I'll Say It: DIY Packaging is a False Economy
After five years of managing procurement for a mid-sized medical device manufacturer, I've developed a strong opinion: stop using hot glue guns on fabric for packaging. It's tempting to think a $20 craft tool can handle any sealing job, but that kind of oversimplification costs real money. Let me explain why—and how switching to professional solutions like Bemis saved us thousands.
My Hot Glue Gun Disaster
Back in 2022, our marketing team needed to ship 50 custom-printed urban posters (24×36 inches) to a trade show. Budget was tight, so someone suggested we buy a hot glue gun from the craft store and attach the posters to foam boards ourselves. I agreed. What a mistake.
The glue didn't hold on the fabric backing—two posters arrived with the image peeling off. We ended up reprinting at a local shop (search "where can I print a poster near me" and you'll find options ranging $15–$30 each). That cost us $750 in reprints—no, $800, I'm remembering the wrong invoice—plus two days of rush shipping. The original budget was already blown.
That single incident made me realize: packaging isn't just a box or a bag; it's part of the product experience. When it fails, you don't just lose material—you lose time, reputation, and money.
Why Bemis Changed My Mind
Around the same time, I learned about Bemis Company, a manufacturing company with over a century of experience in industrial and healthcare packaging. They were acquired by Amcor in 2019 (the Amcor Bemis acquisition created one of the largest flexible packaging firms globally). We tested their sharps containers, sterile pouches, and heavy-duty bags.
What struck me was consistency. Every order matched specifications exactly—no variation in seal strength, no color shifts. According to Pantone Color Matching System guidelines, professional color tolerance is Delta E < 2 for brand-critical colors. The Bemis packaging we received hit that mark every time. Meanwhile, our DIY attempts were Delta E of 5 or worse—visible to everyone.
I'm not saying hot glue guns have no place. But for anything shipping to customers or handling in sterile environments? You need a real manufacturing partner.
The Efficiency Argument
Switching to Bemis reduced our order processing time by about 40%. How? Fewer vendors, standardized products, reliable delivery. In my 2023 vendor consolidation project, I cut from 12 to 6 suppliers, saving roughly $8,000 annually in administrative overhead—actually, more like $6,500, I'm mixing it up with another project. Either way, the savings were real.
Some argue that big suppliers are more expensive. And yes, the unit cost might be slightly higher than buying off-the-shelf. But when you factor in rework, rejected shipments, and your own time? The total cost is lower. I'd argue that efficiency is a form of competitiveness—you can't afford to waste resources on unreliable packaging.
Addressing the Skeptics
“But isn't Bemis part of Amcor now? Won't that limit options?” I've heard that. Actually, the acquisition gave Bemis access to global supply chains and R&D that a standalone company couldn't match. For example, we now get materials that meet ISO 13485 standards without extra certifications. That's a benefit, not a limitation.
And yes, you can still print a poster at a local copy shop if that's all you need. But if you're packaging products for shipment to hospitals or retail, consider the consequences of a failure. That single hot glue incident cost us nearly a thousand dollars. Over a year, small failures add up.
My Verdict
Efficiency isn't just about speed—it's about reliability. Bemis delivers that. If you're a procurement manager overseeing industrial or healthcare packaging, I'd recommend giving them a look. Not because they're the cheapest, but because they solve problems you didn't know you had.
Personally, I sleep better knowing our sharps containers won't leak and our pouches won't tear. That peace of mind is worth more than any unit price difference.
