Design for Recycling: Principles for Packaging Buyers
Design for Recycling (DfR) used to be a topic for sustainability conferences. In 2026 it is a line on your P&L. The UK’s pEPR modulated fees now charge producers according…
Posts by Sarah Gilbert
How to Specify Barrier Performance for Flexible Food Packaging
Barrier performance is the single most important technical decision in food packaging development, yet it remains one of the least well-documented. Get it wrong and your product loses shelf life,…
Spout Pouch Explained: Applications, Sizes, and When They Outperform Bottles
A decade ago, the spout pouch was a niche format used mainly for baby food and sports drinks. In 2026, it sits on UK shelves across beverages, household cleaners, pet…
Flexible Packaging for Ready Meals: Formats, Films, and What UK Retailers Expect
The UK ready meal market is worth over GBP 4.3 billion a year and growing faster than almost any other chilled food category. For brand owners and NPD teams, the…
Quad Seal Pouches vs Flat Bottom Pouches: Which Is Right for Your Product?
Ask ten packaging buyers what the difference is between a quad seal pouch and a flat bottom pouch and you will get ten different answers. The two formats look similar…
pEPR Modulated Fees 2026: What Flexible Packaging Buyers Need to Know
The packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme is about to change the economics of flexible packaging in the UK. From its second year onwards (2026/2027), the flat base fees that…
Planning Pouch Orders: Balancing Unit Cost, Cash Flow and Warehouse Space
Planning pouch orders looks straightforward on a spreadsheet. In practice, it rarely is. Every decision sits at the intersection of unit cost, cash flow strain, and the very real limits…
Why Pouches Fail: Common Causes of Leaks, Bursts and Delamination
Pouch packaging has become the format of choice across food, pet care, nutraceuticals, and household products in the UK. The appeal is clear: lightweight, shelf-efficient, printable across 360°, and available…
Flexible Packaging for Frozen Food: What UK Retail Buyers Actually Look For
Flexible packaging plays a critical role in the frozen food category, especially in the UK market where expectations are high and margins are tight. Frozen food packaging is not only…
Stand Up Pouches: Your New Favorite Packaging?
We’ve all seen them popping up everywhere, haven’t we? Those neat little bags that just seem to stand up on their own. We’re talking about stand up pouches, and honestly,…