Whether you are a home prepper stocking emergency food or a food brand looking for premium packaging, mylar bags are the best solution. Not only this, but a Canadian business sourcing custom printed pouches can also go for these bags. This is because mylars are one of the most versatile and reliable packaging bags. 

From their ability to withstand moisture to protecting products from oxygen and light, they are the best solution. You can also get mylars printed with your logo to use as a tool to promote your company. In today’s blog, we will be covering everything about mylars. Such as: 

• What mylar bags are made of
• How to seal and print on them
• Where to buy them in Canada

What Are Mylar Bags?

Mylar bags are high-barrier flexible pouches that are designed to protect the packed items from the three enemies of product longevity:

• Oxygen
• Moisture
• Light

These bags are manufactured with metalised polyester films that give an airtight storage solution. When these bags are paired with oxygen absorbers, they can extend the shelf life of dry foods for decades. Mylar is a biaxially-oriented polyethene terephthalate (BoPET) film that was originally developed by DuPont. With the passage of time, the term became synonymous with the category of high-barrier resistant flexible pouches used for food storage and pharmaceutical packaging. Mylars have gas and moisture resistance and are chemically stable with high tensile strength. With these characteristics, custom mylar bags for food and other products become a superior and vacuum-sealed container for long-term storage. 

What Are Mylar Bags Made Of?

The composition of mylar bags shows why they are so durable. Custom shape mylar bags have multilayers that are as follows: 

• Food-safe polyethene inner layer for sealing and direct food contact
• A metalised aluminium layer, which is vapour-deposited aluminium)
• Tough outer polyester layer for puncture resistance

Mylars are a layer of aluminium foil that is sandwiched between two layers of plastic. This combination guarantees the benefit of both materials. Plastic is hard and cheap without a good melting point. High melting points means plastic can withstand heat. Aluminium is non-breathable and does not break down for a long time, which makes it an ideal option for packaging with high-longevity. 

Mylar bags wholesale Canada have a blended structure of polyethene terephthalate with an internal foil layer that acts as an impermeable barrier. After sealing, almost nothing can penetrate in or out. This impermeable structure makes mylars a standard packaging across the food and pharmaceutical industries. 

Custom mylar bags with logo are used to pack products and promote the brand. These bags are available in different thicknesses that range from 3 to 7 mil. 3.5 mil mylar bags are one of the commonest options, but 5 mil mylars are thick enough to shrug off punctures yet still pliable for a tight heat seal. 

How To Use Mylar Bags Used in Industry?

You can buy Mylar bags for multiple industries and commercial applications. These wholesale tags are perfect for the food industry or other sectors where the moisture and heat-resistant natures of the packaging are required. Mylars have high-barrier capacity and a versatile nature that make them an ideal storage option for the military sector. Meal Ready To Eat Packaging is mainly mylar that protects the edibles from oxygen and moisture. Aside from this, the following are the common products where mylar bags in Toronto and other parts of the world are used: 

• Beverages 
• Pharmaceuticals 
• Nutraceuticals 
• Medical devices
• Cosmetics
• Cleaning supplies
• Pet products

How to Seal Mylar Bags

One of the most critical steps in mylar bags is their sealing, which makes them effective for use. You can begin by filling mylar with food or other products while leaving 2 to 3 inches of head space. After this, you have to fill the correct dosage of oxygen absorbers on the bags that range from 300–500cc for 1-gallon bags and 2000–2500cc for 5-gallon bags. 

Now you can seal the bags either by a heat sealer set to 350–400°F or a household clothes iron on the “cotton setting” without steam. Press the iron firmly for 2 to 3 seconds per inch over a protective cloth layer. The ideal temperature to seal mylars depends on the thickness of the bag. Generally, it is 160°C–170°C for 3.5 mil mylar bags and 190°C–220°C for 7.0 mil mylar bags. 

