SQF Certification

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SQF Certification

What is SQF Certification

If you're unfamiliar, SQF is a set of food safety and quality recommendations that impact the entire supply chain of food products, including companies that process and pack food products. At this time, SQF code and SQF certification does not include pet food or treat manufacturers, but the SQF system and SQF code does offer safety and quality standard to food packaging companies like CarePac.

In this blog, you'll learn more about this global food safety initiative, the SQF code, and how this certification body aims to reduce food safety risks through its proprietary food safety plan and innovative SQF certification program.

SQF Meaning

What does SQF stand for? It stands for "Safe Quality Food" and it's a global food safety initiative that focuses on, you guessed it, food safety and quality. Regardless of where you are on the food supply chain or who you work for in the food industry, this SQF food safety program will impact you in one way or another. It's a high quality program that is respected by numerous food packaging and producers of food products around the world, and many strive to adhere to SQF code as closely as possible.

About the Safe Quality Food Institute

Often shortened to SQFI, the Safe Quality Food Institute is a division of FMI, and was established to administer the SQF program. Their mission as a certification body is to deliver consistent, globally recognized food safety standards for the entire food industry, regardless of where you fall on the food chain. From verifying the food safety management at retail stores to ensuring good agricultural practices, the principles of SQFI can be applied across all industry sectors.

About FMI

FMI is short for the "Food Marketing Institute" and is an organization that works on behalf of the entire industry to promote a safer, healthier, and more efficient consumer food supply. The Safe Quality Food SQF is a division of the FMI.

How to Get This Food Safety Certification

If you've decided to start your journey towards SQF certification, we would first like to congratulate you on taking an interest in the safe quality food program. This shows your commitment to good manufacturing practices and by implementing food safety management systems you can ensure food safety for your customers.

SQF Certification Steps

To get SQF certified by the SQF system, follow the below steps:

Learn about the food safety standard code

First, you will want to spend plenty of time researching this rigorous food safety code. By studying the SWF code, you'll be prepared for everything this food safety system expects of you. From implementing a food safety management system, to learning more about the certification body, ask plenty of questions and consider meeting with a company that's SQF certified to learn more about their experience and opinion of the food certification process.

Pay special attention to SQF food safety codes, what food manufacturers can expect from the initial certification audit, and what the SQF certification process is like.

Register for SQF certification

Next, you will want to register for certification. This involves contacting an SQF practitioner and letting them know that you're interested in SQF certification. They'll briefly discuss the SQF program and will walk you through the steps of achieving SQF certification.

At this point, you'll want to ask them questions about their internal audits, as preparing for the certification audit is step 3.

Prepare for your SQF audit

In order to be SQF certified, you will need to pass the the SQF audit. Many food companies struggle with meeting the SQF code requirements, which is why learning about the SQF programs, meeting with other certified companies, and potentially getting your hands on an audit report is so important.

Before your SQAF audit, you should have a food safety program implemented at your organization, be familiar with SQF code, ensure the proper training of your staff, and make sure you meet all regulatory requirements for foodservice providers worldwide.

Additionally, you should show a commitment to continuous improvement and adherence to all globally recognized standards.

Schedule and conduct the SQF audit

Once you feel confident that your organization's food safety programs and food safety management system is up to snuff, you'll want to schedule your SQF audit with a qualified SQF practitioner. They'll review your quality management system, food manufacturing processes, and food safety standards to ensure they comply with what's required by the SQF food safety program.

If you don't earn your SQAF certification the first time around, the SQF practitioner will provide valuable feedback so you can make improvements and become SQF certified down the line.

Renew your certification from this global food safety initiative

Food safety is a serious concern, and the SQF program is well aware that getting an initial certification is not enough. The certification program requires frequent certification re-audits, as the SQF assessment database is frequently updated. SQF certification is valid for one year. To ensure your SQF certification remains active, please remember to re-register in the SQF Assessment Database and schedule your SQF audits every year.

