Did you know that there are many advantages of plastic bags for packaging? We’re here to give you the inside scoop!

5 Advantages of Plastic Bags

Discover five of the best advantages of plastic bags and why they might be the right choice for your company.

1. Plastic Bags Are Thin and Lightweight

One of the main advantages of plastic bag packaging is that the material is quite thin, which means they take up minimal storage space. Since they are so thin and extremely lightweight, plastic bags are easy to transport, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint during transportation. 

2. Plastic Bags Are Flexible and Adaptable

Since plastic bags are flexible in nature, they are a very adaptable form of packaging. This allows manufacturers to easily customize the size, shape, and style to fit each customer’s specific needs. 

Here at A-Pac Manufacturing, we’re proud to produce top-notch custom-made plastic bags. We have no minimum order quantity and offer a quick turnaround time. 

3. Plastic Bag Packaging is Strong and Durable

Plastic bag packaging is strong and resistant to external influences, so you can be sure that your product is protected at all times. When you use plastic packaging, you’ll avoid losses due to faulty packaging and always ensure your brand remains consistent and offers successful delivery. Plus, you’ll save money when you’re not having to replace damaged goods!

When we make our bags here at A-Pac Manufacturing, you can specify the strength you desire for your bags. If your product is sharp or bulky, you might want to opt for a thicker bag for additional protection. 

4. Plastic Bags Are a Cost-Effective Solution

When it comes to cost-effective packaging options, plastic bags are one of the best options on the market. Compared to paper bags, plastic bags will win every time when it comes to price comparison. For example, a standard plastic grocery bag costs about a penny to produce and paper bags cost 4 cents to 5 cents to produce. 

5. Plastic Bags Are More Environmentally Friendly Than You Might Think

When people think of plastic, their mind often immediately thinks of waste or trash. However, plastic packaging bags can be more environmentally friendly than you might think. 

While the vast majority of community recycling centers do not accept plastic bags in curbside recycling bins, a great alternative to this is recycling programs facilitated by local grocery stores. Recycle bins are offered near entrances so customers can recycle plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, and more. 

Another way that plastic bags are more sustainable is, that they require less energy to produce compared to other materials, such as paper. According to a study conducted by United States EPA, “Plastic bags use 40% less energy to produce and generate 80% less solid waste than paper. Also, a pound of plastic takes 91% less energy to recycle as compared to a pound of paper.”

If you’re interested in more eco-friendly packaging initiatives, reach out to A-Pac Manufacturing to learn more or request a quote for our 20% plant-based material packaging. 

Get the High-Quality Plastic Bags You Need

If plastic bags are the right solution for your packaging needs, it’s time you get in touch with A-Pac Manufacturing. We offer bags in a wide range of standard and custom sizes. We also provide some of the shortest lead times in the industry, at no minimum order quantity. Give us a call for more information today! 

Here’s everything you need to know about wicketed bags so you can make an informed decision.

Pros of Using Wicketed Poly Bags

Wicketed poly bags provide a number of benefits to businesses and their customers. The most important is their ease of use. Customers can easily open and close these bags, which means they are also easy to pack. This leads to faster service times and lower costs for your business.

Wicketed bags also boost productivity by making it easier for employees to package products quickly and efficiently, leading to increased sales at the cash register and speed on the production line.

You can customize wicketed poly bags in any way you want—choose from a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes, and materials that best match your brand image or product packaging needs. This allows your company to turn a mundane everyday object into a powerful advertising tool.

Cons of Using Wicketed Poly Bags

Despite the many benefits of using wicketed poly bags, they do have some downsides. 

Wicketed poly bags can tear more easily than some poly bags, but this is why they are mainly used for smaller parts or lighter materials like bread. The wickets help to create a wider wall thickness and make them easier to seal, but this construction can make them a bit less sturdy than other types of plastic bags. 

Wicketed poly bags are also designed to be lightweight for handling and packaging, which means they may tear more easily than some options. 

Finally, the use of metal or rubber wickets in the manufacturing process leaves behind waste in the form of leftover material that cannot be recycled or reused. The cost of this waste is passed on to customers at higher prices for goods sold in wicketed bags. That said, in most cases, the efficiency that a wicketed bag provides to the production process often outweighs the cost of this waste.

When are Wicketed Bags Right for My Application?

If you’re considering wicketed bags for your specific application, it’s important to be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages that wicketed bags carry. In most cases, wicketed bags are perfect for any application that needs to package small parts, is looking to improve production efficiency, and needs a fast, economical packaging solution. 

