Kraft paper pouch

A kraft pouch has a kraft paper outer layer laminated to one or more plastic films on the inside. The matte, fibrous paper surface gives products a natural, artisanal look that is popular with coffee, tea and organic food brands.

How it is built

Paper alone cannot be heat-sealed and offers little protection from moisture, grease or oxygen, so a PE or CPP sealant is laminated inside, often with a barrier layer in between. Typical options are kraft/PE for short shelf-life dry goods, kraft/metallised PET/PE for moderate barrier, and kraft/foil/PE for demanding products such as coffee. See kraft paper for more on the substrate.

Strengths

• Distinctive natural appearance and tactile feel.
• Available as a stand-up pouch, flat-bottom or side-gusseted bag, with windows, zippers and valves.

Watch-outs

A paper exterior does not automatically make a pack recyclable. Paper and plastic layers bonded together are often hard to separate in either recycling stream, so check any environmental claim carefully and consider dedicated paper-based flexible packaging if recyclability is a priority. Colours printed on brown kraft look darker and more muted; white kraft or a white underlay helps when brighter tones are needed.