For perfection, perform a visual inspection to confirm there are no gaps or weak points along the seam. If you are using Mylar at home, then iron works perfectly to seal the bags. You can also use a hair straightener or a heat sealer to heat seal mylar bags. 

How Do You Print on Mylar Bags?

Printing on mylar bags is a tricky thing due to the non-porous surface of mylar. The pouch size and films are selected to prepare them for high-resolution CMYK printing with bleed. You can choose the printing method based on your order size, such as digital printing for short runs and flexo or gravure for long runs. The bags are printed and laminated after the approval of the designs. Later on, the roll stock is converted into heat-seal pouches with different add-ons. The following are common mylar bags printing methods: 

Digital Printing  

This is one of the most accessible and flexible options and is used by many brands. Digital printing is ideal for short runs and text orders. Aside from this, digital printing is a good option for brands looking for fast turnaround.  

Flexographic Printing 

It is an ideal printing method and is accessible for multiple brands. Flexography uses flexible plates to apply inks at high speed and is a cost-effective option for large-scale printed mylar bags

Gravure Printing And Screen Printing

Gravure printing is one of the highest quality printing methods that is reserved for very large production runs. When consistency and quality are paramount, gravure printing is used. Screen printing is a less common option for mylar printing. Nonetheless, for short runs and bold designs, screen printing can be used. 

How Many Oxygen Absorbers in Mylar Bags?

The right size of oxygen absorber is essential for effective food preservation. Oxygen absorbers are measured in cubic centimetres and represent the volume of oxygen they can remove. They come in different cc amounts, such as: 

• 200cc
• 300cc
• 1000cc 
• 1-gallon mylar bags use a 300cc oxygen absorber
• 5-gallon mylar bags use a 2000cc oxygen absorber

A high concentration of oxygen absorbers will not affect the food quality negatively, but a low concentration has a significant negative effect. If you have any kind of doubt regarding the concentration of oxygen absorbers, it is better to add extra. 

Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers

To scavenge residual oxygen from the sealed environment and reduce oxygen levels below 0.1%, the use of oxygen absorbers is necessary. This halts oxidation and stunts bacterial growth, along with the prevention of insect eggs from hatching. You can remove 99.99 % of oxygen by using oxygen absorbers. The use of a vacuum sealer reduces around 99.5 % of the oxygen from the bags. That small difference dramatically over months and years of storage. Therefore, the use of oxygen absorbers is non-negotiable for long-term food preservation. 

Oxygen absorbers are small packets with iron powder and a lesser amount of other inert chemicals, such as salt and calcium oxide. The iron reacts with oxygen in the bag to produce iron oxide and removes free oxygen. Oxygen absorbers cannot be reused; store unused absorbers in a sealed mason jar or vacuum-sealed bag immediately after opening.

Where to Buy Mylar Bags

You can buy Mylar bags from multiple companies in Canada. For convenience, buy mylar bags online and get the best options at your disposal. Some of the reliable places from where you can purchase mylar bags online are as follows: 

• Amazon.ca: It is a convenient option for individual buyers and small businesses that need standard mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. 
• MylarBagsMakers: This company is known for its superior quality Mylar bags with printed logos and custom add-ons. From this company, you can buy in bulk and avail the best discounts. 
• 72hours.ca: All mylar bags at 72HOURS are 5 mil thick. Their bags are ideal for long-term storage.

You can buy custom printed mylar bags from any of the above companies. In Toronto, these bags are available in black and white for regular use. You can get custom printed options from Mylar Bags Makers and choose all the specifications as per your brand’s requirements. 

Final Thoughts

Mylar bags are manufactured with the intersection of science and smart packaging engineering. These bags are an ideal option for long-term and resistant storage. Among multiple features of mylar bags, their ability to protect the packaged items for decades with oxygen absorbers makes them one of the most useful types of packaging. From the top buyers to those who are merely learning about the mylars, this guide covers all the aspects to place a wholesale order in Toronto or across Canada.