We recommend testing different types of bags and materials with your customers before settling on a final choice so that everyone’s satisfied in the end! Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons, whether you’ve decided wicketed poly bags are right for you, or you need another solution, the A-Pac manufacturing team can help. We carry wicketed plastic bags in a range of shapes, sizes, and thicknesses, and we also offer a wide range of other poly bag construction options to suit any application. 

The food and beverage industry is extremely competitive — making it a tough market to succeed in. With so many products for consumers to choose from (both on shelves and online), it’s imperative for food suppliers to stand out by creating a unique, memorable brand…and custom food packaging is one of the best ways to accomplish that. 

So, in this article, we’ll be outlining the advantages of custom-printed food packaging bags — along with some important considerations to keep in mind when ordering your custom food bags.

Benefits of Custom-Printed Food Packaging Bags

When it comes to packaged food products, the overall customer experience extends beyond the food itself: packaging also plays a very influential role. Custom-printed bags elevate the look and feel of your products while simultaneously allowing you to convey your brand’s image. And, on that note, let’s further unpack each of those concepts:

Enhanced Aesthetic (Shelf Appeal)

Humans are naturally visual creatures — which is why your packaging’s aesthetic is so important from a marketing and sales standpoint. One Ipsos survey found that 72% of Americans agree packaging affects their purchase decisions — and this phenomenon can have a profound impact on your bottom line. 30% of businesses report a significant lift in revenue following a packaging improvement. 

Packaging is usually the first thing consumers notice when evaluating product options. Given this fact, packaging that is eye-catching or visually appealing will have a distinct advantage. With custom-printed food bags, you can utilize colors, designs, and images to make your products stand out, ultimately enticing consumers to buy.

Branding & Messaging

In addition to aesthetic appeal, packaging also serves as a powerful branding medium. Branding involves aesthetics (color palettes, logos, etc.), but it also goes deeper by communicating ideas/values and evoking various emotions that can influence consumer behavior. And, when a brand resonates with consumers, this fosters brand loyalty and repeat purchases over the long term. 

One of the main ways that brands communicate their values with consumers is via brand messaging. In a marketing context, ‘messaging’ refers not only to the literal words and phrases brands use, but also to the emotional connotations those words and phrases carry. Across all industries, brand messaging has proven to be a highly effective marketing tactic — and custom-printed food packaging bags are the perfect way to showcase your brand’s message.

Key Considerations When Ordering Custom-Printed Food Packaging Bags

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of custom food packaging bags, let’s review some important decisions to make before placing your order.

Bag Material and Specifications

Before you get into the customization aspects, you must first determine the right size and thickness for your bags. This will mainly depend on the product’s dimensions and weight. Obviously, you’ll need bags that are large enough to fit the product — but if you go too large, you’ll be wasting material. So, you’ll need to find bag dimensions that fit the product neatly without being oversized. 

Next, you’ll need to select a material to fit your needs. LDPE is one of the most common plastics for food packaging, but there are other options to consider (e.g. HDPE, Metallocene, EVA, LLDPE, etc.). You’ll also need to choose an appropriate thickness, which can range anywhere from 0.5-6 mil. Thicker bags provide additional protection and puncture resistance, so they may be necessary for heavier products or items with protruding corners.

*If you need help determining which material/specifications are best suited to your application, our experts here at A-Pac Manufacturing would be happy to assist you. Contact our team for a free consultation.

Order Quantity

Once you’ve determined your bag dimensions and thickness, the next step is to choose your order quantity. Like bag specifications, the key here is to find a balance between too much versus not enough. With larger quantities, you’ll enjoy a lower cost per unit. However, ordering an excessive surplus will waste material and money. 

Furthermore, some small businesses struggle with manufacturers’ minimum order requirements — when even the minimum order is substantially more than the business needs. That’s why, at A-Pac Manufacturing, we stand firmly behind our ‘No Minimum Order’ policy. 

Custom Poly Bags for Food Packaging

If you own or help manage a business in the food industry, you know how important it is to stand out against your competitors…and customized packaging is a simple, yet effective way to set your brand apart. At A-Pac Manufacturing, we specialize in custom poly bag solutions with rapid lead times with no minimum order requirements. Contact our team to learn more about how we can help you with your custom food packaging needs.

Sideweld poly bags are rigorously tested to make sure that the seam is as strong as the base material. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and thicknesses that can be customized to your unique application. These bags are a common choice for packaging frozen food, ice, plastic parts with sharp edges, and more. 

