Bag in Box With Tap (BIB) Explained: Structure, Benefits and Cost Savings

A bag in box with tap (BIB) is a liquid packaging format in which a sealed flexible bag fitted with a dispensing valve sits inside an outer carton. First developed for wine, it is today a common choice for cold brew coffee and other drinks. Guangdong Kody Packaging produces custom bag in box with tap on demand.

What Goes Into a Bag in Box With Tap?

Three core elements make up the format: an outer carton, a sealed inner bag and a dispensing tap. The carton supplies rigidity and protects the pack in transit, the inner bag keeps light and air away from the liquid, and the tap lets the contents flow out with no pouring at all. The 5L bag in box with tap (BIB) is a widely used size.

Why Cold Brew Coffee Often Comes in Bag in Box With Tap

Cold brew coffee is vulnerable to light and air, and extended exposure shifts both its taste and flavour, while a bag in box with tap seals the drink away from both. Pairing a flexible inner bag with a rigid outer box also makes long-distance shipping practical and allows the packs to be stacked in tight storage spaces.

Bag in Box With Tap vs. Bottles and Cans

• Dispensing: liquid comes straight out of the tap on a bag in box with tap, while bottles and cans have to be poured or served with a separate vessel.
• Light and air barrier: a bag in box with tap relies on its sealed inner bag, whereas glass and metal containers depend on their material and closure.
• Recycling: a bag in box with tap is simpler to recycle than rigid containers such as bottles and cans.
• Branding area: the outer carton gives a large printable surface for brand messaging, with a wide choice of printing and finishing processes, including gold or silver inks.

How Bag in Box With Tap Lowers Packaging Costs

A bag in box with tap turns what used to be a two-part pack, a carton plus a pillow bag, into one integrated package. Manufacturers can therefore cut packaging material costs and material waste substantially. For many brands this cost advantage helps bring in new customers and extend distribution reach.

Which Products Still Rely on Bag in Box Packaging

Cereal and meal kits are typical examples of products that need a stiffer container so ingredients do not spill or get damaged during transport and storage, and the tall profile of stand up pouches is a limitation in these applications. Most ready-to-eat cereals still reach shelves in bag in box packaging, partly because it is regarded as convenient and safe for children to open and eat on their own, and partly because some sectors keep the format for tradition or regulatory reasons. Center-of-store items such as granola and nut mixes, by contrast, are moving toward stand up pouches.

Q: What is bag in box with tap normally used for?

A: It started out in wine and is now widely used for drinks such as cold brew coffee, and also for cereal, meal kits and other products that need the protection of a rigid outer carton.

Q: Can bag in box with tap be custom printed?

A: Yes. The outer carton offers plenty of room for branding and supports a range of printing and finishing processes, gold or silver inks included. Guangdong Kody Packaging provides custom bag in box with tap production.

Q: How do I choose between bag in box with tap and a stand up pouch?

A: Cereal and meal kits, which spill or get damaged easily and need a rigid container, are better served by bag in box with tap, while center-of-store lines such as granola and nut mixes work well in stand up pouches, which continue to gain ground in that segment.