If you're hoping to earn SQF certification once and hope to never deal with the SQF institute again, this is not how the SQF program works. The SQF program is a certification program that focuses on a lifelong commitment to "safe quality foods", so annual SQF food safety and SQF certification audits are required.

renew-your-certification-from-global-food-safety-initiative

Food Safety Code: Manufacture
of Food Packaging

At CarePac, our SQF certification goal is to earn and maintain our SQF certification on an annual basis. The food safety and quality standards we're required to meet focus on food packaging companies, specifically. We take SQF certification seriously and are committed to adhering to food safety and quality guidelines on an ongoing basis. Whether through a prerequisite program, a pre assessment audit, or any other type of inspection, we are dedicated to the quality food SQF program.

In addition to food safety, we are also committed to the environment. To learn more about our sustainable packaging options, click here.

SQF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are a few FAQs about the SQF certification:

How much does it cost to get SQF certified?

Typically, the audit alone will cost between $7,300 and $9,000, before travel fees.

What are the 3 principles of the SQF certification?

The three principles of SQF certification are

To produce safe, quality food products,
Comply with various SQF code requirements, and
Comply with all relevant food legislation.

How long does it take to get SQF certified?

The audit itself only takes a few days, but preparing for the audit can take weeks, months, or years.

Who needs SQF certification?

Since it is a voluntary certification, nobody technically "needs" the certification. But, if you're a food manufacturer, retailer, or food packaging provider, becoming SQF certified will reduce the risk of a supply chain issue that could result in a recall, litigation, or other financial impacts.

What is the highest SQF certification?

If you want to ensure your products meet the highest possible standards, aim for SQF Level 3 certification.

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Sachet vs Stick Pack Packaging

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Sachet vs Stick Pack Packaging

Sachet vs Stick Pack Packaging

Despite the rhetoric against single serve packaging, there are actually quite a few advantages of using quality single-use packaging, like stick packs and sachets, to package your products. In this blog, we'll start by discussing the difference between stick packs and sachets, before diving into the benefits of incorporating them into your production process and using them for your own single serve packaging.

Whether you're packaging sugar, pharmaceuticals, single servings of coffee, quality nutritional powders, or some other kind of sugar or powder products, understanding the difference between these flexible packaging options is key. Continue reading to lear more about sachets, stick packaging, and how they can be used with a vertical form fill seal packaging machine.

What is a stick pack?

Stick packs, also called stick packages, are the most common single dose packaging on the market. Usually used for sports drink powders or sugar, instant coffee, and other powdered products, stick pack packaging is characterized by its small size and narrow shape. These single dose packages are suitable for any kind of powder, and usually aren't used to package liquids, gels, or semi-solids. Stick packages are easily transportable and are loved by manufacturers for their convenience.

Stick packs are also a great marketing tool. Want to promote your nutritional supplements? Want to give your consumers a convenient way to enjoy your sugar product, while also displaying your brand name (in print!) to their friends? This is where stick pouches really come in handy. Yes, they keep your product fresh, but they're also a great solution for advertising in a very affordable way. Simply print your name and information directly onto the sachet, and voila!

What is a sachet?

Sachet packages, on the other hand, are typically reserved for liquid products, dairy products, or certain kinds of food products, like apple sauce or baby food. Sachet packages are typically sealed on three or four sides and its four side sealing method means it has a very strong seal that won't break during transport or storage.

Regardless of your specific needs, both packaging options are great for consumers with busy lives. Their production speed is quick, and they require minimal packaging equipment.

Sealing stick packaging & sachet packaging

Both of these types of plastic packaging can be used with standard packaging equipment and machines. Which type of packaging equipment you use depends on the type of single use packaging you're working with. For example, stick packs are sealed using free flowing stick pack machines while sachets are used with sachet packaging machines.

Both packaging machines use a vertical form fill seal, and both types of packs are easily sealed, even at high speeds. If you already have access to vertical packaging machines, stick or sachet packaging is a great choice for you.

