- Dynamic Capacity: Side gussets expand to increase volume for bulky products
- Self-Standing Design: Upright positioning without external support
- Space Efficiency: Foldable when empty, expandable when filled
- Shape Adaptability: Conforms to irregular product geometries
Side gusset vs Bottom gusset
Gusset bags usually fall into two categories: side gusset bags and bottom gusset bags, two common flexible packaging designs.
It's pretty easy to identify side gusset bags.
The sides of the bag have an accordion structure, using additional material to create expandable pleats on the sides. When filled, this construction makes the bag lie flat and not boxy; closer, in fact, to the classical "pillow bag." A typical example of this construction can be found in snack package designs. The sides will expand when the bag is filled, but the overall shape remains compact because the sides are compressible. Because they are compressible, these kinds of bags take up less space when empty, enabling dense stacking. However, they are difficult to display upright when they are filled, usually having to lean against shelves or other packaging, which results in less visual prominence.
Bottom gusset bags
It is the bottom part of the bag that takes the accordion structure, creating a stable rectangular base. When filled, the bag is able to stand upright like a box, showing a more regular cubic shape. This may commonly be seen in the design of coffee bags or even pet food bags, which makes them show up more upwards. Due to the bottom part being of a rectangular structure, it stands independently, enhancing shelf display by making the brand information and product details more observable to buyers. However, the upright form of the bag may need more shelf space.
Applications Across Industries
Food Industry
Ideal for bulk and perishable items, side gusset bags leverage barrier materials (aluminum foil composites) and degassing valves to preserve freshness. QQ Studio’s coffee bags, for example, use one-way valves to release CO₂ while maintaining aroma, making them a staple for specialty coffee roasters.
Retail & E-commerce
Polypak Plastics highlights their use in grocery stores for shelf-stable items like grains and baked goods. The self-standing design maximizes shelf space efficiency, while resealable zippers cater to consumer convenience for bulk purchases.
Industrial & Home Use
Dürrbeck’s industrial-grade variants serve as dust/moisture barriers for tools, clothing, and machinery parts. As box liners, they protect goods during transit, demonstrating versatility beyond consumer packaging.
Why choose?
Industry-Specific Advantages
Food: Barrier protection + freshness preservation
Retail: Self-standing display + resealable convenience
Industrial: Heavy-duty protection + space efficiency
Cost advantages:
The gusset design offers an increase in bag capacity while being able to remain flat when not filled, thus saving space. It can be adjusted to accommodate small and large products based on the amount of filling. Compared to traditional rigid packaging, it consumes less material and is lighter, while significantly decreasing warehousing and logistics costs, hence reducing carbon emissions.
Dynamic Space Adjustment:
The pleat structure allows the bag to expand and shrink freely with the amount contained inside. Therefore, it supports both small products like snacks and huge items like 5 kg of pet foods without producing package wastes.
Saving place: It can be folded flat, about 20–40% saving in warehousing and transportation, which is especially fit for E-commerce logistics.
Material Optimization: Gusset bags utilize less material compared to rigid packaging, such as tin cans and cardboard boxes. This reduces production energy consumption by approximately 50%. They are lighter, too, which contributes to reduced carbon emissions during transportation.
Brand advantages:
Gusset bags feature a large printable area on the front, back, and sides, which allows businesses to display brand logos, promotional content, or product information. Moreover, the gusset-style bottom allows for standing upright, which gives a far more prominent presentation of printed content than that allowed by ordinary flat bags or cans, thereby making them very noticeable on the shelf.
Custom Advantages
Like other flexible packaging, gusseted bags can be customized in terms of material and size.
Customization Flexibility: Supports various material combinations (PE, PP, aluminum foil, etc.), size customization, and functional upgrades (such as one-way exhaust valves, easy-tear openings) to suit different product needs.
Materials and Sustainability Trends
Traditional Materials
- Plastics: PE (flexibility), PP (moisture resistance), and aluminum foil (high barrier) dominate for functional needs.
- Paper Composites: Kraft paper with transparent windows offers eco-aesthetics for lightweight goods.
Sustainability Innovations
- Biodegradable Options: PLA-based bags (e.g., ClearBags’ compostable line) decompose in industrial facilities.
- Recyclable Designs: Long Dapac’s mono-material PE bags enable 100% recyclability, aligning with EU PPWR regulations.
- Recycled Content: 30%+ recycled PE films reduce reliance on virgin plastics, meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging.
Post time: Sep-05-2025