Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
27 made-to-order formats
Pouches, and the barrier you actually need
Every pouch decision is a trade between shelf life and recyclability. The right answer is the lowest barrier that holds your product for as long as it genuinely needs.
- Minimum
- 100 units
- Production
- 3–5 days
- Delivery
- US, UK, Canada, Australia
Why the two goals conflict
The films that block oxygen and moisture best are multi-layer laminates, and multi-layer structures are difficult to recycle precisely because they combine materials bonded together. That is not a marketing problem; it is a physical one.
Mono-material films have improved considerably and are recyclable through store drop-off in many areas, but they generally give a shorter shelf life than a full laminate. You are choosing a point on a scale rather than getting both ends of it.
Start from shelf life, not from the film
The useful question is how long the product has to stay good, and what degrades it — oxygen, moisture or light. A coffee that sells within three weeks needs far less barrier than one sitting in distribution for six months.
Over-specifying the barrier is common and it costs twice: once on the film, and again on the recyclability claim you then cannot make.
Barrier options compared honestly
What each material actually gives you.
| Material | Barrier performance | Recovery route |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-layer laminate | Highest — longest shelf life | Not kerbside recyclable |
| Mono-material film | Good, shorter shelf life | Store drop-off in many areas |
| Kraft with liner | Moderate, depends on the liner | Depends entirely on the liner |
| Certified compostable | Lowest, shortest shelf life | Industrial facilities only |
The range
Custom Pouches We Produce
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Specification
Choosing a Pouches Specification
Materials
- PET/MPET/PE laminate
- Kraft paper/PE laminate
- Clear PET/PE laminate
- Recyclable mono-PE
- Compostable kraft/PLA
Shelf life target. That sets the barrier structure, and the barrier structure sets the price. Our guide to packaging board and film grades compares them on strength, print quality and cost.
Printing
- Rotogravure
- Digital film printing
- Flexography
Run length usually decides this. Digital wins on shorter quantities because there is no plate cost; beyond that, offset and flexo overtake it on price per unit.
Finishes
- Matte film
- Gloss film
- Soft-touch film
- Spot gloss over matte
- Metallised layer
Finishes are applied in the same production run. Each one adds a step, so we price them individually rather than bundling them into the base rate.
Applications
- Coffee and dry goods
- Snacks and confectionery
- Supplements and powders
- Pet treats
Most orders here come from food and beverage, cbd and wellness, retail and grocery brands.
Specification builder
Specify your pouches in under a minute
Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.
- 100-unit minimum
- 3–5 day production
- Free dieline
- No obligation
YOUR BRAND
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Recent work
Pouches We Have Produced
Valves, zips and windows
A one-way degassing valve is for products that off-gas, freshly roasted coffee above all — without one, a sealed bag inflates. It is not a fix for anything else.
A resealable zip suits products opened repeatedly and adds real cost, so it is worth asking whether your product is actually used that way. A window sells the contents and reduces barrier area, which matters more on a long shelf life than a short one.
Worth reading before you specify
- where each sustainable film falls shortWritten to be honest rather than promotional.
- barrier films and what each one blocksThe technical comparison behind the choice.
Get a price
Quote a Pouches Run
Send the product details and the quantity you have in mind. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.
No obligation
Quote Custom Pouches
Send us the product details and quantity. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Answers
Custom Pouches Questions
Can I have a fully recyclable pouch with a full barrier?
Not currently, and it is better to be straight about it. The best barriers are multi-layer laminates, which resist recycling for the same reason they resist oxygen. Mono-material films recycle through store drop-off but give a shorter shelf life.
How much shelf life do I lose with a mono-material film?
It depends on the specific film and product, but expect a meaningful reduction against a full laminate. If your product reaches customers quickly, the difference may not matter commercially at all.
Do I need a degassing valve?
Only if your product off-gasses — freshly roasted coffee is the main case. Without a valve the bag inflates. For anything that does not off-gas, a valve adds cost and does nothing.
Should I choose a stand-up or flat pouch?
Stand-up pouches present better on a shelf and hold more for their footprint; flat pouches are cheaper and post more easily. If the product is sold online rather than shelved, flat often wins.
Can pouches have a window?
Yes, and it sells the contents effectively. It does reduce the barrier area though, so on a long shelf life it is a real trade rather than a free addition.
Is a resealable zip worth the cost?
Only if the product is genuinely opened repeatedly. For single-use portions it adds cost and no benefit, and it is one of the more common over-specifications in this category.
Are compostable pouches a good option?
Only if your customers can actually compost them, which usually means industrial facilities rather than a home heap. They also give the shortest shelf life of the options.
What is the minimum order for pouches?
A flat 100 units on any format, which suits a single-origin or limited-edition run well.
Can I vary the design per product without a new film run?
Yes — print a common base pouch and apply a variable label per variant. It is considerably cheaper than a separate print run for each.
How much do custom pouches cost?
From $0.30 per piece at large volumes. Barrier film, valves and zips each add cost, and we quote the material options side by side so the trade-off is visible.
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Next step
Ready to Specify Your Pouches?
Send the product dimensions and the quantity you need. We come back with a specification, a lead time and a written price.