Since the 1990s, stick pack packaging has changed how we package our goods. Originating in Japan and first brought to North America by us, stick pack packaging was meant to provide a smaller and more efficient means of packaging products. Not only is it easier for manufacturers to ship, but it’s also easier for stores to stock them. Typically made of plastic, stick packs can be used to pack a wide variety of products for various purposes.

Instant coffee in a single serving? Stick packs are perfect for single-use beverages. Medicines with very precise amounts and weights? Stick packs can securely be used to provide single dosages. From medicines to foods to even cleaning supplies, stick packs have helped products to reach the consumer in new ways, but it’s even more beneficial than that.

Stick packs not only reduce the size of the packaging, but they can also help reduce product waste!

Whenever something has to be discarded after purchasing a product, it’s considered “product waste”. That plastic bottle the pills came in; that over-sized bag some foods come in. Once they’re thrown in the trash they’re considered waste, and many people have been trying to reduce that waste for years. In this piece, we’ll highlight just how stick pack packaging is battling against those kinds of product waste, leading to waste reduction.

Let’s see how it works!

What Are Stick Packs?

For those who haven’t held a stick pack in their hands, it’s a fairly simple form of packaging. A small, thin plastic “pack” that’s typically just about 4 or 5 inches long. They come together in thin cardboard packaging and can represent dozens of drinks, foods, supplements, or medicines.

So where exactly does the name “stick pack” come from? The shape, of course!

To put it simply, stick packs are shaped like sticks, and that’s all there was to it. When they were first created in Japan, they were mainly used for condiments like the packets that are used for ketchup. Though ketchup packets have been in use since the 1950s, many know the struggle of their size. Sometimes the burger needs more ketchup than the packet can provide, and thus stick packs were born.

While they started as condiment containers, they’ve grown to be the most diversely-used form of packaging there is. Doctors will prescribe medicines that come in stick packs with precise dosages, that way patients don’t get confused about the amount of medication they use. It’s also been used for military purposes, as the packs are small, durable, and extremely easy to transport.

Using stick pack packaging can save a business millions between portion control and transportation, so it’s no surprise it’s become so popular. How exactly did it affect those industries? Here’s a breakdown.

Efficient Portion Control

Portion control is a huge detail for everyone around the world. Whether it’s ensuring someone gets the vitamins they need or keeps their meal at the right calorie count, portions help us in a nearly infinite amount of ways.

The problem is that some manufacturers have made portions downright confusing. When someone weighs out the amount of cereal that’s deemed a ‘single portion’, they’ll likely find themselves with a mostly empty bowl. As it turns out, over 50% of consumers practice some form of portion control. They’re monitoring their diets, medications, or supplements to make sure they don’t have too much or too little.

Now, stick pack packaging has changed the portion control process for millions of people.

Instead of having to grab a tablespoon or measuring cups to measure out their products, users just have to grab a stick pack. First of all, that means that every dirty dish or cup used for measuring is now clean. Rather than overusing some products or wasting others because of spoilage, there’s just a single pack that provides the needed product in the needed quantity.

How does that impact different industries? Let’s see.

Food Industry

  • They’re cost-effective
  • A perfect means of controlling portion size
  • They’re made from recyclable materials
  • Portable: small and lightweight
  • Can help increase branding

Beverage Industry

  • Portability
  • Ideal for powders and mixers
  • Maintain freshness
  • Customizable for different flavors
  • Extends shelf life
  • Can be used for product sampling and branding

Health Industry

  • Perfectly regulates dosages
  • Reduces costly waste
  • Saves time for both patients and prescribers

The major benefit that’s tying those industries together is avoiding both waste and product loss. Let’s discuss how stick pack packaging actually does that.

Minimizing Product Loss During Use

Creating the perfect packaging for a single product is difficult. Traditional packaging has grown over the last century. In many cases, elaborate packaging with multiple layers has since been replaced by more environmentally friendly packaging. That hasn’t solved every problem, though.

Packaging is still imperfect, which is one of the many reasons that 30% of produced food ends up becoming waste. That’s also due to the inefficient way that food has been packaged for so long. Many forms of packaging don’t maintain freshness the way stick packs do, and most of that packaging ends up in landfills or somewhere in the environment. Only around 9% of food packaging plastic has been recycled, so a solution is sorely needed, and stick pack packaging can provide it.

The stick pack design means no unnecessary plastic or materials are being used. It’s the exact size of the dosage or amount, so no excess materials will end up in landfills. Not only that, but the consumer will get to use even more of their product. Instead of finding half of the toothpaste at the bottom of the tube, users simply pour or squeeze all of the contents out of the stick pack. Simple as that.

Not only does stick pack packaging help avoid adding more plastic to landfills, it can also help your food last longer.

Improving Shelf Life and Reducing Spoilage

Not every form of food packaging properly packages your food. To ensure food lasts as long as possible, it should be sealed in a container that prevents air from getting in. The truth is that it only takes 2 hours of air at room temperature for bacteria to start forming. So manufacturers and consumers alike should look for packaging that’s guaranteed to be sealed against air and various contaminants – like stick packs!

By preventing leaks or exposure to harmful elements, stick packs extend the shelf life of food and beverage products. No moisture, no air, and no contaminants mean that consumers get a fresh product and that manufacturer probably retains that customer.

Stick pack packaging has another enemy: bulk packaging. While many bulk stores are popular these days, they often come with massive amounts of packaging. Some of it is more accurately described as packaging for the packages and not just the product, leading to even more waste.

Roughly 25% of food waste happens because of packaging design or size. Instead of packaging that takes up the entire trunk of a car, manufacturers and consumers can choose a stick pack option that’s more efficient, is environmentally friendly, and helps avoid spoilage.

Reducing Environmental Impact Through Less Waste

To stop creating so much waste manufacturers need to stop creating wasteful packaging. The smaller a product is the smaller its packaging should be. That’s not to say that every bowl of cereal should come in its own tiny box, but other products can look for more efficient packaging to avoid that unnecessary waste. That’s where stick pack packaging comes in.

The more weight a product has means more fuel and energy is used to ship it. For manufacturers, smaller packaging can mean smaller shipping costs. For everyone, smaller packaging can mean less emissions are created when it’s eventually shipped. The shipping industry is responsible for 3% of the world’s global greenhouse emissions. That’s drastically high for one industry, but it’s a number that can be brought down over time.

For some manufacturers worried about increased costs, there are stats to pay attention to. The numbers say that most consumers would be willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. Consumers want to know that their products aren’t harmful, as well as the product’s packaging, and they’re willing to pay for that surety. While their water usage is under scrutiny, even Nestle has already started to reduce their plastic usage with single-use coffee stick packs. More industries are joining this packaging revolution, so it’s time to get on board.

When major corporations are making moves, the consumer will take notice. Stick pack packaging is a more efficient form of packaging, and the customer is going to appreciate that. It doesn’t take up space like bulk packaging. So rather than creating more waste with hefty plastic and cardboard packaging, use an alternative like stick packs to reduce waste and avoid spoilage.

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