Introduction
A retort pouch or retortable pouch is a type of sterile packaging for food products. It works well for several consumables that need heat and sterilization within a packaging container. Retort packaging bags are made with several layers of materials that ensure food protection and life span.
Many food industries rely on these bags for their versatile uses and cost-effective solutions. Feeling curious to explore:
- What is retorting or retort pouch?
- Materials details, Or
- Why do you use them?
Go through this article to explore the trendy and revolutionary invention of the packaging industry. Without any delay, let’s get started!
What is a Retort Pouch or Retortable Pouch?
A retort pouch or retortable pouch is a thin, lightweight, and flexible package used to store semi-cooked or cooked food products. It is made with flexible plastic and laminate metal foils. Also, it requires no extra preservatives or refrigeration and can withstand thermal processing.
In short, retort packaging works as an alternative to traditional cans and glass jars. Also, it offers an energy-saving, heat-resistance, and eco-friendly solution. You can enjoy fresh food with this flexible barrier and protection layer pouches.
Are you curious to explore: why businesses use retortable pouches instead of traditional cans or glass jars? Scroll down to explore more advantages!
What is the Retort Pouch Material Made of?
Retortable pouches are made with a flexible metal-plastic laminate that withstands thermal processing. The pouches’ constructional material can be three or four layers: PET/AL/RCPP, PET/PA/RCPP, or PET/ AL/PA/RCPP.
Are you still thinking about why you will use retort pouches instead of metal cans or glass jars to store shelf-stable food? The answer is simple: cutting out high costs and avoiding inconvenience during packaging.
But before relying on retort pouches structure or retort packaging technology, let’s verify the nutrient value of the food.
1. Cast Polypropylene Material (CPP)
Propylene is the inner layer or 1st layer of retort pouch packaging and uses as the sealing layer. It works as a heat seal surface and provides flexibility, ensuring strength. It is also called a physical food contact layer.
2. Polyamide or Nylon Layer (PA)
The nylon layer provides extra strength to resist puncture and other packaging damages like water, ultra-high heat, stains, abrasion, chemical reactions, and UV rays. Also, it offers an easy-to-wash and elastic surface.
3. Aluminum Layer (AL)
Aluminum foil works as a barrier layer in the retort pouches. It provides a thin, adequate protection layer that prohibits light, oxygen, moisture, gases, and bacteria. All these criteria help to extend product shelf life by maintaining the quality of products.
4. Polyester Layer (PET)
The final or outer layer provides excellent strength and a smooth, printable surface (gloss & rigid surface). Also, the material can handle water absorbent from machine washing and requires no extra care. However, the polyester layer is trendy for its inexpensive; yet strong synthetic material that can use widely.
Pretty trendy retort pouch packaging for processed food products, right?
Now that you know about retort pouches material, it’s time to explore its commercial uses. Without any delay, let’s get started!
How Do Retort Pouches Add Value to the Commercial Business?
Retort pouches are widely used to store seafood, pet food, cooked or semi-cooked foods, and other consumable products. And all these products remain fresh by maintaining each ingredient’s natural aroma and taste.
That means these pouches best fit the ready-to-eat packaged food industry. Are you eager to know: how do commercial businesses or brands benefit from using these bags? Let’s explore the hidden reasons below:
Create and Develop Brand Identity
Entrepreneurs to renowned food manufacturers love these bags for their eye-catchy branding (flat and forward-facing designs). Did you ever notice Mars or Nestlé Purina’s pet care product pouches?
At first glance, you may notice their brand logo, color, food product info, and other necessary details. And all these factors are essential to grab consumers’ attention towards your products and earn their trust.
Easy to Maintain, open and Reheat
Retort packaging bags offer different solutions, like easy-open, spout pouches, and others. Both consumers and retailers love these customizable bags for their user-friendly features.
It saves shelf space, creates an attractive product display, and eliminates hand strength to open. Also, you can apply several cooking methods, including submersing in hot water or using a flameless ration heater.
Don’t Need to Refrigerator or Freeze
Flexible retort packaging helps customers and consumers to save energy by eliminating the cold chain need. Also, it saves energy by extending food quality (vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients).
Consumers select these bags for ready-to-serve foods (pasta with sauce, curries, etc.) or other pre-cooked dinner items. However, these pouches create fewer greenhouse gas emissions when manufactured and transported.
Remain Intact for up to 18 Months
The sterilization process ensures long-lasting life and quality of food goods. At first, the food is prepared either raw or cooked and then heated to 116-121 °C under high pressure inside a retort or autoclave machine. This product sterilization process destroys all commonly occurring microorganisms.