Benefits of sachet packaging and stick packs

Whether you opt for sachets or stick packaging, or are packaging powder, food, or pharmaceutical products, you can't go wrong with this type of packaging. Here are a few of the primary benefits of using sachet packaging or a stick pack:

A stick pack is perfect for consumers with an on-the-go lifestyle
Easy for pharmaceutical industry to dose medicines and powder supplements
Each stick pack or sachet requires minimal equipment and machines to fill
Can be used for liquids, powders, and food products
Can work with a small packaging equipment budget
Has the convenience of low weight, for easy storage and transport
Each package is high quality and offers tons of convenience for consumers
Do not require volumetric fillers, auger fillers, or liquid fillers
Each sachet will keep dusty products from getting even dustier during transport and storage

Get Started Today

CarePac truly takes the guesswork out of designing and printing the perfect stick pack or sachet packaging for your powdered or liquid products. No matter your needs, we are committed to providing you with the best solution.
Get a Quick Quote to learn more about our sachet and stick pack packaging solutions today!

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Flexible Barrier Packaging

What is ePAC Flexible Packaging?

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ePAC Flexible Packaging?

What is ePAC Flexible Packaging?

ePAC is a multinational corporation that manufactures flexible packaging for consumers in a variety of industries. Although ePac is a leader in the flexible packaging industry, their sheer size (and profit) mean that customers are just a number to them. Additionally, they were only established in 2016, making them a relative newcomer to the flexible packaging space.

Similar companies have been around for decades, and have spent that time perfecting their flexible packaging solutions. From nailing down the right flexible packaging materials to use for a certain product to bringing sustainable options (like post consumer recycled materials) to the market, it's evident that ePac's competitors have the experience and passion that's unmatched by ePac.

In this blog, you'll learn more about ePac flexibles alternatives and what other CPG companies are bringing to the table with their packaging products.

ePac Flexible Packaging Alternatives

While there are plenty of alternatives to ePac flexible packaging, for the sake of this blog post we'll focus on two of ePacs main competitors: ABC Packaging Direct and CarePac.

ABC Packaging Direct

ABC Packaging Direct was founded in 2017 and strives to be a complete, end-to-end strategic partner for companies of all sizes. Regardless of how much funding ePac has, you can't fake the relationship-first approach that you'll find with ABC Packaging Direct. Their custom flexible packaging options include a variety of bags and lay flat pouches with high barrier structures, meaning their pouches are manufactured with preserving product freshness in mind.

Currently, ABC Packaging Direct works primarily in the following industries: nutraceuticals, food, pet supply, coffee and tea, pharmaceuticals, and liquids/spouted products (alcohol, dressing, sauces, etc.)

Feedback from their customers is generally positive, and the company works with brands such as Heinz, Kraft, McCormick, and Mars. They minimum production runs start at 5,000 units.

abc-packaging-direct-epac-flexible-packaging

CarePac

What can we say about ourselves that you don't already know? If you're a returning customer, you already know that our flexible packaging simply can't be beat. We offer complete customization, from the look and feel of our lay flat pouches to the material used. We work with brands of all sizes, and are proud to offer three different printing options: digital, flexographic, and rotogravure. We're one of the few CPG companies to offer this level of printing customization.

Simply put, we offer more configurations than our competitors, and always put our customers over profit. That's the CarePac guarantee.

The Need for Custom Pouch Packaging

Unless you've been living under a rock, it's clear to see that there's a growing demand for personalized and custom packaging solutions. Flexible packaging is the first thing consumers see when they pick up a food product or package in the store, and leverage flexible barrier packaging as a tool for branding and product differentiation has never been more important.

Of course, finding the right flexible packaging company to work with can be challenging, and nobody understands that challenge more than we do. In the next section you'll learn more about our digital printing process, our company ethos, and how we stand apart from our flexible packaging competitors.

CarePac: The Preferred Vendor for Custom Pouch Packaging

If you're on the hunt for an alternative to ePac flexible packaging, you've come to the right place. Here are just a few ways our company blows our competitors out of the water:

Decades of experience- ePac and ABC Packaging Direct COMBINED have less operating experience than our company does on its own. Flexible packaging is our whole world, and we thrive in this environment.
Customization options & flexibility- We offer full customization, from the material used to the size and shape of your pouches. No customization request is too big, and our helpful CareDesign team is ready to help you design your bags. That's one, of the many, benefits of working with CarePac.
Testimonials from happy customers- Our customers are happy with our bags, and many come back for repeat purchase. Reach out and we'll be more than happy to share testimonials from consumers who are pleased with the durability and quality of our roll stock bags.
Competitive pricing & value-added services- Our pricing is ultra-competitive, whether you're packaging food or wholesale products. Shipping is quick, and we even offer low MOQs.
Made in America- Last but not least, one of our primary differentiating factors is that our products are all made in America. We focus on quality, and the highest quality products are made in the U.S.A. Unlike ePac, who manufacturers their products in various locations (including Africa and Asia), all our products are made right here.

