Which is best: Jars or Pouches?

Since cannabis legalization in Canada, there has been a constant debate on the best packaging format to house dried flower. One of the main arguments prominent among consumers, retailers, and LP’s alike has been which is better: jars or pouches?

We want to preface this by saying there is no right or wrong answer.

We are proud to supply both formats, and believe there are advantages to both. Considerations when selecting a packaging format should be made by looking at all aspects of supply chain: procurement and warehousing, fulfillment and packaging, storage and transport, and consumer experience, and reviewing the pros and cons of each.

Here is a brief side by side comparison, considering many factors in the product cycle:

	Rigid Packaging: Jars & Caps	Flexible Packaging: CR Pouches
Stock Solutions	Stock solutions available in white and black Cannasupplies Child-Resistant Packaging – jar & cap	Stock solutions available in white and black Cannasupplies CR Pinch & Slide Pouches
Customization	Can be made to order in custom colours, custom recycled materials, or custom induction liners/freshness foam 30 Dram Jar, ideal for dried flower, topicals, edibles, etc. with child-resistant domed lid	Can be made to order in any size, custom colour, or any custom print (including rotating Health Canada warnings) Cannasupplies CR Pinch & Slide Pouches – With Label & pre-printing
Supply chain	Options for domestic and overseas product sources	Options for domestic and overseas product sources
Warehousing	Standard jars are generally 15,000 units per pallet; caps 20,000 per pallet	Depending on the size pouches can be 20,000 to 50,000 units per pallet
Product filling	Fill by hand or with specialized equipment	Fill by hand or with specialized equipment
Product freshness	Caps available with freshness foam to remain under the cap; consider adding a humidity packet to maintain product profile Canansupplies CR caps with induction sealed liners	Consider packaging with nitrogen infusion, or adding a humidity packet to maintain product profile Cannasupplies custom colour CR pouches
Sealing	Variety of induction-seal equipment available ranging from hand-held to fully-automated Hand Held Induction Sealer	Variety of heat-seal equipment available ranging from hand-held to fully-automated Heat Sealer for Pouches and Bags
Labelling	1 label wraps around PDP; pre-printed is not conducive for use in the Canadian market Cannasupplies Child-Resistant jar and compatible closure	Can combine pre-printing static data, and over-print or label variable production data; or apply full labels to back, front or both Custom Printed Child Resistant Pouches by Cannasupplies
Warehousing and transport	Rigid packaging formats can be designed to remain in secure master case location. Consider dividers or other structural stability to reduce movement.	Utilize gusset to stand up pouch. Consider dividers or other structural stability to reduce movement during transport.
Consumer experience	Familiar push down and turn child-resistant format. Perception of over-packaging if product fills less than jar capacity, as well as overall packaging weight.	Familiar tear-off strip. Practice may be required to engage CR zipper. Perception of less material, less weight, and overall less packaging.
Recycling	Vessels available in a variety of universally* recyclable materials including PET (Recycle symbol #1), HDPE (Recycle # 2), PP (Recycled #5) plastics, glass and tin. Closures available in PP/co-poly, universally recyclable *recyclability depends on municipal restrictions, ie: black plastic cannot be recycled in Toronto	Recycle # 7 due to multilayer combinations of different plastics. Recyclability depends on municipal restrictions. Cannabis packaging is best recycled through in-store recycling programs.