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Packaging glossary
107 common flexible packaging terms explained plainly: pouch types, materials, printing, barrier and sustainability.
A
Air vent holes
Air vent holes are small perforations punched into a bag so trapped air can escape during packing and stacking.
Aluminium foil
Aluminium foil is a thin metal layer used in laminated pouches, providing the highest barrier to light, oxygen, moisture and aroma in flexible packaging.
Anti-fog
Anti-fog is an additive or coating that stops water droplets forming on the inside of clear film, so the product stays visible.
B
Bag flap
A bag flap is the extra strip of film above the bag mouth that folds over to close it and usually carries the adhesive strip.
Barrier
Barrier is a packaging material's ability to stop oxygen, moisture, light, aroma or grease passing into or out of the pack.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable means microorganisms can break a material down into water, CO2 and biomass; without stated conditions and timescale, the term says little.
Bleed
Bleed is the extra artwork extended beyond the cut line so no unprinted edge appears after the pouch is cut.
BOPP
BOPP is polypropylene film stretched in two directions; it is stiff, glossy, a good moisture barrier and a common printable outer layer in flexible packaging.
Bottom gusset
A bottom gusset is a W-shaped fold sealed into a pouch base that opens when filled so the pouch can stand upright.
BRCGS Packaging Materials
BRCGS Packaging Materials is a GFSI-recognised global standard that audits packaging manufacturers on product safety, hygiene and quality.
C
CMYK
CMYK is the four-colour printing model that combines cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks to reproduce a wide range of colours.
Coefficient of friction (COF)
Coefficient of friction (COF) shows how easily a film surface slides over another surface; it is critical for automatic packing machines.
Colour proof
A colour proof is a sample print made before production to show how colours and artwork will look, for the customer's approval.
Compostable packaging
Compostable packaging is proven by testing to break down into compost within a set time under composting conditions, leaving no harmful residue.
Core diameter (reel core)
Core diameter is the inside diameter of the tube that rollstock is wound on; it must match the shaft of your packaging machine.
CPP
CPP is non-oriented cast polypropylene film, mainly used as the heat-sealing inner layer of laminated pouches, including retort pouches.
D
Delamination
Delamination is the separation of bonded layers in a laminated packaging material, either over time or under stress.
Dieline (technical drawing)
A dieline is the technical template showing a pouch's dimensions, cut, seal, fold and safe print areas, used as the base for artwork.
Digital printing
Digital printing prints artwork straight from the file onto film with no plates or cylinders, ideal for short runs and many designs.
Doypack (stand-up pouch)
A doypack is a flexible pouch with a folded bottom gusset that lets it stand upright on the shelf, often fitted with a zipper.
E
EU Regulation 10/2011 (plastic food contact)
EU Regulation 10/2011 governs plastic materials in contact with food, setting authorised substances, migration limits and testing rules.
Euro hang hole (euro slot)
A euro hang hole is a winged slot punched near the top of a pouch so it can hang on retail display pegs.
EVOH
EVOH is a clear plastic barrier layer buried inside multilayer films, keeping oxygen and aroma transmission very low.
F
FDA compliance
FDA compliance means packaging materials meet US Food and Drug Administration rules for food contact substances, required for sales in the US.
Filling
Filling is the packing step where product is put into a pouch or film and sealed; it can be manual, semi-automatic or automatic.
Flat-bottom pouch (box pouch)
A flat-bottom pouch has a rectangular base and side gussets, so it stands like a box and offers five printable panels.
Flexographic printing
Flexographic printing is a rotary process that transfers fast-drying ink to film or paper from flexible photopolymer plates.
Flow wrap (pillow pack)
Flow wrap is a pillow-shaped pack formed from rollstock, with one long back seal and two end seals made on the packing line.
Food contact compliance
Food contact compliance means showing, under the relevant rules, that packaging does not transfer substances to food in harmful or unacceptable amounts.
FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is a GFSI-recognised food safety certification scheme built on ISO 22000, also applicable to packaging manufacturers.
G
GEKAP (Turkish recovery contribution fee)
GEKAP is a statutory fee in Turkey paid by those placing certain products, including packaging, on the market to fund waste recovery.
Grammage (g/m²)
Grammage is the weight of one square metre of a material in grams (g/m²), used for paper, films, laminates and adhesive coat weights.
Gravure cylinder
A gravure cylinder is a copper-plated steel cylinder engraved with tiny ink cells, one per colour, used in rotogravure printing.
Gusset
A gusset is an inward fold added to the side or base of a pouch that opens out when filled to add volume.