Interested in experiencing the CarePac difference for yourself? Get a Quick Quote now to start the ordering process, and to experience for yourself how we're a cut above our competitors.

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Sustainable Packaging

How Does Composting Work?

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How does composting work?

Composting is a natural process of recycling organic waste, such as food scraps and other organic matter like wood chips, grass clippings, and coffee grounds, into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. This finished compost can then be used in backyard gardens instead of fresh manure, synthetic fertilizers, or commercial fertilizer to encourage plant growth.

If you've been wondering "how does composting work," you're in luck. In this blog, we'll discuss the composting process in greater detail, including the benefits of the compost process and some basic home composting tips to help you get started.

Benefits of the composting process

There are many benefits to backyard composting. In fact, there are very few disadvantages to turning food waste and other organic materials into a nitrogen-rich material that can be used to fertilize the garden soil of your outdoor and indoor plants. As such, this blog will focus exclusively on the benefits of the backyard composting process, including how it helps reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduces food waste

If you have a compost bin at home, you already know how worm composting reduces organic waste, including garden waste. Food scraps, including coffee grounds, tea bags, and fruit and vegetable scraps, go directly into your compost bin instead of the trash can. You can even put yard trimmings, shredded paper, and paper filters (like the ones you use for coffee) into your home compost bin.

If you're concerned about your environmental impact, using what's in your compost bin as a soil amendment is a great way to reduce greenhouse emissions of food scrap waste. Why not turn food scraps into a valuable fertilizer?

reduces food waste How Does Composting Work?

cut excess nitrogen from landfills How Does Composting Work?

Cuts excess nitrogen from landfills

When organic matter goes through the decomposition process in a landfill, it goes through aerobic decomposition. This means that it's broken down by microorganisms that require oxygen. If there's not enough air, the biological process simply won't happen.

These microorganisms give off something called "biogas", a natural by-product of the decomposition process, which is roughly 50% carbon dioxide. As you can see, transforming kitchen waste into compost materials via compost bins is a better alternative than sending food scraps, yard waste and grass clippings to landfills.

Conserves water

Did you know that when you add organic material, like cat litter and kitchen scraps, to fresh soil it actually changes the soil structure and increases its ability to retain water? Just a 1% increase in organic materials in soil means it can hold 20,000 more gallons of water per acre. While this might not seem like a lot for those who use a home compost bin or participate in worm composting, imagine if every household across America used compost bins to turn fresh grass clippings and pet waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment for their potting soil? It adds up!

Types of home composting

There are two main types of backyard composting: passive (cold) composting and active (hot) composting. We'll discuss each a bit more before providing some tips on how to turn food scraps, kitchen waste, a wrung out sponge, and yard waste and pet waste into nitrogen-rich materials with a home compost bin.

Passive compost pile

Passive composting breaks down organic matter VERY SLOWLY, but it also requires very little effort. During this type of composting, you let Mother Nature do her job through natural decomposition. Vegetable scraps, wood chips, and yard waste will all decompose naturally...at some point. This is passive composting. Simply sit back, relax, and let nature do its thing.

A high contrast, dark typography integrates a simple sans-serif with classic and historically influenced italic serif font. Which gives their packaging a feeling of both old-world familiarity and modern elegance.

If you’re looking to showcase your product with a contemporary and clean design, this packaging from Sandro Desii can serve as a tasteful inspiration.

Active compost bin

Hot composting, albeit faster, is also a much more involved process. This method requires you to keep carbon and nitrogen levels at the right ratio. If you've ever seen someone with a garden fork taking grass clippings and food scraps from plastic storage bins or compost tumblers and incorporating it into their existing composting material, they are taking part in active composting.

