How Does a Bag-in-Box System Work? BIB Liquid Packaging Benefits
- A bag-in-box system consists of an inner flexible liquid packaging bag made from laminated film in pillow or form-fit design with a dispensing fitment or tap, plus a corrugated outer carton that ships flat and takes shape at filling.
- Product is pumped into the bag through the fitment during filling, and during dispensing the tap releases product while the bag contracts, limiting air ingress.
- Compared with rigid containers, BIB evacuates product more efficiently and reduces inaccessible product, while its components arrive flat to save shipping space and weight.
- BIB can significantly extend freshness and shelf-life for food and beverage and reduces the opportunity for outside contamination because product is dispensed directly from the bag.
- BIB uses less material and is lighter-weight than other plastic packaging alternatives, with fewer greenhouse emissions and lower energy consumption in production, and the bag and carton can be separated for recycling.
A bag-in-box (BIB) system combines a flexible liquid packaging bag with an outer carton that supports and protects it. The bag can be made in pillow format or as a form-fit design; once filled, the carton provides stacking strength, and during dispensing the bag collapses so the product keeps flowing out. That combination minimizes the material used in packaging, maximizes reuse and recycling potential, and still delivers a great end-user experience. The main benefits of bag-in-box food packaging are summarized below.
How a bag-in-box system works
- Inner bag: a flexible liquid packaging bag made from laminated film, in pillow or form-fit design, fitted with a dispensing fitment or tap.
- Outer carton: a corrugated box that ships and stores flat, then takes shape at filling to support the bag.
- Filling: product is pumped into the bag through the fitment, which typically also serves as the dispensing valve.
- Dispensing: opening the tap lets product out while the bag contracts, so air has little chance to get in.
- Disposal: bag and carton can be separated for recycling.
Evacuation efficiency and supply chain benefits
- Better product evacuation: with food costs rising, end users want to use the entire product they purchased. Bag-in-box systems evacuate product more efficiently than rigid containers and reduce the amount of inaccessible product.
- Supply chain efficiency: cans, bottles and jars are bulky and heavy to ship. Bag-in-box components arrive flat at the plant and offer better shaping efficiency when filled than jugs and bottles, so the space and weight savings are very appealing, especially when fuel prices are high.
Freshness, safety and material availability
- Product freshness: with a greater ability to keep out air, bag-in-box packaging for food and beverage can significantly extend freshness and shelf-life.
- Product safety: because the product is dispensed directly into and from the bag, there is less opportunity for outside contamination from filling through end use.
- Material availability: the shortage of beer bottles in Germany may make for humorous news stories, but the shortage of glass products is very real, which makes flexible packaging even more attractive.
Cost savings and eco-conscious design
- Cost savings: bag-in-box packaging uses less material and replaces many rigid packages, offering significant production cost savings.
- Eco-conscious: the materials are lighter-weight than other plastic packaging alternatives, with fewer greenhouse emissions and lower energy consumption in production.
- Greater reuse and recycling potential, in line with packaging reduction goals.
If you are sourcing bag-in-box, spout pouch, stand-up pouch with tap or liquid packaging bags for food, beverage or household products, contact Guangdong Kody Packaging (KODY PACK). We customize film structure, fitment and filling format, and can provide samples for your project.
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