Ask yourself, have you ever heard from friends or relatives about their difficulties opening a products Did they struggle? Did it cause them frustration and make them feel helpless? The chances are you have, and that's why this is such a crucial issue within packaging.
Whichever way you look at it, the world’s population is ageing. The number of people aged over 65 is growing faster than all the other age groups in almost every country and we’ve already passed the point at which those over 65 outnumber those under 5 years of age worldwide [1].
This means the existing challenges surrounding packaging accessibility will only continue to intensify and become and even higher priority for brands and consumers alike.
At FORDS, this is important to us because we care about user experience and accessibility. We believe that no consumer should be confined to choosing certain products because they cannot open others.
The Drivers of Demographic Ageing
In the United States, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will rise from making up 16% of the total population in 2018 to 23% in 2060 [2]. And the picture is similar across the globe in countries with highly industrialized economies.
Lower birth rates, lower mortality rates and increased migration are, ultimately, the engines driving this phenomenon known as ‘Demographic Ageing’ which will see the number of people aged 80 and over triple from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050 [3].
Such a rapid shift will have profound consequences for the global economy, healthcare, welfare and a host of social and cultural factors.
Weighing up The Challenges for Brands and Packaging Manufacturers
The questions that need to be asked are: how will demographic ageing impact the future of packaging? What are the specific needs of older consumers? And how will those needs shape the priorities within packaging for consumer goods going forward?
After all, we know the over 60s are the fastest-growing consumer group of the 21st century [4] and that this demographic possesses a great deal of disposable income which will inevitably be spent on these types of goods, so this is not an issue that can be ignored.
But there’s no denying brands face challenges to put accessibility at the core of their packaging. Packaging still needs to (a) safeguard the integrity of products, (b) endure intensive manufacturing methods, (c) stand up to the demands of complex supply chains and (d) constantly adapt to the evolving demands of e-commerce.
Unpacking the Challenges of Packaging for People in Later Life
Age-related conditions such as arthritis, poor sight, reduced dexterity, a lack of grip strength and cognitive impairment mean that older people can be more vulnerable to these difficulties.
Inaccessible packaging can be a great cause of frustration for the older consumer and the consequences are often underestimated. It limits product choice, erodes confidence and can induce feelings of loneliness and isolation if there is no one around to help.
The negative health impacts can be significant. In the very worst case, inaccessible packaging can prevent older people receiving sufficient nutrition and can make it difficult – or even impossible – to take prescribed medication.
It is therefore important to recognise that there already millions of older people across the world struggling to access the products they need today and that demographic ageing will only exacerbate these issues in the future.
Accessibility vs Seal Integrity: Is the Perfect Seal for Older Consumers Possible?
Every time a brand packages its products the stakes are high: the brand put its reputation on the line and is responsible for the health and safety of its trusting customers. The penalty for failing to both seal products safely and preserve the integrity of the goods is simply too great. Therefore, the packaging used must be designed to withstand the pressures of distribution, retail and consumer delivery.
Without the right packaging design, manufacturers can struggle to balance their product safety responsibilities with consumers’ full set of needs. The necessity to produce resilient packaging often takes total precedence over the user experience, making products very difficult to open.
At FORDS, we are passionate about creating consumer experiences that are safe, simple and pleasant for all. Why? Because, ultimately, we are all consumers and understand the difficulties and frustrations that arise with troublesome packaging. We care deeply about the brands we work with too and always go the extra mile to unlock solutions to their packaging challenges that we know can – and need to – be solved right away.
Currently, in the United States, over 54 million people live with some form of arthritis (23% of adults) and more than 1 in 4 report severe joint pain [8]. In the UK, the number with arthritis or similar conditions affecting the joints is 10 million [9] of an estimated population of 66.65 million. The facts paint a clear picture for packaging: that accessibility is already a major challenge and one that will only continue to grow.
Making packaging more accessible requires achieving an equilibrium between seal integrity and ease of opening.
With today’s demanding supply chains and complex e-commerce environments, there is often a natural, safety-first inclination towards a very strong seal rather than a balanced seal, particularly at factory level. This, of course, reduces accessibility for consumers with impaired mobility, dexterity and strength.
But does it have to be that way?
Unlike other sealing technologies, FORDS specialises in a direct contact seal. This gives us the ability to adapt to production conditions and control every element of the sealing process, delivering a consistent balance of seal strength and opening forces.
Packaging Opportunities for the Future: Solutions That Are More Accessible, Reduce Cost and Improve Sustainability
Packaging that places ease of opening at the centre of its design philosophy can be achieved but brands need an experienced partner who understands the relationship between the container, overcap, seal, and production conditions to deliver a robust and repeatable packaging performance.
At FORDS, we can collaborate with all the suppliers involved in the production process (from container suppliers to overcap suppliers) to optimise packaging from the very outset with enlightened design ideas. Alternatively, we can evaluate the struggles with pre-existing packaging designs and produce progressive improvements that enable a smooth transition to an ultimate easy open solution.
We’re also mindful that improved accessibility cannot drive production costs higher. So, always excited by a challenge, we draw upon our 100 years of expertise and our R&D capabilities to carefully balance cost with ease of opening and seal strength in every project.
We ensure our customised solutions deliver more efficient packaging designs through the ability to lightweight containers, reduce/remove screw threads and simplify or remove overcaps. These can all contribute to an overall reduction of packaging materials and can produce fully certified, game-changing ROIs for our customers on all FORDS capping and sealing machines.
Diagnosing the Peel Performance, Detailing the User Journey
Our ability to balance the needs of brand owners and consumers alike, is underpinned by our unique capacity to control a package’s primary seal. We can control the exact perimeters of the seal and the peel balance. We can highlight the specific area of the peel initiation, the peak peel force requirements, the strongest point of the seal and the peak separation.
This precise diagnosis of the seal performance allows us to provide brand owners with a detailed journey of the end user’s ‘opening experience’ as well as providing peace of mind on product integrity.
Furthermore, by utilising induction sealing technology, we can provide ‘foldback tabs’ for brands really committed to maximizing product accessibility for their consumers. This type of tab provides a great surface area to grip which makes opening the product even easier. In many cases, foldback tabs can even be accessible with the product’s overcap still in position as the tab sits above any screw thread or secondary seal. The provides an opening point that is kept clear of any potential obstructions and delivers the simplest of opening experiences.
All this means we are able to provide accessibility for ALL age groups with single motion, one-piece, easy peels without compromising on seal integrity.
Going further, we are also able to design in cost reduction and sustainability to present a holistic solution that looks after brands, consumers and the planet.
The Future of Packaging is Inclusive, Innovative and Responsible
As the world witnesses an unprecedented surge in its aging population, the demand for packaging that caters to the unique needs of this demographic grows exponentially.
FORDS is at the forefront of this evolution, championing the balance between seal integrity and ease of opening. Through a century of expertise, innovative design approaches, and a keen understanding of both brand and consumer needs, we’re reshaping packaging development and solutions.
Our aim is clear: to craft packaging experiences that serve everyone and ensure no one feels left behind, while also promoting sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
With FORDS, the future of packaging is inclusive, innovative, and responsible.