Let’s discuss the qualities of sideweld poly bags, what they’re used for, and their specifications. 

How Sideweld Poly Bags Are Made

Sideweld poly bags are made using a centerfolded film that is welded and cut, producing seals on the side of the bag. The bags are then tested to ensure that the seal is at least as strong as the base material. This makes sure the bags will not tear along the seal and are resistant to scratches, moisture, and rust. 

What Are Sideweld Bags Used For? 

Sideweld bags are manufactured from a variety of different materials, making them a versatile solution for a variety of applications. They are most commonly used for bread, meat/poultry, box liners, food bags, and parts bags.

The parts bags can be utilized by a wide range of industries, storing medical, plastic, metal, and industrial parts. The durability of sideweld bags makes them a great choice when scratch-protection, UV ray protection, and rust protection is required. They’re also a moisture-resistant option for powders, granules, frozen foods, and ice. 

Unique Features of Sideweld Bags

What makes sideweld poly bags unique is the strength of their seal. Tested using the highest quality standards to ensure they do not split, the seal is at least as strong as the base material. These bags keep items like frozen food, ice, and metal parts safe in their packaging. Whereas the seam of other packaging materials is typically a weak point, sideweld bags maintain their strength at the seam. Along with UV protection, moisture resistance, and scratch protection, they’re a secure solution that services a variety of applications across many industries. 

Sizes and Specifications of Sideweld Poly Bags

Sideweld poly bags can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes to fit your application. The smallest size is 2” x 3”, ranging up to the largest size of 52” x 52”. Available thicknesses include .75-4mil. If you’re not sure which size bag you need, check out our guide on how to measure poly bags. 

If you’re looking for poly bags in a specific color that matches your branding, we can help. Available colors include any shade of white, black, red, yellow, green, blue, and more. 

Sideweld poly bags can be manufactured from a variety of different materials, including:

• low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
• high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
• linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)
• metallocene
• vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI)
• ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
• ultraviolet inhibitor (UVI)

The various materials used to manufacture these bags are each targeted toward particular applications like food, medical, industrial, metal, and more. These materials are approved by the Food & Drug Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Food Safety System Certification 22000. 

At A-Pac Manufacturing, we can manufacture any size poly bag. If you need a custom size, contact us for a free customized quote. 

Are Sideweld Bags the Right Fit for Your Business? 

Sideweld bags are a great solution for frozen food, medical, and industrial applications. The seams are at least as strong as the base material, they are available in a wide range of colors, and the size can be customized to fit your application. 

If you think sideweld poly bags may be a good fit for your application, A-Pac Manufacturing can help. We’re able to give you the size and quantity of bags you need, within the timeline you need them. GIve us a call or contact us online to learn more.

In this article, we’ll be exploring some key considerations to help you select the best freezer bags for your small business, including:

• Food-Grade Plastic
• Material Considerations
• Shapes and Sizes to Fit Your Needs

Food-Grade Plastic

Whenever you’re storing or packaging food in plastic, it’s essential to use bags or containers that are made with food-grade plastic. This means that the plastic has been deemed safe for food use by a certifying authority.

To qualify as food-grade, both the material and the manufacturing facility need to meet stringent requirements put forth by the FDA and other regulatory organizations. Upon successfully meeting these requirements, the manufacturer is eligible to receive a food-grade certification, such as the FSSC 22000. 

A food-grade certification is an assurance that the plastic poses no contamination risk and is durable enough to properly protect food items. So, when assessing plastic freezer bags for your small business, check to make sure the plastic is food-grade certified.

Material Considerations for Freezer Applications

When it comes to food storage, LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and HDPE (high-density polyethylene) are the most common poly bag materials — each providing a unique set of advantages. Given its higher density, HDPE is stronger and more durable than LDPE, making it a better option for bulk quantities or items with rigid corners or edges. LDPE, on the other hand, is more flexible and transparent, which often makes it preferable for small quantities and consumer packaging.

While LDPE and HDPE are both suitable materials for food packaging and storage, the extreme temperature of a freezer presents an additional factor that needs to be taken into account. Freezing temperatures cause polyethylene to stiffen — and this sometimes undermines its durability (making it more susceptible to rips and cracks). For this reason, you should consider the following material alternatives when evaluating the best freezer bags for your small business:

1. Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA). When EVA is added to LDPE, this results in an even more flexible material that’s highly resilient in cold temperatures — making it a fantastic option for freezer storage bags.

