If you’ve ever held a shiny pouch for snacks, herbs, coffee, or dry goods and wondered “are mylar bags plastic?”

Yes, Mylar bags are plastic. They are typically made from polyester film (BoPET) and often include other layers for better protection against moisture, oxygen, and odors.

Mylar bags consist of plastic but as multiple layers of specially fabricated films.

They are usually manufactured with a combination of metalized barrier films to increase the strength of the packaging material whilst providing increased levels of barrier off-gassing for the products stored within. Therefore, they tend to feel heavier or more durable than traditional supermarket shopping bags or low-cost storage options.

If you want to know what mylar really is, how it differs from standard plastics, and if it is safe to use for packaging food items, this guide will provide this information in simple language.

Short Answer: 

Mylar is a type of plastic film, so Mylar bags are considered plastic packaging. They are stronger and offer better barrier protection than regular plastic bags.

So, What Are Mylar Bags?

Mylar bags are a type of flexible packaging that consist of stretched polyethylene single-use film. Mylar is also a registered brand name that has become synonymous with the term ‘flexible packaging’ in modern society similar to how people will say ‘Kleenex’, regardless of the actual product that they are referring to.

People often use the term mylar bags specifically to refer to metalized barrier pouches.

There are several different applications that use mylar bags. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Storing food products
• Coffee packaging
• Candy and snack packaging
• Health supplements
• Herbs and spices
• Retail packaging (for many different products)
• Custom branded product packaging

So if someone asks is mylar plastic or is mylar not plastic? The answer is yes, mylar is plastic. However, mylar is not manufactured the same as traditional everyday plastic grocery bags.

Are Mylar Bags Plastic?

Yes, Mylar bags are made from plastic-based materials. Most are built with layered films that help preserve food, block air, and improve shelf life.

They are made predominately from biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) which is commonly referred to as polyester plastic.The name Mylar might seem difficult to say but it’s really a fairly easy item to understand.

• Mylar = plastic film
• Most Mylar bags = layered plastic packaging
• Some Mylar bags also include foil or metalized layers

If you want a full breakdown, read What are Mylar Bags Made Of? Material & Layers.

Whereas traditional plastic bags tear easily, Mylar is made to be:

1. Much more durable.
2. Much better at preventing moisture from entering.
3. Much better at preventing oxygen from entering.
4. Much better at blocking odors.
5. Much better at keeping your products fresher.

When people ask, “Are Mylar bags made of plastic?”, the answer is yes, but they are a more sophisticated type of plastic.

Materials Used to Make Mylar Bag Packaging

Most Mylar packages are produced using multiple layers.

They may include:

• PET (polyester) for strength and printing.
• Metalized film or aluminum foil for a barrier.
• PE (polyethylene) for heat seeking.

Due to the layered construction, Mylar packages are more laminated than made of just one type of plastic.

Some of the types of layers that can be found in Mylar bags are:

• Polyester film.
• Polyethylene.
• Metalized PET film.
• Aluminum foil.
• CPP wrap, or other sealing layers.

All of the above increase the ability of Mylar bag to withstand:

• Heat sealing,
• Longer shelf life,
• Blocking smells,
• Better product preservation.

Mylar does not mean “just plastic” such as what you would see in the grocery type bag. This is engineered plastic wrapping.

Is Mylar and Regular Plastic the Same or Different?

No, Mylar is plastic, but is not the same as grocery bag plastic.

This is where people are confused.

A typical clear plastic bag is manufactured mainly from soft plastics; these types do not provide any barrier protection. The contents may be held, but will also allow air or moisture to enter.

A Mylar bag is specifically designed for performance and thus is not intended; only for convenience.

How Come Mylar Bags Have a Different Texture than Plastic Bags?

Mylar bags are constructed in different ways.

If you have used both types of bags, one style is easy to tell apart from the other.

Some differences you may notice are Mylar bags have:

-Tighter construction
-Smoother feel
-Thicker appearance
-More durable feel
-Higher-quality feel

These are due to such characteristics in the films used, as well as the lamination and barrier layers in their construction.

When you feel a regular plastic bag, you feel like you've put on a rain poncho.

When you feel a Mylar bag, you understand it has an actual purpose.

And it does.

Are Mylar Bags Safe for Food?

Yes! Food grade Mylar bags are very commonly used for packaging food products and as a medium for food storage.

Many Mylar bags are used for food storage, but not all are created equal. If you’re wondering whether they’re actually safe and effective, check out our guide on Are Mylar Bags Good for Food Storage? 

Some of the most common items packaged in Mylar bags are:

-Coffee Beans
-Protein Powder
-Candy
-Dried Fruits
-Granola/Fruit Snacks
-Spices
-Rice
-Flour
-Noodles
-Freeze Dried Foods

Like other packaging options, not all Mylar bags sold online are created equal, so if you're going to use Mylar bags for food packaging and for food storage, there are some things you should check for to ensure they're safe to use for these purposes:

-Food Grade/ Food Safe
-Laminates and Materials Are Approved for Food Packaging
-Designed to come in contact with food

This is more important than one would assume. In fact, it's possible to find a beautifully designed bag that is not constructed of materials approved for direct food packaging.

