Sachets are a versatile and efficient packaging solution used across industries, de la nourriture aux soins personnels. They make it easier for you to handle, magasin, and portion products while keeping them fresh and protected.
Dans cet article, we’ll explore their main features, common applications, how they compare to stick packs, and key factors to help you choose the right format.
Que sont les sachets?
Definition of Sachets
UN sachet is a small, sealed flexible package designed to hold a measured amount of product — it can be powder, granulés, liquide, paste, or even small solid items. In packaging terms, a sachet is not just a “tiny bag.” It’s engineered with specific materials, scellés, and barrier layers to keep the contents safe from moisture, oxygène, or contamination. Because each pack contains a fixed portion, it improves dosing accuracy, hygiène, and ease of use for you and your customers.
Types of Sachets by Bag Style
Flat Sachets
This is the classic single-serve pack you’ve probably handled countless times. Flat sachets are slim, léger, and easy for high-speed filling and sealing. They work especially well for portion-controlled powders, sauces, or condiments. And they keep your costs and material use low while delivering a neat presentation to the end user.
Stick / Slender Sachets
If your product is meant to be poured or consumed on the go, stick sachets give you that flexibility. Their long, narrow shape makes them easy to tear and pour, and lets you pack more units per carton — a real plus for your logistics and shelf efficiency.
Gusseted Sachets
Sometimes you need more fill weight without moving to a completely different package. Gusseted sachets expand at the sides to hold more volume in the same footprint. They’re often chosen for dry mixes, granulés, or even small medical items where extra capacity and stability matter.
Stand-up / Shaped Sachets
When branding and shelf appeal are as important as function, stand-up or shaped sachets help you stand out. With a bottom gusset or a custom contour, they can literally stand upright on display and signal “premium” to your customer — ideal for travel-size personal care, hotel amenities, or high-value foods.
Common Uses of Sachets Across Industries
Industrie alimentaire
You’ve probably seen sachets for instant coffee, tea powders, powdered drink mixes, sucre, et condiments. They make it simple to enjoy a consistent taste every time, whether you’re brewing your morning coffee or adding sugar to a beverage. Pour les fabricants, sachets reduce waste, simplify storage, and streamline distribution, especially for single-serve products. En même temps, they protect ingredients from moisture, air, et contamination, helping the product stay fresh longer.
Fournitures médicales
Each sachet delivers the exact dose, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that what you take is precisely what is intended. The sealed design also maintains hygiene and potency until you’re ready to use it. For products like vitamins, probiotics, or powdered medications, this means the effectiveness you rely on is preserved until the last moment.
Soins personnels et cosmétiques
Sachets are extremely convenient for travel-size shampoos, lotions, creams, et masques pour le visage. They make it easy for you to carry products on the go without worrying about spills. They also allow brands to offer samples or trial sizes, giving you the chance to try a product before committing to a full-size version. The packaging keeps products hygienic, portable, and ready for use whenever you need them.
Industrial and Chemical Products
Products like detergents, engrais, and powdered water treatment chemicals are portioned into sachets to prevent overuse and reduce waste. They also make handling safer and more efficient, which is essential in both manufacturing and distribution. Because sachets are lightweight, stackable, and easy to transport, they simplify logistics while keeping bulk shipments organized and spill-free.
Hotel and Travel Supplies
Hotels, airlines, and cruise lines often use sachets for single-use toiletries and amenities, such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and even small soaps or disposable slippers. This ensures that every item is hygienic, pratique, and ready for use when you need it, whether in a hotel room or on a flight. For staff, pre-portioned sachets simplify restocking and maintain consistent quality for each guest.
Sachet vs Stick Packs
In the packaging industry, ‘sachet’ usually refers to flat, three- or four-side-sealed pouches, whereas ‘stick sachets’ are long, narrow pouches made with a vertical (center) seal and two horizontal seals. Looking at them side by side can help you decide which one fits your product and production needs best.
Quick Comparison Table
| Dimension | Flat Sachet | Stick Sachet |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and Structure | Short and wide; stable stacking | Long and narrow; compact packing |
| Size and Portion Range | Flexible, micro to medium fills | Small, fixed servings (2–20 g) |
| Sealing and Package Integrity | Multiple seal types; strong for liquids | Longitudinal and end seals; best for powders |
| Filling Behavior and Dosing Accuracy | Handles liquids, pastes, poudres | Narrow channel improves dosing for powders |
| Production Speed and Throughput | High but variable; flexible runs | Very high-speed; uniform output |
| Material Use and Barrier Performance | Thicker/multilayer laminates; strong protection | Thinner films; adequate for powders |
| Product Suitability | Sauces, assaisonnement, soupes, viscous products | Instant drinks, powdered coffee, sucre, supplements |
Shape and Structure
- Flat Sachet: Shorter and wider than stick sachets, usually made as three- ou four-sided sealed packs, with optional small gussets for added volume. The flat form stacks more stably and fills more flexibly than stick sachets.