1. Metallocene. This special form of LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) provides excellent strength/durability at low temperatures. Although it is typically more expensive than LLDPE, the enhanced strength of metallocene blends can yield a favorable cost-benefit ratio if durability is a top priority.

Now that we’ve covered material considerations, let’s discuss how to select the right bag type and size…

Shapes and Sizes Ideal for Freezer Storage

Plastic freezer bags come in many different shapes and sizes, so you’ll need to determine the best bag type and size for your specific application. Bags that are too small will be problematic because the contents won’t fit properly inside. Conversely, bags that are too large will waste material (i.e. cost) and space.

*Side note: Continuing on the notion of waste, many poly bag suppliers have minimum order requirements — and this often leads small business owners to order more bags than they actually need, wasting materials and budget. That’s why, at A-Pac Manufacturing, we’re committed to fulfilling any order quantity with no minimum order requirements.

To select the appropriate bag type and size, you’ll need to know the dimensions or volume of the items you’ll be storing. Once you have the dimensions and volume of the products, you can then choose a corresponding bag type and size for an optimal fit. To elaborate, here are three of the most common poly bag types for food storage along with a measuring guide for each:

Flat Poly Bags

Standard flat bags are one of the most popular poly bag styles. The simple rectangular shape has only two dimensions (length and width) and can be ordered in virtually any size. Sealing methods include heat seal, tie, staple, and tape.

Gusseted Poly Bags

Gusseted bags have collapsible side walls that expand to increase the bag’s volume while maintaining a fitted shape. This bag style is great for saving space. It also comes with the additional advantage of being able to stand upright when filled.

Wicketed Poly Bags

Wicketed bags are designed to increase packing speed/efficiency. The tops of the bags are held together on a thin wire (wicket) to promote quick-and-easy dispensing. You can also mount the bag stack on a blower to automate bag opening and make the packing process even faster.

Need freezer storage bags for your small business? We can help!

When deciding which poly bags to use for your small business, it’s advisable to speak with an expert. At A-Pac Manufacturing, we take pride in offering high-quality, customizable poly bags in any size, and in any quantity. Contact our team to learn more about how we can supply the perfect plastic freezer bags to fit your needs.

It’s a popular choice for use in hospitals, research labs, manufacturing, agriculture, and more — and since polyethylene is FDA approved, it’s often used in the food and beverage industry as well.

From air and chemical lines to wire jacketing and fluid handling, there are so many ways in which poly tubing is used, which is why there are different types and materials involved for different applications. Let’s take a closer look.

Polyethylene Tubing Materials

1. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

This type of tubing offers good clarity and moisture resistance, and is flexible as well as tough. LDPE is most often used for food, medical, and industrial packaging applications.  

2. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

More rigid than LDPE and with less clarity, HDPE is lightweight, strong, and non-abrasive. It’s commonly used in situations where scratch protection is important, such as in plastic or metal parts packaging.  

3. Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

LLDPE is very flexible and very strong. It’s impermeable to gas and moisture, and extremely durable — resistant to environmental stress, impacts, punctures, and cracks. It offers less clarity than LDPE, but has similar applications for food, medical, and industrial packaging.

4. METALLOCENE

This poly tubing material is thin, yet strong and provides high clarity. Its properties make it perfect for applications such as freezer and cold-storage bags, as well as the packaging of bread or bakery goods.

5. Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI)

VCI poly tubing is low-density and moisture-resistant, offering rust-free protection. This makes it ideal for use with metal parts.

6. Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

Elastic, tacky, and puncture-resistant, the qualities of this poly tubing material provides excellent sealing and is most commonly used for ice and frozen foods, as well as powders, granules, batch-inclusion, and low-melt processes.

7. Ultraviolet Inhibitor (UVI)

Just as its name implies, this material provides UV-ray protection and is therefore used to

protect products susceptible to degradation or discoloration from the sun’s rays.

Producing Polyethylene Tubing to Fulfill Your Needs

The type of poly tubing you use depends on your application needs, and is most commonly made by going through an extrusion process. This method produces a continuous tube that is not only versatile in its application possibilities, but can also be customized with color, thickness, and size — yet another reason why poly tubing is an excellent packing solution.

If you are interested in the endless applications of poly tubing for your facility, reach out to our team at A-Pac Manufacturing. We can produce whatever type of poly tubing you need, gusseted or non-gusseted, cut and sealed at any length to suit multiple products. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help determine the type, style, size, and thickness of polyethylene tubing that will work best for you.