And food remains fresh and germ-free over 18 months, which helps reduce bulk waste food. One study mentioned that pouches utilize 65% bio-based resin in the sealant layer. And can play a vital role in reducing carbon from the environment.
Reduced storage space and logistics cost
Cans or jars are hefty, requiring a fair amount of storage space and warehouse costs. On the other hand, retort packaging requires less storage space and maintenance. Also, the production process of retort pouches is more complicated than conventional bags. That’s why pouches are more expensive than traditional ones.
However, pouches provide better product identification than cans. Also, its versatile shape and size offer flexibility in displaying and handling the product.
Reduce Company Costs
Lightweight pouches reduce transportation and production inconsistency from shipping to sterilization processes. Also, the sealed package can transmit heat quickly by permitting content sterilization up to 40% faster than jars.
Also, you get versatile packaging options, like flat, oval, truncated, conical, or others that suit your business and design. Also, you get various standing or hanging methods with several configurations, shapes, and sizes.
Sounds encouraging, right? You already get your answer on how to use the retort pouch. Let’s dive into its versatile benefits by unveiling the next section.
4 Major Uses of the Retort Pouch
From small businesses to large-scale sustainable fish product packaging or camping foods, retort pouches offer creative design and innovative packaging solutions within a short time.
Manufacturers rely on this custom retort packaging to give consumers an appealing view and brand identity. Do you want to explore its market value and popularity?
As per statistics, in 2020, the global retort pouch market size was valued at almost 4.2 billion USD. Here is a short list of retort pouches advantages:
1. Uses for Military Compact Ration and Space Foods
From military ration packs (i.e., garrisons and field rations) to NASA, space foods are packaged in retort pouches to maintain nutrition. Also, they are safe to store, prepare, and consume in different environments.
Note: Retort pouches store foods for more than one year at room temperature using a stand up pouch or others.
2. Creative Uses for Rice, Soup, and Vegetables
Retortable stand up pouches, flat-bottom, quad-sealed bags, or other pouching styles offer you versatile food storage options. Also, it comes in different sizes to fulfill your demands and business production criteria. You can eat these packaged foods cold or warm as per your interests.
3. Serve Dinner Entree Selections
Retort packaging bags are heat-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about thinking of any damage when reheating or place to store your food. Also, these pouches come with handy features that reduce the need to buy more storage mediums.
4. Pet Products and Wet Food
All retort packaging uses BPA-free and migration testing-approved packaging material. That’s why retort pouches gain pet humanization trend popularity in the marketplace. Also, all pouches are free from sharp edges.
After going through many factors of retortable bags, you should plan to buy one. And for buying, search several retort pouch manufacturers or suppliers online. Isn’t it?
Let’s head to the next section before selecting one.
Where to Get Retort Pouch /Retortable Pouch?
In this online era, the most crucial thing is to find a trustworthy retort packaging supplier and manufacturer. With an industry expert, you get versatile solutions in one place. U Food Pouch is one of them. This company is famous for creative design patterns and materials quality.
Curious thinking about: why do you rely on them? Let’s look at their flexible retort pouches’ shipping process, custom printed quality, and other factors below:
Industry-Expert
U Food Pouch has 20 years of working experience in several industries. They have in-house creative designers & enthusiastic production team. These teams are responsible for offering you unique custom printed flexible retort packaging.
High-quality and Custom Pouches
Offer you versatile and customizable retort pouch style (i.e., stand up pouch), materials, and print finish. Also, they offer you a tear-notch pouch with laser scoring. These pouches ensure an effortless, perfect, flexible packaging and strip-cuts experience while opening.
Certification
They have material safety and quality proof from the Food Safety Management System. The quality proof (ISO22000) and a migration testing certificate from SGS. All these factors need to be verified before ordering retort pouches.
Fast Turnaround
Efficient manufacturing processes and supply chains ensure in-time retort packaging delivery. Also, they are capable of offering you door-to-door shipping.
Customer Service
Honesty, transparency, and integrity are the core things of U Food Pouch. They believe every customer interaction opens up a new sales path and offers a chance to showcase their uniqueness. For this reason, they believe in contact with you promptly and effectively.
You can contact them if you need free samples of retort packaging to explore their working procedures or other factors.
Conclusion
Retort pouches open up a new era in the packaging industry. The specialty of these bags lies in customized designs, several shapes and sizes. By using these bags, you get a healthy packaging solution. And commercial businesses achieve their credibility.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to order and get your customized retort packaging.
