PackMojo Pouch Samples: Materials & Transparency

Metallic pouches have an additional VMPET (Vacuum Metallized PET) layer in the middle. This is what gives pouches the metallic appearance. It’s aluminum-colored, non-transparent, and offers barrier protection, making it the best for products with light and moisture-sensitive (e.g., coffee beans and powders).

When you stack PE + VMPET + PET, you get a pouch that appears aluminum on both the inside and outside since both PE and PET are transparent. However, with the inner material as PE, it still allows for reliable heat sealing without damaging the aluminum layer.

In order to achieve the metallic look on pouches, the material must contain either pure aluminum foil or metallized film (like VMPET). The true metallic appearance requires these metal-based layers on a transparent substrate (e.g. PET).

Generally, any print on pouches will be see-through. To reduce this see-through effect, you will have to print a white base. When it comes to lighter colors, adding a white base can turn the color from transparent to translucent. Whereas for darker colors, the white base helps to create a bolder and more solid appearance. However, even with this white base, the pouch will not be opaque. Therefore, if you would like an opaque pouch, it’s best to use PE + VMPET + PET along with a white base.

To achieve the metallic pouch appearance, you should use PE + VMPET + PET without the white base. Since the VMPET is the middle layer, printing a white base will obscure the metallic effect.