How To Keep Your Pre-Rolls Fresh
You know cannabinoids and terpenes degrade over time and flower can dry out quickly, especially when exposed to light, heat, and oxygen. You also know consistency in product is key when it comes to maintaining your brand’s reputation, your customers’ loyalty, and your bottom line.
So how do you better ensure those pre-rolls that have been sitting in storage for the last month or two will hit just as hard as the ones you packaged only yesterday? It comes down to two major things: proper storage and rigid SOPs.
Properly Store Your Pre-Rolls
There’s not necessarily an industry standard for properly storing pre-rolls waiting to be sold just yet, but there’s definitely an industry standard of having pre-rolls sitting on shelves for weeks to months at a time while they await their final destination. To keep your pre-rolls fresh and your brand protected, your best storage move is going to be one that fits within your budget and your brand values while still being effective. We outline four options below.
Vacuum-Sealed Cellophane
Vacuum-sealed cellophane is what you see wrapped around packs of cigarettes. It’s a cost-effective option that provides a tight, protective seal against oxygen and moisture, helping to protect your packaging and preserve the freshness of your pre-rolls. And if you choose a tinted cellophane, it could help protect against light as well. The con here is that it’s single-use plastic, so if sustainability and eco-friendly practices are a cornerstone of your brand, it might not bode well with your consumers.
There are biodegradable options at this point, but be sure to do your research and make sure whichever option you choose is still effective at protecting your pre-rolls. Additionally, the biodegradable choice is likely to cost you more than traditional cellophane, so keep that in mind.
Air-Proof Tubs or Containers
Airtight tubs or containers made from materials like glass or plastic can help create a barrier against oxygen, plus some containers come with humidity control packs to maintain an optimal moisture level inside. And if you choose an opaque option, you’ll get light protection as well.
These are also reusable and easy to stack and store, though they may require a larger expense upfront as well as a heavier replacement cost than other storage options.
Light-Proof Mylar Bags
Light is one of the biggest enemies of cannabis freshness, as it not only damages the flower on its own, but too much of it can create heat and cause even more damage. Mylar bags are excellent at blocking out light, making them a popular choice for storing pre-rolls before they’re sold. They can also keep your product sealed off from oxygen to further prevent degradation.
The struggle here is finding a decent-sized bag that can hold a lot of product so you don’t have to buy so many. They do come in various sizes and can usually be reused, but like the air-tight tubs, there are upfront and replacement costs to consider.
Some Combination of the Above
For extra protection, you can combine the above options. Vacuum-seal your pre-roll packs before putting them in air-tight containers or light-proof mylar bags, or even go all out and put your vacuum-sealed packs inside mylar bags inside air-tight containers. If product quality and consistency are important to you, you can’t be too safe.
But again, make sure your bottom line and your brand values are at the forefront of your decision. And consider what you actually need. If you’re going to be storing your air-tight containers in a pitch-black room, there’s no need to spend extra on an opaque tub or purchase light-proof mylar bags.
Of course, whichever storage and packaging option you choose, make sure the overall storage environment is a cool, dark, dry place.
Implement Regular Quality Control
and Inventory Rotation into Your SOPs
As important as your storage setup is the standard operating procedures (SOPs) you have around quality control and inventory rotation. Be sure to include some or all of the following in your inventory SOPs:
- Date your storage bags/containers and store them chronologically, rotating the oldest to the front so they leave the facility to be sold before newer product does
- Document and/or monitor your storage room’s moisture levels regularly to ensure an HVAC malfunction doesn’t go unnoticed for too long and potentially damage your product
- Have proper lighting rules/routines of the storage room in place so lights aren’t accidentally left on, exposing your un-sold product
- Have efficient procedures in place to clean and reuse your storage bags/containers so there’s always some at the ready for when the next batch of pre-rolls arrives
Pre-rolls aren’t the “throw-away” category they used to be. Consumers in established and middle-aged markets are becoming more interested in them, and the brands that are able to maintain consistency are going to be the ones to earn their loyalty.
Aside from proper storage and rigid SOPs, how the pre-roll is actually created plays a huge role in establishing consistency and earning customer loyalty. When you’re ready to up your game and ditch the stuffed cone for a physically rolled pre-roll (just like the good ol’ days!), get in touch with RollPros. We’ll introduce you to the BlackBird, the industry’s only automated pre-roll machine that rolls pre-rolls as if done by hand.
