Despite all the discussion and debate in society over reducing our waste and carbon footprint, sausage packages (also known as chubs) for adhesives and sealants continue to gain little support in the building industry—even though their reduced packaging and low waste factor represent a step change in sustainability.

Many advantages come with packaging adhesive and sealant products in sausages. Without taking any other factors into consideration, the sausage itself represents an initial cost savings of typically 25-50% compared to a conventional cartridge, depending on the type of film required.

Currently, mastic is available to commercial and DIY consumers primarily in squeeze tubes and 10-oz cartridges. Although the sausage packaging format exists as an alternative, in a 20-oz size and a smaller “mini” option (2-3.5 oz), its availability is limited—as a stroll down the sealant aisle of Home Depot or Lowes will confirm.

Many different factors should be explored when determining the proper package for a sealant or adhesive. Important considerations include cost, size, compatibility, appearance, ease of disposal, application, and many others—all of which can affect the decision regarding what package system is best for a particular product. Let’s look at an example of how similar factors could apply to a decision many people face on a regular basis.

Although the U.S. considers the 300 and 600 ml sausage packages to be industry standards, many other options are now being used worldwide.