- Stick Sachet: Long and narrow tube. Seals run along the length with transverse seals at the ends, creating a slim packet for single pours. The shape favors quick dispensing and compact packing density.
Size and Portion Range
- Flat Sachet: Very flexible. Usable for micro portions up to medium fills, typically from a few grams to tens of grams or higher when gusseted. Good when you need variable fill sizes.
- Stick Sachet: Optimized for small, fixed single servings. Commonly used in the 2 à 20 gram range. Best when you need uniform, repeatable servings at scale.
Sealing and Package Integrity
- Flat Sachet: Multiple sealing options are available, including three-side, four-side, fin, and back seals. This allows stronger seals for liquids and higher-barrier laminates for sensitive products.
- Stick Sachet: Sealing focuses on longitudinal and end seals that produce a tight tube. The narrow form gives consistent seal geometry and is efficient for dry powders, but can be less forgiving for viscous liquids.
Filling Behavior and Dosing Accuracy
- Flat Sachet: Handles a wider range of product types. Liquids and pastes are easier to fill here because the pack can accept varied flow behavior. Powder dosing is accurate but may need anti-bridging measures for poor-flow powders.
- Stick Sachet: Geometry helps dosing accuracy for free-flowing powders. The narrow channel reduces segregation and improves weight control, especially for beverage mixes and supplements.
Production Speed and Throughput
- Flat Sachet: Typical production speeds are high but vary by product type and machine. It gives strong throughput for mixed product lines and flexible runs. Changeovers between sizes can take more time.
- Stick Sachet: Designed for very high-speed, uniform output. Une fois configuré, throughput per lane is higher and unit cost falls with volume. Setting up precision and calibration is important to keep consistency.
Material Use and Barrier Performance
- Flat Sachet: Easier to use the thicker or multi-layer laminates that offer superior protection against moisture, oxygène, et la lumière. This makes them preferable for sensitive foods and pharmaceuticals.
- Stick Sachet: Typically uses thinner, lighter films to minimize cost per unit. Barriers can be sufficient for many powders, but may not match the protection of heavy laminates for highly sensitive products.
Product Suitability
- Flat Sachet: Sauces, assaisonnement, viscous products, single-serve soups, larger-portion dry mixes, and some pharmaceutical topical creams. Use this when the product needs stronger protection or is not free-flowing.
- Stick Sachet: Instant drink mixes, powdered coffee, sucre, single-dose supplements and vitamins, powdered sweeteners. Use this when fast pouring and precise single servings matter.
Choosing Between Sachets and Stick Packs
Before you decide, it helps to look at a few key factors that can guide you toward the best option.
Product Type
Different products behave differently during packaging. Poudres, granulés, and liquids each have unique flow properties. If you work with sticky or viscous liquids, sachets—especially flat or gusseted designs—handle irregular flow and prevent spills. Free-flowing powders, d'autre part, often perform best in stick packs, which improve portion accuracy and reduce waste during filling.
Portion Size
The portion you want to offer your customers affects your choice. Single-serving portions between 2–15 grams are ideal for stick packs, making it easy for your clients or end users to handle. Larger portions, such as 20–50 grams, are more practical in sachets, providing stability and easier pouring.
Barrier Requirements
Products sensitive to moisture, oxygène, or light need strong protection. Sachets allow you to use multilayer laminates and thicker films for superior barrier performance. Stick packs generally use thinner films to save on material costs, which works for most powders but may not be enough for highly sensitive ingredients.
Production Speed and Cost
Stick packs are designed for high-speed, high-volume production, ensuring precise portions and reduced manual handling. Sachets give you greater flexibility across different products and portion sizes, which can save time on multi-product lines and handle more complex filling requirements.
End-User Convenience
Think about how your customers or end users will interact with the product. Stick packs are perfect for quick, controlled pouring into cups, bouteilles, or other containers. Sachets work better when your users need measured dosing, sprinkling, or dipping, giving them more control over the product.
Image de marque et esthétique
Sachets provide a larger surface area, so you can include detailed logos, instructions, or nutritional information. Stick packs have a slim, modern profile that appeals to consumers who value sleek design and portability, ideal for on-the-go products.
Réflexions finales
Sachets and stick packs each offer unique advantages depending on the product, portion size, and production needs. Choosing the right format ensures efficiency, protection du produit, and a better end-user experience.
No matter which packaging style you work with, CHLB provides high-quality packaging machines across various industries, capable of handling different formats with precision and reliability. With the right equipment, you can streamline production and maintain consistent quality, making your operations smoother and more efficient.
