. You can grip these to exert sufficient pressure and pull on the packaging.

In this way, you remove the upper part of the stand-up pouch and easily access the contents. Then you simply use the pressure closure. This consists of two plastic rails that fit into each other and are attached to the respective sides of the bag. You can close the Stand-up pouch by simply pressing the rails together.


Configure packaging materials: Individual Stand-up pouch - simply close and open

 

Stand-up pouch can be individually designed according to your wishes.

 

The wonderful thing about modern packaging materials is their flexibility: manufacturers and retailers can not only vary the desired items in terms of size, design, material or layout to suit their needs, but also select the optimum closure. Technologies have long since matured to such an extent that packaging manufacturers can perfectly cater to specific wishes.

This opens up unprecedented scope for marketing, but also in terms of sustainability: companies can offer consumers alternatives - and these are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. For example, plastics made from recycled materials are preferred, as is compostable paper packaging.

The core question of proper disposal remains

If it weren't for the problem of disposal: Many consumers rely on labels such as "recyclable" or "compostable" to mean that the packaging will actually be reused or decomposed in the course of natural processes. Unfortunately, this is a fallacy, as it turns out: A significant proportion of plastic waste in Germany is still incinerated or thermally recycled
The demand to increase the use of recy clates is increasingly encountering problems. Numerous plastic packaging materials consist of

composite films, which would have to be separated for purposeful recycling. This process is costly or not feasible at all.

Of course, this also raises the question of cost: if beverage bottles made of recycled plastic are between 50 and 100 percent more expensive to produce, this is counterproductive.

This is the only way to reduce the consumption of new plastics. The system is fundamentally flawed here, because as long as companies have to make a profit from waste, they cannot afford to pay consistent attention to sustainability. Why should they make an effort to conserve resources and avoid waste? There is still a lot to think about here - and, above all, to act.

Conclusion: Stand-up pouch close - no problem!

The Stand-up pouch is as simple as it is ingenious: inventor Louis Doyen simply added a bottom to a bag that folds up like a W when emptied. When filled, this packaging is excellent for transporting or placing while standing upright, and smaller copies can even be hung up thanks to the Euro perforation. In addition, today there are not only Stand-up pouch made of different plastics, but also of sustainable paper types such as kraft paper.

Depending on the processing, this packaging is excellently suited for animal and human foodstuffs. What's more, they are not only easy to open, but also to reseal. Various options are available for this - starting with the twist closure and ending with the zipper closure.

Today, this packaging material has long been established in a wide variety of industries: Not only the small liquid snacks for on the go are securely packaged in this way, but also a wide variety of foodstuffs and luxury foods. For special cases, viewing windows can even be incorporated into the Stand-up pouch . In this way, consumers can see exactly what they are buying or how much of the contents has already been consumed.

Indeed, if the closures provided are used properly, the contents remain well protected from moisture, air and light. This ensures a longer shelf life and full flavor.


You are interested in our printed / unprinted Stand-up pouch? Please contact us for current information. We are looking forward to you!

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