The resulting carbon rich material is the same, it just happens at a much quicker rate.

active compost pile How Does Composting Work?

Composting at home: Tips and advice

If you're interested in turning your food scraps and yard trimmings into healthy soil, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Contrary to popular belief, the food scraps will not attract pests or fruit flies - as long as you use the appropriate materials to collect food scraps and incorporate them into the soil.
The finished compost materials won't trigger invasive weeds to grow, at least not at a higher rate than what you may currently be experiencing.
You'll need to maintain moisture, so make sure you're adding a mix of "wet" kitchen scraps in addition to woody materials and yard trimmings.
You can use an open compost pile, a closed compost pile, or you can participate in trench composting. You can even compost on cinder blocks. Each has its pros and cons, so research each one before you select one for your own waste management needs.
The resulting nitrogen rich materials can be used to fertilize a variety of things, including your front lawn or fruit and vegetable garden.

As you can see, there are several benefits to composting. Your commitment to the environment shouldn't end with composting, either. If you're concerned about the environment, you should align yourself with brands that are eco-friendly and environmentally-conscious (like us!)

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The Carepac Difference

You Only Get One Chance to Make a Good First Impression

We Offer the Best Quality AND Price

We know you’re passionate about your products. That’s why it’s important to choose the right packaging, but not on price alone.

If you simply go the cheapest route, it might just cost you the price of your brand's reputation. We all know you get what you pay for, and quite often those overseas “affordable” options are riddled with issues.

This is what we hear from our customers that went that route:

Customers complains The Carepac Difference

"The bags don’t seal correctly."
"The labels are poorly printed."
"The quality is terrible and the bag rips easily."

And the worst part is that they are stuck with a container load of bad packaging because they were forced to order a huge quantity to get the best price. But that's STILL not the worst of it.

Packaging sets the tone for products and might be the first physical contact you make with customers.

So if you’re going to make a good impression, you need solid packaging, with a fast turnaround time—and, if possible, a great price.

Carepac adventages The Carepac Difference

That’s why we’ve got a deal our competitors can’t beat: we match any competitor’s price within 5%. Plus, we have legendary customer service to keep your business rolling, and we’re located right here in the U.S.A.—so you don’t have to worry about nightmare overseas delays. After partnering with us, you’ll never go back to those cheap knock-offs that left you holding the bag.

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Free Packaging Consultation

Free consultation 1 The Carepac Difference

If you’re thinking about packaging for your product, you’re probably ready to gather as much information as possible. That’s why we’re now offering FREE Packaging Consultations.

During your call, our team members will provide clarity on:

- Best materials for your packaging

- Sizing and features

- Pricing ideas

- Lead-time options

Design services

Not only will you walk away with an action plan for your packaging, but you can explore if CarePac is a good fit for your products.

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P.S. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to add Carepac to your address book so you don’t miss out on exclusive updates, promotions, or exciting new features.

Carepac production The Carepac Difference

What Others Are Saying...

"The bags are terrific! We were hand-labeling for years and it was time to take it to the next level with professionally printed pouches. We had our design in place and knew our size. With that in hand, the Carepac team took over with great pricing and communication from start to finish. I’m delighted with the finished bags and they’re helping us sell more product."

—Jeff Ozark, Funky Fido Dog Treats

5% Price Match Guarantee!

Your first step is to reach out to Carepac for a wealth of information on every aspect of packaging, for your free estimate, and for consultation with our specialists on all phases of producing the right packaging for your product—and getting it to you when you need it.

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And be sure to check back here regularly for information, insights, and updates on these and many more issues.

For a quick daily "hello" and update, follow us on Twitter for new offers, reports on new developments in the field, and tip about conditions affecting the challenges we both face.

Case Studies

The Recipe for Sweet Success

The Journey of JWalker, Kyri's, and CarePac to being featured on Oprah's List

We welcome you to this month’s edition newsletter, highlighting inspirational stories and successful strategies in marketing and design. We are thrilled to present our special feature on Jason Walker, the founder of Jwalker Marketing agency. Come aboard as we dive into the agency’s story and their special method for crafting brand personas, and team up with CarePac in getting Kyri’s cookies where we want them – on Oprah’s list of favourite stuff!

