Pockets & Pouches...

I have decided to per sue the pouch idea as my final-ish design for the cosmetics packaging. I have therefore been looking into products that are packaged using similar formats and materials. I have used The Die Line and Lovely Package to find these examples of pockets and pouches that are used to packaged products effectively:

1.



Method - noted for their already sustainable packaging - have created this pouch as refill for their hand wash. They are clearly aware that the plastic bottles they currently sell their products in have more than one use in them, and providing a refill option is more eco-friendly. The full colour images denote which hand wash the refill is for; they originally had a patterned clear plastic pouch (below), but have changed it to white to make it more readable. Creating a substantial bottle and refill option would be suitable for some of the Boots Expert product range, but not all of them.



2.

These are 'single-serving' packages which are easy to dispense and essentially leave no wasted packaging. The tear off tops make the product easy to dispense quickly, rather than cutting. The shape is also appealing and an ergonomically suitable shape for holding. This type of 'one-shot' design could be useful for some of the Expert products, for example, the Soothing Scalp Lotion which comes in separate sachets in a box.

3.

These fruit pockets are really suitable for kids as they are easy to open and dispense. They are also intended as one-shot drinks, so the disposable and non-wasteful packaging is great. They are also easier to pack in lunch boxes as they are much flatter. This would also mean that they are easier to pack for transportation and would take up a lot less space than a bottle, as the shape tessellates better. The printing onto these pouches is very bright and clean- it is good to know that such results can be achieved with such a soft and malleable material.

4.

This pouch solves the problems with brown sugar bags that tend to split easily. The pouch stands up on a wide base, and reseals with a zip-lock seal. The clear packaging showcases the product inside, and the reverse out text is really strong. Overall the product is very strong, and solves a genuine problem. The idea of letting the product show through is really strong, and would work really well for coloured or textured products.

5.

These thin metal bags are designed for the herbs to be grown in. This solves the issue of packaging the product and then buying something else to grow it in. Homebase do a product that is basically the same, and it actually works pretty well. The metal is a clean and easy surface to screen print onto.

6.

These are similar to the sugar bag. A resealable pouch that minimises the use of materials, but keeps the product fresh and contained. This pouch is opaque, allowing the printed design to really stand out. Using a foil or coated metal is a good way of keeping the produce fresh, but the print finish is also great, really suitable for a detailed design.

7.

This a non-resealable pouch that uses a cardboard folding label top. This allows the printing to be done onto the card, and the pouch left totally clear, making it easier to recycle. This is great for sauces, soups etc, but wouldn't be ideal for cosmetics.