May 24, 2024
North American Director of Sales, TekniPlex Consumer Products
In the 1980s, the packaging industry underwent a significant transformation following the Tylenol scare in Chicago. Laws were made. Regulations were passed. And companies began to reimagine pharmaceutical packaging to prioritize consumer safety. Closure liners and seals emerged as essential components in pharmaceutical packaging, providing tamper-evident functionality to protect consumers and comply with new regulatory requirements.
In the decades since, liners have evolved to meet a number of consumer needs and market trends through innovations in materials science and technology. Now, they can be found on products spanning a wide range of industries including food, beverage, personal care, cosmetics, nutraceutical, industrial chemicals, and automotive.
While they still provide essential safety benefits, closure liners, and seals can do a whole lot more. Let’s explore some of the ways liners and seals have evolved to meet the packaging demands of today:
Brand owners are constantly looking for ways to improve the way consumers interact with their products through enhanced usability and convenience. Closure liners can play a big role in enhancing the consumer experience. Liners can be designed for easy removal, controlled dosing, and pouring convenience, elevating the overall usability of product packaging. Tabbed liners like EdgePull®, for example, offer easy opening with low removal force, ensuring a positive experience for consumers across different demographics.
The rise of e-commerce has drastically changed the way people shop. And, as a result, closure liner and sealing technology have changed, too – evolving to withstand the rigors of shipping and handling. These advancements deliver better consumer experiences by ensuring products come out of the box in the same condition they went in. Vented liner technology, specifically designed for e-commerce, allows containers to breathe without compromising the contents. By enabling air exchange through a microporous membrane, vented liners prevent bloating, paneling, or leaking caused by extreme pressure changes during transportation.
In a crowded marketplace, brand differentiation is vital, and closure liners and seals provide opportunities to enhance brand awareness. Customization options such as various colors, materials, printing, and embossing allow brands to stand out on store shelves and convey their unique messaging effectively. Liners and seals can serve as additional touchpoints to reinforce brand identity.
Creating a memorable purchasing experience is an important goal for brand owners – a goal that can be achieved through products that deliver a sensory impact in the retail aisle. Advanced sealing technology enables brands to differentiate their products through the look, feel, and even scent. For example, our patented Sniff Seal® liner technology provides an olfactory experience allowing the product scent to permeate through the sealed liner without compromising the seal or contents.
Advancements in materials science have resulted in sealing solutions that meet functional needs while offering ways to support brands and consumers in their efforts to lessen environmental impacts. Liners and seals can be developed from recycled materials or mono-material solutions to help facilitate easier acceptance into recycling streams. Additionally, incorporating liners and seals into packaging can help brands meet goals around packaging weight reduction, supply chain simplification, and cost savings.
Discover how the next generation of sealing solutions can elevate your product packaging. Contact TekniPlex today.