In an exciting interview with Jason Walker, the mastermind of Jwalker Marketing Agency, we reveal an amazing story of collaboration that resulted in Oprah's list for Kyrie Cookies. According to Jason, the collaboration commenced after he needed top-of-the-range packaging depicting the luxurious nature of Kyrie Cookies. While CarePac acted as his agent in this venture, Jason would never have come up with the organization's name had it not been for a quick Google search. In particular, the ensuing CarePac was to design packaging that would ensure the protection of Kyrie Cookies and reflect its brand's magnificence. Jason said that CarePac had not just met the challenge but had surpassed it and, as such, is the preferred packaging provider for Kyrie Cookies.

Jawlker Media The Recipe for Sweet Success

When asked about the contribution of Jwalker Marketing Agency in running Kyrie Cookies to Oprah's list, Jason said that the agency played an important role in strategic marketing by positioning Kyrie Cookies as a luxury brand. It was through a joint venture between Jwalker Marketing Agency and CarePac that we landed on Oprah's list.

Jason Walker remembers that the founder of Kyri's Kookies found his agency after doing a simple Google search; this is how Kyri Cookie got associated with Jwalker Marketing Agency. In this first link, she spoke about her dream of establishing a giving, grateful, and generous brand. Kyri's Kookies wanted to be the destination of choice in luxury hospitality, private aviation, and the corporate world. The brand's ambitious scale is realized in the founder's vision to have a successful product and a dedicated store for production and retail.

Jason stressed the value of spending time with the client in developing a unique voice for their brand in marketing strategy. He gains these insights by asking questions and developing the perspective of his clients through listening. The objective is to ensure the ideal customer can easily identify and understand their brand's value proposition. Jason, on the other hand, reflected on the value of a brand beyond the logo, where he emphasized that a brand's value lies within how its ideal target audience perceives it and those of direct competitors or even of an industry.

Jason claimed that CarePac's supplies and marketing techniques turn a brand from just a logo into cultural power, influencing consumer preferences and spending initiatives. By proper approach, a brand grows into more than an image; it becomes a way of life, a mindset, and a stimulator in the market.

Packaging Design

Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration

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Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration

Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration (w/ Free Printable Templates)

Think of a few of your favorite brands.

Is their product packaging bright and cheerful, minimalist and sophisticated, dark and elegant, or something else entirely?

Many of us simply “choose” a product on autopilot. We seldom stop to consider why we picked up that specific product off the shelf. This is the power of good branding!

The design of your pouch packaging is the first interaction you’ll have with a potential customer.

What kind of impression do you want to make? How will your branding communicate the values of your business and the quality of your product?

These are important questions to ask yourself when thinking about design elements of your pouch packaging. Your packaging is more than just a way to seal your product. Compelling packaging is a visual canvas that can help to differentiate your product from competitors and allow you to stake a unique identity in the market. Through your design, you can communicate specific emotions, desires, and values to your customers. And thoughtful branding does this all at a subliminal level.

Eye-catching graphics, carefully chosen typography, and unified color schemes, can also significantly influence purchasing decisions and help your product stand off the shelf.

Compelling branding gives your product longevity; reeling in new customers with your design, and turning them into loyal, long-term brand advocates through your product quality and values.

But it’s not just as easy as slapping a logo and some colors together and calling it a day…

With an endless combination of colors, fonts, and design styles to choose from, creating a compelling and unified visual brand can feel intimidating. Not all of us have the time or energy to learn what feels like an entirely new language.

Keeping this in mind, we’ve highlighted some unique and varied brand identities below to help give you some inspiration and useful tips for your pouch packaging.

Better Coffee Co: Bold Coffee Branding

Better Coffee Co chose a playful and bold design that pays homage to the groovy typefaces of 60’s counterculture. The packaging gives their product both a casual and refined feel. A light airy pink and blue creates bold juxtaposition and contrast, and reflects their brand’s slogan “no weak beans, only big, bad, and bold”.