H
Heat sealing
Heat sealing joins the inner sealant layers of a pouch using heat, pressure and dwell time to form a tight, durable seal.
HFFS (horizontal form-fill-seal)
HFFS machines form rollstock on a horizontal axis, wrapping or pouching the product, then sealing and cutting each pack.
Hot filling
Hot filling packs a product while it is still hot, typically around 80–95 °C, and seals it at once to reduce microbial risk.
I
K
L
Lamination
Lamination is the process of bonding two or more films, foils or papers with adhesive to create a single multi-layer packaging material.
Laser scoring (easy open)
Laser scoring cuts partway into one film layer so a pouch tears open cleanly along a controlled, straight line.
Lead time
Lead time is the total time from order and artwork approval until the packaging is ready for delivery.
M
Matte BOPP
Matte BOPP is a low-gloss polypropylene film used as a pouch's outer layer to create a soft, premium, modern look.
Matte varnish
Matte varnish is a clear coating applied to the outer surface of packaging to remove gloss and give a soft, premium look.
Metallised film
Metallised film is plastic film coated with a very thin vacuum-deposited aluminium layer, giving a lighter, lower-cost light and oxygen barrier than foil.
Micron (film thickness)
A micron (µm) is one millionth of a metre and is the standard unit used to express film and foil thickness in flexible packaging.
Microwavable packaging
Microwavable packaging is designed, in materials and construction, so food can be heated safely in a microwave oven inside its pack.
Migration
Migration is the transfer of substances from packaging into the food it touches; for food packaging it is limited by law and verified by testing.
Mono-material packaging
Mono-material packaging uses layers from a single polymer family, such as all-PE or all-PP, so the pouch is easier to recycle.
MOQ (minimum order quantity)
MOQ is the smallest order a converter accepts for printed packaging; it depends on print method, pouch type and number of designs.
Multi-layer structure
A multi-layer structure is the stack of different films in a flexible pack, each doing a job such as print, barrier or sealing, e.g. PET/ALU/PE.
N
O
One-way degassing valve
A one-way degassing valve lets gas escape from a pouch while stopping outside air from getting in, mainly used for coffee.
OPA (nylon / polyamide)
OPA is oriented polyamide (nylon) film, prized for puncture and impact resistance plus a good oxygen barrier in vacuum and retort pouches.
OPP cellophane bag
An OPP bag is a highly transparent, glossy and slightly stiff bag made from oriented polypropylene film, used for retail display packing.
OTR (oxygen transmission rate)
OTR is the amount of oxygen passing through one square metre of packaging material in 24 hours under set conditions; lower means better barrier.
P
Pantone (spot colour)
Pantone is a coded spot colour system: each colour is printed with its own pre-mixed ink for consistent brand colours.
Paper-based flexible packaging
Paper-based flexible packaging is pouch material made mostly of paper, with thin barrier coatings, designed to be recycled in the paper stream.
PCR (post-consumer recycled content)
PCR is raw material recovered from plastic collected after consumer use and recycled, used to replace part of the virgin plastic in new packaging.
PE (LDPE / LLDPE)
PE (polyethylene) is the most common sealant film in flexible packaging; LDPE processes easily, while LLDPE adds toughness and puncture resistance.
Permanent shipping seal tape
Shipping seal tape is a permanent hot-melt adhesive strip on a bag flap that cannot be reopened without visibly damaging the bag.
PET film
PET film is biaxially oriented polyester; heat-resistant, dimensionally stable and highly printable, it is a common outer layer in laminated pouches.
PLA
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bio-based plastic made from plant sugars such as corn or sugarcane, compostable under industrial conditions.
Pouch dimensions (width × height × gusset)
Pouch dimensions are usually given as width × height × gusset, describing the outer size and the depth of the bottom or side gusset.
Printing plate (flexo plate)
A flexo plate is a flexible photopolymer sheet with the image in relief, made separately for each colour of a flexographic print job.
Puncture resistance
Puncture resistance is a packaging film's ability to withstand sharp or hard objects without being pierced.
Q
Quad-seal pouch
A quad-seal pouch has all four vertical corners sealed, with side gussets and a flat base that keep a crisp, square shape.
Quantity tolerance (over/under run)
Quantity tolerance is the agreed percentage by which delivered printed packaging may exceed or fall short of the ordered quantity.
R
Recyclable packaging
Recyclable packaging is designed so that, after use, it can be collected, sorted and reprocessed into new material in existing recycling facilities.