Why Are Mylar Bags Used for Packaging?

Because they do an unprecedented job of packaging than a plain plastic bag.Brands often prefer to use Mylar bags for packaging products because of how effective those products will be protected from deterioration while being packaged. By protecting their products from the following elements: Air, light, humidity, odor and, contaminant materials, businesses can successfully produce, store and sell items that require the packaging to maintain their freshness, potency, crispness, dryness or visual appeal.

Some advantages of using Mylar bags include the following:

1) Long Shelf Life;
2) Great Barrier Properties;
3) Custom Printing;
4) Outstanding Shelf Presence;
5) Available in many sizes, color selections and finishes and;
6) Can be supplied with resealable zippers and tear notches.

Therefore, due to these attributes, many business owners are switching to custom labelled Mylar bags versus plain plastic bags.

Read more on what mylar bags are used for here. 

What About Recycling Mylar Bags?

There is some confusion here.

In most cases, Mylar bags are not recycled as part of typical curbside recycling programs.

Why?

Most Mylar bags typically have multiple layers of laminated materials fused together; the process makes recycling these types of materials difficult.

That doesn’t mean they’re useless. It just means they’re designed more for:

• Protection
• Durability
• Product preservation

Are Mylar Bags Superior to Regular Plastic Bags?

In most cases, yes.

If you want long term storage or high-quality items stored within a standard plastic bag, Mylar bags will generally outperform standard plastic bags by a long margin.

Here are some of the things that they are regularly used for:

- Dry Storage Goods;
- Emergency Ready Food Storage;
- Storing Coffee;
- Storing Powdered Products;
- Snacks; and
- Storing Product Inventory.

By creating a better barrier, Mylar bags preserve your food far better than plastic bags.

Mylar bags are ideal for storage when you want:

- Less exposure to air;
- Greater protection against moisture (water);
- Greater protection against odors;
- Your product to stay fresh longer; and
- A heat-sealed closure.

Because of this, people continually ask questions about whether:

- Mylar bags are plastic;
- What types of material Mylar bags are made from;
- If Mylar is superior to other types of plastic; and
- If Mylar is safe to use with food.

The reason they ask these questions is to find out if there is any validity to the marketing of Mylar products, or whether Mylar is really the very best storage solution for their products or food.

The answer is yes.

Are Customized Mylar Pouch Bags Made Out of Plastic?

Yes. Customized Mylar pouch bags are made out of plastic, but they’re not the same as ordinary plastic bags. They’re designed with barrier layers that make them better for storage and packaging.

If you are purchasing customized, branded pouches for your company, typically, these bags are produced from similar types of plastic film structures used to produce standard Mylar bags.

However, customized Mylar pouch bags can have other options added, such as:

- Your Company Logo;
- Full Color Printing;
- Matte or Glossy Finish;
- Windows;
- Resealable Zippers;
- Tear Notches;
- Hang Holes; and
- Custom Sizes/Shapes.

So to better answer your question, if you are considering using customized Mylar bags for your product line, you can use customized Mylar bags as they still are made out of plastic. However, they are specifically created to enhance the aesthetics of your product, protect your product, and increase brand recognition.

Final Answer: Are Mylar Bags Made From Plastic?

Yes, Mylar bags are plastic. They are usually made from PET or polyester film, sometimes combined with foil or other layers for added durability and freshness protection.

However, they are not regular plastic bags.

Typically they are made from specialized polyester-based, plastic film materials with multiple layers of protection against oxygen, moisture, light, and odor.

Mylar Bags Are Great for:

- Storing Food Products;
- Providing Retail Packaging;
- Protecting Shelf Life;
- Packaging That is Smell Resistant; and
- Customized Branded Pouches.

Therefore, if you have been wondering whether Mylar bags are plastic, the short answer is:

Yes, Mylar packaging bags are plastic products that offer better protection to your products than ordinary plastic bags.

Mylar Bag FAQ's

1. Are Mylar bags a form of plastic?

Yes, Mylar bags are plastic. They’re usually made from polyester-based plastic film and are designed to provide better protection than regular plastic bags for packaging and storage.

2. Is Mylar considered a type of plastic?

Although Mylar is indeed a form of plastic film it is typically a much stronger and more protective type of film when compared to ordinary plastic bags.

3. Are Mylar bags safe to use for food storage?

Provided that they are specifically produced from food grade packaging materials, many Mylar bags are deemed safe for use in storing and or preparing foods.

4. What advantages do Mylar bags provide over typical plastic bags?

Mylar bags are superior to typical plastic bags in providing protection from air, moisture, light and odor.

5. Are custom made Mylar bags based on plastic like other Mylar products?

Yes, custom made Mylar bags use plastic and involve custom printing and designing to promote products through branding and ensure that they remain protected during transport.