Their design also is influenced by the popular “Corporate Memphis' ' branding style; which emphasizes bold and cheerful color palettes, exaggerated shapes, and a playful minimalism. It’s familiar yet also refreshing and new. This gives their packaging a sense of easiness and comfort, while retaining a distinct and original feel.

Roastworks: Elegant And Luxurious Coffee Packaging

In contrast, Roastworks Coffee Co chose an elegant luxury feel for their coffee packaging. The black bag, gold serif lettering, and a deep mahogany colored sleeve take inspiration from the timeless styles of other luxury brands, such as Tom Ford and classic British car manufacturer Bentley. This combination contributes to a sense of exclusivity and refinement; this is coffee for people who care about good coffee.

The subtle embossed details on the raised serif font logo and sleeve draws in the customer's eyes and speaks to the importance of craftsmanship of their product. With the bright gold color helping the product to stand out on store shelves, Roastworks shows how classic elegance and attention to detail create a distinct first impression.

Portland Pet Food: Straightforward Pet Treat Branding

Portland Pet Food shows how an uncomplicated branding style can still stand out.

Compared to the often chaotic and crowded packaging designs of large name brand pet treats, Portland Pet Food emphasizes simplicity. By using negative space and a large confident font styling and pairings, their dog treat branding gives an impression of homemade quality that speaks for itself. By including a plastic window, trust is also built with consumers who aren’t looking for highly processed and low-quality products.

This classic paper pouch design emphasizes a commitment to the natural products they use in their treats, and pairs well with their slogan, “Crafted by humans, loved by dogs.”

If you’re looking for a simple and cost effective branding style, consider taking inspiration from Portland Pet Treats

pet treat branding Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration

Sandro Desii: Classic and Refined Packaging

Taking inspiration from the symmetry and expertly crafted simplicity of their product, Sandro Desii chose an elegant and modern packaging design with geometric shapes inspired by their pasta. The circular patterns do more than provide texture to their packaging, it also frames and centers the eye on the product window and description.

If you’re looking to showcase your product with a contemporary and clean design, this packaging from Sandro Desii can serve as a tasteful inspiration.

Macaroots: Simple Earthy Pouch Packaging

When you’re hungry for a snack, you often grab the first thing that catches your eye.

With this in mind, Macaroots created a fun and casual pouch packaging design that stands off the shelf.

The simple and warm palette connects the primary ingredient and flavor of each snack to the packaging color. And rather than go with bright and loud color tones, Macaroots chose an earthy and retro feel that speaks to their use of natural ingredients and health focused convenience.

The bold white typography also helps the product catch consumer attention, speaking to the unique aspect of the product itself. These aren’t chips, bars, or granola snacks; they’re bites and they have one primary ingredient.

By choosing a darker, complimentary shade for the product description copy, the consumer's eyes are drawn immediately to the primary text. This gives the illusion of minimalism from afar, while still providing the detailed product descriptions that health conscious consumers want.

earthy pouch packging Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration

Haven’s Kitchen: Stylish Clear Pouch Packaging Design

With their clear packaging pouch design, Haven Kitchens takes you as close as they can to their sauces without putting it directly on your plate.

As a reflection of their detail to quality and freshness of ingredients in its sauces and herb blends, they opted for a unique and minimalist see through pouch packaging option. Approachable, distinct, and captivating to the senses, the rich colors of their sauces speak through the monochromatic black and white design. While other brands hide their sauces, Haven Kitchens puts them right in front of the consumer, letting their product speak for itself.

By proudly displaying the product, they also minimized the need for complex branding and lettering design. A simple three-tiered sans-serif primary typography moves the eyes down the packaging, where specific instructions are subtly placed between. The result is a contemporary design that speaks to the foodie who doesn’t feel like whipping up an extra sauce for dinner.

clear packaging design pouches Pouch Packaging Design & Inspiration

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Sustainable Packaging

Biodegradable vs Compostable

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Biodegradable vs Compostable

Biodegradable vs Compostable: The Main Differences

The terms "biodegradable" and "compostable" are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean two completely different things! In short, all compostable products are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable products are compostable.

