Tsc, p&g, burt’s bees, colgate-palmoli...
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), alongside P&G, Burt’s Bees, Colgate-Palmolive, GSK, Sustainable Packaging Co
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), alongside P&G, Burt’s Bees, Colgate-Palmolive, GSK, Sustainable Packaging Co
The pouches are available in 70cl for Darnley’s Gin Original, Spiced Gin & Navy Strength products.
The container, called Piranha™, is sealed using a series of raised teeth that run around the sealing flange
As labor costs continue to rise, manufacturers are finding process automation to provide greater returns on investment than before. Calculations of labor costs and time currently invested in every process can help pinpoint what parts of the packaging line are ideal for automation.
In the pharmaceutical industry, multi-dose adherence pouch packaging (which is packaged on an automated line) can increase gross profit by up to US$100,000 per local pharmacy per year. This is not only a high ROI, but also enables improved adherence, and decreases rebait pullbacks.
However, installing newer, higher-end machinery requires a substantial upfront capital investment.
Post-pandemic working styles have led to the introduction of Packaging Machinery-as-a-Service.
With Machinery-as-a-Service (MaaS), both suppliers and brand owners share a financial stake in uptime and profits and allow room for scalability of automation especially for fast-moving consumer goods and healthcare products.
MaaS provides the option of zero upfront cost along with installation and training of operators at the plant. This model works on a commission-per-use basis; for example, for each package packed, the machine provider will charge a negotiated price.
The machine can be removed from the plant at any time; no minimum contract period and parts are replaced as and when required.
This model is an example of outcome-based or usage-based pricing. MaaS transfers debt, risk, and operational uncertainty from Capex projects to opex budget. All associated costs, such as parts, maintenance, etc., are also operational costs.
The terms of such services are usually negotiated between the machine provider and machine user based on the size, revenue, and scalability opportunities of the machine-using company. This allows for the mitigation of risk in a calculated manner.
Artificial Intelligence is quickly taking over many advanced processes in all industries. At its current rate of advancement, AI is making a big dent in the production and distribution of packaging as well.
Let’s go over some of the technology that AI has backed in the packaging industry.
Vision Systems
AI models have been created to process customer complaints and improve products. These help in optimizing packaging that can in turn help reduce damage to the product.
The algorithms today are so precise that they can pinpoint if a cardboard box needs to be replaced with cloth bags and can consider aspects such a light weighting and sustainability.
Such machine learning systems can help reduce delivery costs, carbon footprint and improve efficiency to up to a 100%.
2. Recycling Systems
AI-powered robots using optical sensors can segregate waste without leaving room for human error to mistake something unrecognizable to be something it is not. This will reduce mixing of waste streams and improve the recycling process.
3. Data Labelling
Automated data labelling would be a standardized procedure that can help reduce customer dissatisfaction and loss of profit due to human error. Data embedded barcodes are an example of AI in date labelling. Scanning of these barcodes can be used to protect packaging lines from errors, emergency product withdrawals (EPWs), and product recalls.
4.Product Engineering
Engineering data can be used to help manufacturers and designers create more sustainable products. Machine learning models can also be used to predict design performance.
Companies designing AI solutions for packaging:
OAL designed AI-powered data labels
AMP Robotics is working to revolutionize recycling with AI
Monolith AI is the only product engineering AI provider
Package X uses optical character recognition (OCR) and artificial intelligence to process packages
Sensei manufactures AI-based Recycling Machines
The three terms in the title are often used interchangeably, and wrongfully so. Tamper-proof, tamper-resistant and tamper-evident are indicative of three different categories of technology that allow businesses to safeguard their product before it reaches the customer.
Let’s go over what exactly can be defined as the above-mentioned technologies to avoid any false expectations.
TAMPER-PROOF
These labels’ seals cannot be ripped easily. In most case, they have to be cracked open with force or cut off, eliminating any risk of the contents being tampered with before consumption. They can also be waterproof and prevent opening in wet and cold conditions. They are most commonly used in the beverage industry and are usually made of “void” polyester or destructible vinyl.
In short, tamper-proofing not only makes it evident when a package in tampered with but also makes it difficult to do the same.
TAMPER-EVIDENT
Tamper-evident labels provide clear indication that a product has been accessed or altered before reaching the end user it is intended for. This does not necessarily mean that the label or seal is strong enough to prevent intentional tampering but simply indicates the presence of an extra layer of protection. They are most commonly used in food, hygienic and pharmaceutical packaging.
