Real life example: the two compartment pouch for long-shelf life and food safety

Food shortages, malnourishment and spread diseases are unfortunately part of everyday life in certain areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, despite international relief efforts. On top of that, over 300 million people lack access to clean water in that region.

For a few years now, the 2-compartment pouch has become very popular in Sub-Saharan Africa as it helps overcoming the challenge of access to clean water and the need to deliver food to areas without cold chain.

The big question is, what does a 2-compartment pouch look like? We asked Heinz Pospech, Managing Director at our Cape Town’s operations of Pouch Dynamics.

Constantia Flexibles: Could you please tell us a bit more about the 2-compartment pouch?
Heinz Pospech: It is a pouch made from multi-layer material with two (or more) compartments, separated by a frangible seal. The two compartments are not mixed until the burst peel separates. Squeezing the pouch bursts the internal seal allowing the content of the compartments to mix, without disturbing the outside seal.

Constantia Flexibles: What is the story behind the development of the 2-compatment pouch?
Heinz Pospech: The 2-compartment pouch is a way of improving the daily life of malnourished children or mine workers in Sub-Saharan Africa; it is a unique and handy means of providing a portable meal in a simple and convenient package, in areas with no cold chain and limited access to clean water. This pouch was initially designed to provide the mineworkers with nutritional meal which ensured that the full nutritional value was retained until such time the water and the nutritional powder are mixed. This feeding scheme is designed for extended shelf-life and requires no refrigeration.

Subsequently, the pouch format has also been introduced to feed school children in remote areas where clean water may be scarce and children are deprived of healthy meals.

Constantia Flexibles: Pouch Dynamics was among the first converters to launch and promote a 2-compartment pouch in Africa; are there any additional feature you can currently add to this packaging application?
Heinz Pospech: Today, Pouch Dynamics is able to manufacture a dual compartment spouted or teated pouch, using the same technology. We have recently begun working on developing a twin pouch with a teat which is being developed to feed children in remote areas. This packaging application was first designed as part of a social program to help improve the life of malnourished children and mine workers. However, we believed in the marketing potential of such a product and wanted to use the same technology for other end-use applications such as sport supplements, sauces, vitamin and mineral premixes, powder milk…

... Get to know Pouch Dynamics

Constantia Flexibles completed the acquisition of Pouch Dynamics at the end of 2015; this acquisition allowed the group to make a big step forward in the pouch market. Today, Pouch Dynamics represents the largest pouch manufacturing plant in Africa, with over 100 million premade pouches produced per year.