Recycling codes
Recycling codes are numbers and abbreviations identifying a pack's material; plastics use codes 1 (PET) to 7 (other).
Registration (colour register)
Registration is the accurate alignment of each printed colour with the others, and of the print with the cut and seal positions of the pouch.
Resealable adhesive strip
A resealable adhesive strip is a pressure-sensitive tape on a bag flap, protected by a silicone release liner, that can be opened and closed several times.
Residual solvent
Residual solvent is the amount of printing or laminating solvent left in packaging after drying; too much can cause odour and taint.
Retort pouch
A retort pouch is a heat-resistant multilayer pouch that can be sterilised under pressure after filling and sealing.
Reverse printing (sandwich print)
Reverse printing puts the mirror-image design on the inner face of the outer film, then laminates it so the ink is trapped and protected.
Rollstock (packaging film on reels)
Rollstock is printed packaging film supplied wound on reels, formed into packs and sealed on automatic packing machines.
Rotogravure printing
Rotogravure transfers ink from cells engraved into a metal cylinder, giving sharp, consistent print for long flexible packaging runs.
Round hang hole
A round hang hole is a simple circular punch at the top of a pouch, used to hang light, small packs on display pegs.
Rounded corners
Rounded corners are pouch corners cut to a curve instead of a sharp point, for a safer feel and a more refined look.
S
Sachet
A sachet is a small, flat single-use or sample pack, usually formed from rollstock and sealed on three or four sides.
Sample
A sample is an example pouch used before production to test size, material, filling and handling performance.
Shaped (die-cut) pouch
A shaped pouch is cut and sealed to a custom outline, such as a bottle, fruit or character, instead of a plain rectangle.
Shelf life
Shelf life is how long a product stays safe and keeps its quality when stored as directed; packaging is one of its main drivers.
Side-gusseted bag
A side-gusseted bag has inward folds on both sides that expand when filled, giving extra volume in a compact footprint.
Slider zipper
A slider zipper is a reclosable track opened and closed by a plastic slider, easier to use than a press-to-close zipper.
Sombrero hang hole
A sombrero hang hole is a die-cut hang hole shaped like a wide-brimmed hat: a round centre opening with horizontal slits on both sides.
Spot varnish (selective varnish)
Spot varnish applies varnish only to chosen areas, creating matte and gloss contrast on the same pack to highlight logos or images.
Spout and cap
A spout and cap is a plastic fitment sealed into a pouch plus its screw cap, allowing controlled pouring and reclosing.
Spouted pouch
A spouted pouch is a flexible pouch with a plastic fitment and screw cap sealed in, designed for liquids and pourable products.
Stick pack
A stick pack is a slim, tube-shaped single-serve pack formed from rollstock, common for sugar, instant coffee and supplements.
T
Tear notch
A tear notch is a small cut in the seal at the edge of a pouch that lets it be torn open by hand without scissors.
Tear resistance
Tear resistance is a film's ability to resist the start and spread of a tear.
Three-side seal pouch
A three-side seal pouch is a flat bag sealed on two sides and the bottom, then closed across the top after filling.
Tin tie
A tin tie is a wire-reinforced strip fixed to the top of a bag; the top is rolled down and the tabs folded to reclose it.
Transparent film
Transparent film is any light-transmitting plastic film that lets the product show through the pack, such as clear BOPP, PET, CPP, PE or OPA.
Turkish food contact materials regulation
Türkiye's food contact materials regulation sets safety, labelling and traceability rules for all materials, including packaging, that touch food.
U
V
Vacuum bag
A vacuum bag is a puncture-resistant, oxygen-barrier pouch that is sealed after the air inside has been drawn out.
Vector file
A vector file defines shapes and text mathematically rather than as pixels, so it scales without quality loss and suits packaging print.
VFFS (vertical form-fill-seal)
VFFS is an automatic machine that forms rollstock into a vertical tube, fills product from above, then seals and cuts each bag.
W
White PE
White PE is opaque polyethylene film with white pigment, used as a pouch sealant to give print a white backdrop and add light protection.
White underprint (white base)
White underprint is a layer of opaque white ink printed behind colours on clear or metallised film so they look vivid and solid.
Window
A window is a clear area left in an otherwise opaque pack, by omitting ink or opaque layers, so the product can be seen.
Window pouch
A window pouch is an otherwise opaque pouch with a clear area that lets shoppers see the product inside.
WVTR (water vapour transmission rate)
WVTR is the mass of water vapour passing through one square metre of material in 24 hours (g/m²·day); a lower value means better moisture barrier.
Z
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