10 PW MAY2022
NEWS
Monomaterial Pouches Refill Durable Aluminum Bottle In Japan, popular P&G haircare brand Pantene is taking an on-trend route to an improved sustainability profile with a lightweight, beautifully decorated aluminum bottle that’s reusable after its contents have been emptied. The bottle is meant to be refilled with shampoo or conditioner via recyclable pouches, with flexible packaging supplier Zacros providing a unique, monolayer polyethylene solution. The Pantene stand-up pouch, which Zacros describes as “Japan’s first ever monomaterial refill pouch,” is a PE/PE adhesive lamination where the adhesive provides barrier yet does not interfere with the PE recycle stream. The idea here, of course, is for the consumer to pour the contents into a reusable rigid container and then dispose of the pouch in the PE recycle stream. The challenge that Zacros had with this monomaterial pouch development was selecting proper materials with only the use of adhesive, ink, and barrier materials of less than 5% by weight, that
still provided durability for the liquid. With the company’s unique converting technique, it was able to achieve an oxygen permeability of 4.6cc/m2/24 hours at 30°C, 70% RH condition with two PE layers. By comparison, a single PE film had over 1000cc/m2/24 hours at the same condition. For a hair care product like Pantene, the oxygen barrier property becomes a vital parameter to prevent the permeation of fragrance. In addition, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the monomaterial pouch was 1.5g/m2/24 hours at 40°C, 100% RH, while the WVTR of a single PE film was over 2.6g/m2/24 hours. The WVTR is an essential variable in determining the shelf life of products like these. The company says this monomaterial pouch can withstand a drop test for horizontal and vertical orientations, respectively. This P&G Japan monomaterial pouch is only 350-mL. However, Zacros has already extended the development of monomaterial pouch size up to 1.3 L with the durability necessary for liquid products. —Matt Reynolds
Top Five Packaging Design Adjustments for Selling Online
The trend of online shopping, which accelerated with the pandemic, is here to stay and will continue to grow, as shoppers become increasingly comfortable with virtual buying formats. That’s according to AMC Global, which advises that as brands update or launch new products, the online shopping environment must be considered in packaging design. Using insights gathered from market research, AMC has compiled the top five packaging considerations for successfully selling online. 1. Design for the digital shelf: Because product packaging may appear much smaller in the digital environment, simplified versioning may be necessary. Product packaging that has been more traditionally designed for in-store and on-the-shelf presence may not be the best approach to meet the online shopper. You must be able to grab attention online with strong, noticeable package images and messages that are clear in purpose, easy to read, and easy to understand.
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2. Create clear and concise claims: Online shoppers can’t pick up your package to read long paragraphs describing the benefits of the product or to inspect ingredients effortlessly. Since your package can’t be handled and inspected, the product claims need to be clear and simple, and content lists must be readily apparent. Your package and digital presence must provide all the information necessary for virtual decision making. 3. Get innovative with packaging display online: When designing packaging for virtual display, closely examine all the new promotional avenues available to you in the virtual environment. Online, you have the ability to direct attention by zooming in on certain areas of the package, using video demonstrations, or perhaps showcasing the package in a reallife environment. The possibilities are endless in a virtual world. 4. Adjust physical packaging: It’s not just the visuals and exterior of the packaging that must be considered for e-commerce. Your product is going to be shipped, so you must take that aspect into consideration. A compact design could save on shipping costs, and designing something that is safe and secure for shipping is also important. In addition, using sustainable materials continues to be important in pack designs. Consumers prioritize it and are demanding eco-friendly options. 5. Stay true to the brand: Brand consistency across all selling platforms is vital to brand trust and brand image. Despite the need to adjust many aspects of the package online, you need to also stay true to your brand’s recognized logo, colors, and other globally identifying factors. No matter how many packaging changes and modifications you need to make, don’t lose sight of one key fact: Your brand should be central to all aspects of the design. —Anne Marie Mohan
4/19/22 12:51 PM
