Flexible packaging – indispensable for keeping stocked in the Corona crisis

In the UK, Switzerland and many other countries, the Corona pandemic is bringing public life to a virtual standstill, imposing enormous challenges on business and politics. Shopping trends are changing, too. Instead of shopping carts being filled with fresh produce, they’re being filled with less perishable products, also many people are opting for home deliveries instead of going to the shops or stores themselves subsequently Flexible packaging – that keeps contents protected against a wide range of harmful factors – is indispensable in this situation.

Why flexible packaging is so important now

The Corona crisis is forcing us to rethink habits.  Before the outbreak, many people went to the supermarket or grocery store every couple of days to stock up on fresh produce. Now, most go shopping as little as once a week. This is why shopping trolleys are clearly fuller than before and the focus is once again on durable products such as convenience meals, pasta, and soups. Although the supply situation is expected to improve, many consumers are purchasing staple foods that allow them to subsist for a few weeks in case of emergencies. Therefore, to prevent wastage and premature spoilage of such essential supplies, foods must be optimally packaged.

How high quality flexible packaging protects food

In view of the fact that – and just a few short months ago – the abolishment of packaging was still being debated, with the public and parts of the media having lost sight of the vast benefits of flexible packaing for food, pharmaceuticals and other essential & high value commodities, the current situation highligts both the need for its continuing use and relieved that it still exists. Because without suitable packaging, many food products would spoil more quickly.  One startling fact; of the roughly four billion tonnes of food produced worldwide, only about one third is actually consumed. The remaining 2 /3rds, unprotected, spoils and has to be discarded.

Therefore used more widely Flexible packaging helps keep unused food tightly sealed, offers consumers much needed bio security,  protecting the products against moisture, UV radiation, germs, mildew, and other harmful effects. This ensures that the shelf life of packaged products can be extended across a very long period of time.

Apart from its protective function, flexible packaging has further advantages. Other advantages as well as extended longevity includes reduced vulnerability to damage as compared with hard packaging. Since supermarket shelves are quickly cleared out in epidemic times, they also have to be refilled more frequently. If a flexibly packaged item should be inadvertently dropped, nothing usually happens. But hard packaging might sustain damage when dropped, ruining the integrity of the product resulting in it being replaced all of which highlights the essential need for the continuing use of flexible packaging.

Low weight is another benefit: flexible packaging hardly contributes to storage, distribution, and shipping costs. Additionally, minimised packaging material minimises packaging waste.

Not just foods..

Apart from foods, the demand for various cosmetic products is higher than prior to the Coronavirus outbreak. Bottlenecks are occurring, not only with toilet paper. Many shelves normally stocked with refill pouches for liquid soaps are now empty. Although stocks will be replenished post-Corona at the latest, understandbly demand will not quickly drop back to habitual levels. At least for a certain period of time, also the realisation that washing one’s hands just once more often and more thoroughly will remain on consumers’ minds. High consumption also increases the demand for packaging material.

We are continuing our production of flexible packaging with no quality compromise

For many weeks, we have been monitoring the current developments involving COVID-19, generally referred to as the Coronavirus. Wipf AG and Maxilla Packaging initiated all necessary measures (hygiene, social distancing, shift work, etc.) at an early stage and developed the emergency rules specified by our pandemic outbreak plan in order to be able to continue manufacturing flexible packaging in sufficient quantities. As a supplier, manufacturer of food, non-food, and medical packaging, we spare no effort to remain productive as rigorously and as efficiently as possible.

We are dedicated to safeguarding your health, that of our employees and that of their families. At the same time, we are committed to maintaining production and to offering our customers the high level of service to which they are accustomed. Unfortunately, we cannot prevent delays from occurring in shipping, especially in cross-border traffic however, we are in constant contact with our logistics partners and drivers  and will gladly inform you of the current status.

Together, we will master the crisis. Thank you for your understanding. Keep safe !