Packaging plays an absolutely crucial role in branding, as well as in protecting, transporting, and using products. If it’s done right, consumers will hardly give it a second thought. The packaging industry is an important one on the global level, and demand for handy single-use formats is still growing. Many people will never have heard the term “stick packs” — also called “stickpacks” or “stick pouch” — before, but they’ll definitely have run into this type of packaging.
Types of Packaging: Stick Packs
What are stick packs?
Stick packs are cylindrical, single-serve, composite-foil packages that are sealed at both ends. While they originally appeared on the market in Japan, this type of package quickly made its way across the globe. This packaging option has become an increasingly popular way to package single-use products since the 1990s.
Stick packs are most commonly used to package medications, dietary supplements, powdered drink mixes, and foods. However, these nifty tube-shaped packages are extremely versatile. Once you know what to look out for, you’ll notice that the packs are used for products ranging from cosmetics and personal care essentials (toothpaste, shampoo, and moisturizer samples, for instance) to glow sticks and drinking straws.
On-The-Go Consumers
The average on-the-go consumer is probably most likely to encounter stick pouches when they grab a quick cup of coffee. Instant coffee mixes designed for single use are often found in stick packs, along with sugar and even powdered milk. Promotional samples, too, are frequently packaged in these pouches.
While all stick packages have a tubular shape, some are more easily recognized as such than others. Stick packs can be used to package disinfectant wipes or small amounts of candy, and they’ll then look more like a square or rectangle to the casual observer.
Stick packs have even successfully been miniaturized for use in lab-on-a-chip systems. In this case, the very same nifty packaging hosts the kinds of chemicals used for important medical tests.
What is the environmental impact of stick packs?
Environmental awareness has grown in recent years, and that means more and more people are turning their attention to the very often rather wasteful packaging that’s so ubiquitous in societies across the world now.
In some cases, packaging that contains plastic is absolutely essential — medications, for instance, may need to be kept both dry and sterile.
Stick packs can be a more environmentally-friendly choice because they’ve been shown to use between 10 and 40 percent less plastic than the square or rectangular alternatives that would otherwise be chosen.
This doesn’t just serve a company’s bottom line during the manufacturing process, it can also prove to be an excellent marketing strategy.
The big advantages
Stick packs have some clear advantages over other types of packaging, and they include:
- Each product is individually protected, remaining dry and hygienic before it is opened.
- Frequently used for the flexible packaging of powdered products. The packs allow consumers to pour the contents out with great precision.
- These packs require less space than alternative packaging
- Less material is required to manufacture.
It is no surprise that the demand keeps rising!
What can Fortress Nutrition LLC do for you?
Rest assured that you’re in good hands with Fortress Nutrition. To learn more about how we tailor our blending, ingredient sourcing, logistics, consumer packaging, and other services to meet customer needs, and to find out how we can partner with you to ensure compliance with new GMO laws, contact us today.