Comprehensive Guide to Food Packaging Types | Packinfood

Food packaging plays a vital role in preserving freshness, extending shelf life, and presenting products in the best possible way. At Packinfood, we offer a wide range of packaging solutions tailored for different food types and market needs. This guide introduces the most common types of food packaging, their technical details, and applications.

Vacuum Pouches / Vacuum Bags 

Removes air from the package to extend shelf life; provides oxygen and moisture barrier. Commonly used for meat, cheese, seafood, coffee, and delicatessen items.

MAP Packaging (Modified Atmosphere Packaging)

Filled with a protective gas mixture and hermetically sealed to maintain freshness. Ideal for red meat, poultry, fresh produce, and ready meals.

Thermoforming Films

Bottom film is thermoformed and sealed with a lidding film. Common in meat & poultry, cheese, and ready meal trays.

Shrink Films

Shrinks with heat to tightly wrap products; often used for multipack applications.

Doypack / Stand-Up Pouches

Bottom gusset allows the pouch to stand upright on shelves. Perfect for snacks, coffee, powdered drinks, and nuts.

Flat Pouches

Flat, non-gusseted, typically for single-use packaging such as spices, sauces, and single-portion products.

Foil-Based Laminates

High-barrier, multi-layer laminates with aluminium foil. Used for coffee, instant soup, spices, and energy powders.

Paper-Based Packaging

Eco-friendly, recyclable paper packaging. Ideal for flour, sugar, coffee, and bakery products.

Lidding Films

Peelable or weld-seal films used to seal trays and containers such as yogurt, dairy desserts, and ready meals.

High-Barrier Laminates

Multi-layer films providing oxygen, moisture, and light barriers. Used for coffee, milk powder, and ready meals.

Technical Specifications Table

Category	Description	Typical Material Structure	Applications / Product Examples
Vacuum Pouches / Vacuum Bags	Removes air from the package to extend shelf life; provides oxygen and moisture barrier.	PA/PE, PET/PE, EVOH laminates	Meat & meat products, cheese, seafood, coffee, delicatessen items
MAP Packaging (Modified Atmosphere Packaging)	Filled with protective gas mixture and hermetically sealed to maintain freshness.	PET/PE, PP/PE, PET/CPP	Red meat, poultry, fresh produce, ready meals
Thermoforming Films	Bottom film is thermoformed and sealed with a lidding film.	PET/PE, PA/PE, EVOH/PE	Meat & poultry, cheese, ready meal trays
Shrink Films	Shrinks with heat to tightly wrap products; often used for multipack applications.	PVC, POF, PE shrink films	Water bottle packs, beverage multipacks, jar bundling
Doypack / Stand-Up Pouches	Bottom gusset allows the pouch to stand upright on shelves.	PET/AL/PE, PET/PE, Kraft/PE	Snacks, coffee, powdered drinks, nuts
Flat Pouches	Flat, non-gusseted, typically for single-use packaging.	PET/PE, OPP/CPP	Spices, sauces, single-portion products
Foil-Based Laminates	High-barrier, multi-layer laminates with aluminium foil.	PET/AL/PE, OPP/AL/PE	Coffee, instant soup, spices, energy powders
Paper-Based Packaging	Eco-friendly, recyclable paper packaging.	Kraft Paper/PE, Wax Paper	Flour, sugar, coffee, bakery products
Lidding Films	Peelable or weld-seal films used to seal trays and containers.	PET/PE peelable, PET/CPP	Yogurt, dairy desserts, ready meal trays
Plastic / Aluminium Trays	Containers for fresh, cooked or ready-to-eat foods.	APET, CPET, PP, Aluminium	Meat, fish, baked meals, desserts
Bottles & Jars	Glass or plastic containers for liquids and semi-liquids.	Glass, PET, HDPE	Juice, milk, sauces, preserves
Metal Cans	Pressure-resistant, long shelf-life metal containers.	Tinplate, Aluminium	Canned vegetables, tuna, beverages
Medical & Sterile Food Packaging	Sterile, high-barrier packaging suitable for medical-grade food.	PET/PE, EVOH, Tyvek®	Infant formula, medical nutrition
High-Barrier Laminates	Multi-layer films providing oxygen, moisture, and light barriers.	PET/AL/PE, PET/EVOH/PE	Coffee, milk powder, ready meals