Stick pack vs Sachet packaging: What’s the difference?

There are so many advantages to single-use packaging, like sachets and stick packs. From providing pre-measured doses of nutritional supplements and medicines, to makeup, dairy products, flavorings, sweeteners and beverages, the convenience factor has made these small dose packaging options surge in popularity.

In this article we’re going to go over both flavors of single-use, single dose packages. We’re going to compare and contrast sachet and stick pack packaging for you so you can decide what is best for your product.

Why Good Packaging Matters

Whether you choose stick packs or sachets, your packaging matters. No matter how you cut it, the packaging you use to send out your product represents your brand. It might not be the most obvious thing, but people pay attention. 

People notice the brand went above and beyond to ensure that every person who touched the package sees a logo or feels the quality used when choosing how to ship items. 

Inversely, consumers notice when a package was just an afterthought, or when cheap materials were used to save a buck or two.

One thing that’s becoming more apparent is that many options are never a bad thing. Supplement, pharmaceutical, makeup and flavoring companies have preferences but also have needs. There’s a lot that goes into making educated choices in terms of quality, functionality, price points that need to be hit, and how a package needs to be shipped. 

In packaging, it’s easy to get in the weeds on what colors are best to print with, or is something sustainable or recyclable. One of those questions that pop up repeatedly is always around single-use packaging, most noticeably, stick pack vs. sachet packaging. 

What to know about sachet vs. stick pack

Single-use products like sachet and stick are increasingly popular choices thanks to being easily transportable with low weight and small size and acting as a time-saver. The two are very similar, but there is a subtle difference, and we thought you needed to know what those things are.

• Stick pack is tubular, with a long, slender design, and there’s always a side seam. A stick pack is typically around four times longer than its width, with an average length of about 40 to 200 millimeters. They are primarily used for nutritional powders, sugar, spices, and are mostly concentrated and added to some kind of medium like water, milk, and other liquids.
• Sachets are single-serve best for small portions of things like sports drink powders or supplements. And with ePac’s digital printing capabilities, they have a seriously wicked look and feel. 

One of the nicest things about sachets and stick packs is that they’re perfect for giving consumers a trial of your product. They’re also ideal for on-the-go lifestyles and frequent travelers because they’re small enough to be tossed in a bag before heading out. 

Packaging that makes sense for your business

Another perk of sachets is that they can be designed for an exact usage amount. However, a sachet is flat and has a three or four-side sealing. When picking between the two, it comes down to:

1. The type of product
2. What you’re using as flexible packing materials
3. What’s inside the packaging. 
4. And what’s the quality of the product.

And then there’s also the sealing method, along with the production speed. 

Sachets and sticks packs are super diverse in that they can package just about anything from condiments to over-the-counter drugs or your favorite Cajun spice blend. It does come down to what you’re selling and how you want it presented to consumers. 

Conclusion

Whether you’re providing samples, or selling single-use versions of your supplement at high margins, you’ve got a couple of choices: stick packs and sachets.

Stick packs are great for tea and coffee flavorings, or just to provide a pretty, slender look and feel.

Sachets are great for anything you care to provide in a single, pre-measured dose, either for people on the go, a last-minute purchase when you forgot your regular supplements at home, or as sample packs for shampoos, or anything else that fits in the little form factor.

If you’ve got further questions on what makes the most sense for your business,  just ask. We’d love to show you the difference between the sachet and stick packaging, and together, we’ll figure out how to solve your company’s needs.

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