What is Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP)

Skin pack, or skin packaging, is a type of carded packaging where a product (or products) is placed on a piece of paperboard or in trays, and a thin sheet of transparent plastic is placed over the product and paperboard or trays.The printed paperboard/tray usually has a heat-seal coating. The plastic film (LDPE, PVC, ionomer, etc.) is softened by heat and draped over the product on the card/tray. Vacuum is sometimes used to assist a firm fit. The film bonds to the heat-seal coating on the paperboard. The skin-packed piece then may need to be cut into individual units. Cuts ushc as keyslots, round corners and internal die cuts may be added during the cutting process once the skin pack is secured tightly.  

Self-adhesive film with uncoated card is also sometimes used. 

Skin packaging somewhat resembles a blister pack, with the major difference being that the plastic surrounding the product is formed over the product, instead of being pre-formed.

Types of plastic film:

• Polyethylene

• PVC

• Ionomer

• PET

Vacuum- and skin-packed meat

Fresh meat can be vacuum-packed and skin-packed. Specialized packaging operations are needed to maintain product appearance and safety. Temperature control during the cold chain is needed for proper shelf