In this blog, we'll explain what the terms biodegradable and compostable mean so you can choose between a biodegradable product, compostable plastics, or similar organic materials. With either choice, you can avoid toxic waste in landfills and reduce the accumulation of plastic products in the oceans. Leave toxic waste behind!

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What are Compostable Materials?

Compostable materials are any materials that can disintegrate into non-toxic, natural elements. Since compostable products break down into natural elements via a composting process, they cause no harm to the environment.

When it comes to biodegradable vs compostable materials, we'll explain both below so you have more context, in addition to the compostable definition and what the term biodegradable means.

Advantages of Compostable Products

The primary benefit of compostable plastics is its environmental benefits, which can also improve consumer perception of your brand. Since compostable items break down naturally, they don't contribute to fossil fuels, carbon dioxide, or other negative biological processes. Simply put, getting on board with the "zero waste" ethos by using compostable products will keep your customers happy.

If the compostable items can be composted in a home compost pile, this is an added benefit. This way, users can compost their items in a compost bin or home compost environment.

Disadvantages of Compostable Products

Of course, there are some disadvantages to everything, including using a compostable product. First, compostable plastics aren't as strong as other plastics. They also have a lower barrier to oxygen and moisture, which means they aren't the best option for all products.

Finally, some compostable bags can only be composted in an industrial composting facility. Unfortunately, not every city has access to industrial composting facilities, which can make recycling compostable packaging difficult for the end user.

If you're using commercially compostable plastic, you'll want to include special messaging on your compostable goods about how to find commercial composters or an industrial facility (in addition to pointing out the compostable waste must be free from inorganic compounds and food scraps!)

What are Compostable Materials?

When it comes to biodegradable vs compostable materials, we'll explain both below so you have more context, in addition to the compostable definition and what the term biodegradable means.

What are Biodegradable Materials?

Biodegradable products do not use toxic chemicals. When compared to regular plastic, they will degrade in a more timely manner (without requiring a compost bin) and won't leave behind any toxic residue. They do not need to be recycled in a home or industrial composting environment.

Since biodegradable bags are made from organic materials, they consume less energy during manufacture, especially when compared to petroleum-based plastic.

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Disadvantages of Biodegradable Material

Unlike compostable materials, using a biodegradable material for biodegradable plastic bags requires more crops and croplands to produce biodegradable products. Additionally, they cannot decompose in the ocean because the water is too cold. This can leave toxic residue behind in the oceans, impacting our sea life. naturally occurring microorganisms, and other organic matter.

Thankfully, this can be avoided by following best practices for customary disposal.

Biodegradable vs Compostable: Which is Better?

Both biodegradable and compostable plastics (made from polylactic acid or bags made from other compostable materials) are better than standard plastic materials made from polyethylene.

They both reduce organic waste and only one requires using industrial aerobic composting facilities. Whether you choose compostable packaging, oxo-biodegradable products, or packaging made from another type of organic matter, both remove plastic waste from the landfills.

Both biodegradable and compostable products result in recycling organic waste, which is a win for our environment.

Biodegradable and compostable plastic FAQs

As a leader in the biodegradable, compostable, and organic packaging industry, we get a lot of questions about compostable and biodegradable materials. Here are a few of the most common.

Can biodegradable items be composted?

No, not every biodegradable product is compostable. The terms biodegradable and compostable are list nesting cups. All compostable bags are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable bags are compostable. Compostable products biodegrade in a predetermined amount of time, based on a testing standard, while biodegradable bags have no set timeline for biodegrading.

Do compostable items break down in landfills?

It's not clear, they should if it is exposed to the right mix of moisture, oxygen, and bacteria.

Is bamboo biodegradable or compostable?

Since bamboo is a natural element, it's biodegradable. It is also compostable, though, and will break down within 2-6 months, depending on the material and composting method.

Purchase Compostable and Biodegradable Packaging from CarePac

Whether you choose biodegradable or materials that can be turned into usable compost, we're here to help. We have been manufacturing packaging made from compostable and biodegradable materials for years, and are ready to help you in any way we can. Connect with us today to discuss all things biodegradable, or get a Quick Quote to get your project started.

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