TAMPER-RESISTANT
Tamper-resistant and tamper-evident are often used interchangeably to describe the same label function. However, there is a key difference defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tamper-resistant labels and seals are used to deter or resist tampering but may not necessarily leave any mark or indication the signifies tampering. On the other hand, tamper-evident seals always leave behind a mark of sorts to indicate tampering.
In the market, tamper-evident seals have a leg up on tamper-resistant seals as tamper-evident seals are better for maintaining brand and product integrity.
Tamper-evident packaging is a broad category of packaging practices and technology that alerts the consumer of foul play or damage to the product during the B2C route. Learn more about Tamper Evident Packaging with some examples
In this piece we will focus on the benefits of tamper-evident packaging; besides the few obvious ones such as product integrity, TEP can help improve brand image and overall brand reliability. So let’s go over why you should tamper-proof your product.
REDUCED RISK OF DAMAGED GOODS
Tamper proofing could be something as simple as an added layer of plastic strapping that restricts boxes from being opened during shipment.
Since product damage usually leads to lost revenue and affects the brand image, it is better to safeguard products with tamper-evident packaging (in this case, tamper-resistant packaging would serve the same purpose as tamper-evident packaging.
MONETARY BENEFITS
TEP ensures higher product integrity and thus fewer returns, refunds, and replacements. This directly translates into larger profits in the long run.
INCREASED CUSTOMER TRUST
Consumers are more likely to put their trust in a product that clearly displays a commitment to health and safety. This is especially true for food and over-the-counter medicines and supplements. A simply added seal gives shoppers the satisfaction and sense of safety to buy certain products.
CUSTOMER PROTECTION
Safeguarded products do not only benefit the brand or the seller but also the buyer. The provision of good-quality products increases customer retention as it prevents them from wasting time on returns and replacements.
Reduced product loss due to improved packaging also means wider profit margins at reduced retail costs.
Safely packed products also increase reliability with retailers.
Watch out for our next blog to learn the difference between tamper-proof, tamper-resistant, and tamper-evident.
Florida Power & Light and its subsidiary Gulf Power came up with a unique solution to disposing of the boxes and
Dove has launched the Dove Kids Care Hair Love Collection, and the brand hopes to inspire kids to love their hair.
The new furnace, called Furnace 83, is the 12th for the group in Italy and will give new impetus to the Tuscan plant
A constant point of engagement for FMCG designers and manufacturers is to match their packaging design to market standards. To keep up with trends, big brands usually have a full-time team dedicated to improving shelf impact (discussed in the previous blog) and product recognition. Consumer research is conducted to see what changes buyers would like to see and what aspects of the packaging are they currently happy or unhappy with.
Sometimes, changes made to the packaging don’t always work in favor of the brand; consumers either no longer associate the brand identity with changed looks or there are flaws in the design itself.
In this blog, we will list out a few instances of packaging redesign that did not hit the mark.
Despite it’s visual appeal, Lipton’s redesign for its 100 teabag box did not make the cut for its customers. The elimination of individual paper wrappers and replacement with foil sleeves to packages 25 bags together affected the potency of the remaining unused bags once the sleeve was unsealed.
Johnson & Johnson’s Benadryl packaging was not informative enough as many costumers reported ingesting the topical product. The packaging design of the two distinct products; the oral medicine and the topical gel, was too similar for buyers to differentiate between without careful analysis. The bottles of the two products also had the same shape with a tapered top and a flip top cap. Unclear directions added to the problem.
J&J eventually changed the gel packaging to a tube format which also clearly states in bold letters that it is “for skin use only”
Tropicana’s famous redesign was so widely rejected that PepsiCo had to switch the packaging back to its original look. One of the major reasons why the new design didn’t work was the complete change in look, including the logo design. No identifiers from its previous fame were left to associate with the brand. The loss of the prominent image of an orange with a straw also made it difficult for costumers to spot a Tropicana tetrapak on the shelf.
‘We are investing continuously in the research and use of alternative, bio-based packaging materials to complement ou
In-depth research is being co-funded with Innovate UK and will closely follow consumers as they plan at home, engage
The launch marks a major step change in the packaging of cheese, which has moved from a mixed, triple-ply nylon lamin
The Leeds-based thermoformer will exclusively produce GravityTray – a plastic tray that uses gravity rather than abso
VariOne is designed to immediately generate and print unique creative designs, based on an image or on vector graphic
India’s ethnic snack-food giant Haldiram’s Nagpur has opened its own manufacturing facility for long shelf-life dairy