The purchasing question
A pouch material budget needs the web actually consumed to produce it. Finished face dimensions alone may omit seals, gussets and trim. When an approved machine layout is available, width, repeat and packs per repeat give a clearer purchasing basis.
Calculation method
Area per nominal pack = web width × repeat length ÷ packs per repeat. Multiply by GSM ÷ 1,000 and price/kg for material cost per pack. Divide by the usable fraction for a gross-input loss rate, then multiply by 1,000.
Worked example
A 0.8 m web, 0.25 m repeat and two packs per repeat use 0.1 m² per pack. At 60 GSM, that is 0.006 kg. At €3.20/kg, nominal film cost is €0.0192 per pack, or €19.20 per thousand. With 4% gross-input loss, the figure becomes €20 per thousand good packs.
This example includes consumed film only. Zippers, spouts, filling, labour and order-level charges require their own allocation. A lightweight finished pouch may still consume more purchased web than its retained mass suggests because trim is removed.
Checks before using the result
- Use the actual production repeat and lane layout.
- Keep retained pouch mass distinct from consumed web mass.
- Specify whether the subtotal includes components beyond film.
Common questions
Is this the finished selling price of a pouch?
No. It is the material subtotal on the entered scope. A complete quote can include converting, components, logistics and margin.