Bemis Packaging FAQ: What You Need to Know After the Amcor Acquisition

If you're sourcing flexible packaging or medical device packaging, Bemis (now part of Amcor) is probably on your radar. But between the acquisition, the product lines, and the technical specs, it's easy to get tripped up. I've handled Bemis-related orders for about six years, and I've personally documented a few costly mistakes—let's just say I've contributed my share to the "learning budget." This FAQ is based on those real-world stumbles, designed to answer the questions you're actually asking.

1. Is Bemis still Bemis, or is it all Amcor now?

This is the number one confusion point. Here's the deal: Amcor acquired Bemis Company, Inc. (the flexible packaging giant) in 2019. The Bemis name and many of its product brands are still used, but it operates as part of Amcor's global flexible packaging business. Think of it as a powerful subsidiary. However—and this is crucial—Bemis Manufacturing Company (the one known for things like sharps containers and toilet seats) is a completely separate, privately-held company. They are not part of this deal. I once spent half a day sourcing quotes for a "Bemis sharps container" from the packaging division before realizing my error. Zero quotes, wasted time.

2. What's the real advantage of Bemis now being under Amcor?

Most buyers focus on the brand name and maybe some perceived stability. They completely miss the global network and R&D scale. Before the acquisition, Bemis was strong in the Americas. Now, as part of Amcor, they can leverage a truly global footprint for materials sourcing, manufacturing consistency, and barrier technology innovation. The question everyone asks is "are they the same quality?" The question they should ask is "what new capabilities can they offer through Amcor's network?" For a multi-national project we ran in early 2023, this integration meant we could maintain material specs across three different regional suppliers, which was a huge win.

3. Are "Bemis" and "Amcor" products interchangeable in quotes?

Short answer: No. Not automatically. Look, I learned this the hard way. In Q4 2022, I was updating a vendor list and assumed a Bemis film grade had a direct Amcor equivalent. I submitted an order based on that assumption. The result came back: the substitute film had a slightly different moisture barrier property. It looked fine on the spec sheet to my untrained eye. We ran a small batch of 5,000 pouches. Straight to the trash. That's when I learned: Always verify the exact material specification code with technical support, especially post-transition. Don't assume cross-reference charts are 100% accurate for your specific application.

4. How do I navigate sustainability claims with their packaging?

This is a minefield. The brand's own guidelines warn against saying "100% biodegradable" unless certified. My rule of thumb? Be specific and ask for proof. A good sales rep will talk about specific certified materials (like PCR content percentages or compostable certifications to recognized standards like ASTM D6400) rather than vague "eco-friendly" terms. Real talk: if a supplier makes a broad green claim but hesitates to provide a certificate of analysis or certification documentation, that's a red flag. I now have a checklist item: "Request and file sustainability certification docs for this material lot." It's saved us from two potential compliance issues.

5. Is paying a premium for their healthcare-grade packaging worth it?

It depends. But for medical device or pharmaceutical applications, the answer is often yes—and it's not just about the material. You're paying for traceability, validation support, and regulatory documentation. I once opted for a generic "medical-grade" film from another vendor to save 15%. The film itself was fine. The headache was the documentation—or lack thereof. It took three weeks and countless emails to get the full material composition disclosure needed for our regulatory submission. The delay cost far more than the initial savings. The value isn't always in the pouch; it's in the packet of papers that comes with it.

6. What's a common, costly mistake when ordering barrier films?

Specifying the wrong barrier target. It sounds obvious, but it happens all the time. Oxygen barrier, moisture barrier, and aroma barrier are different. I once ordered a high-moisture-barrier film for a coffee product, thinking more protection is always better. The film worked too well; it also trapped degrading oils inside, affecting shelf-life. We needed a balanced, high-oxygen-barrier film instead. 20,000 units, a significant portion of the budget, wasted. The lesson? Don't just say "high barrier." Work with their tech team to define the exact gas or vapor you need to block, at what rate, and under what conditions. It's a more technical conversation, but it's essential.

7. I'm on a tight deadline. Should I push for rush service?

This triggers my "time certainty" principle. In an emergency, delivery certainty is worth a premium. The alternative—missing a product launch or a clinical trial shipment—is far more expensive. Last March, we paid a 25% rush fee on a specialty medical pouch order. The alternative was missing a key component for a $50,000 validation batch. Was it painful on the PO? Yes. Was it the right business decision? Absolutely. After getting burned twice by "we'll try to expedite" promises from other vendors, we now build contingency budgets for guaranteed turnaround from proven suppliers like Amcor/Bemis when timelines are non-negotiable.

A final, important note: My experience is based on roughly 80-100 orders for food and medical device packaging in North America over the past six years. If you're in a different region or working with extremely novel materials, your process might differ. Always consult directly with their technical sales team for your specific project. That's it.