Easy Opening Medical Packaging

Helle Antvorskov

Danish Technological Institute
Gregersensvej, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark
Tel: +45 7220 3169 Fax: +45 7220 3185

Biography

Master in Food Science and Technology (2006)
Consultant, Danish Technological Institute, Packaging and logistics (2006- )

Head of the technical work of consumer studies in:
 - Retail and consumer attitude towards communicative packaging “Sustainpack” (2006-2007)
 - ”Scientific background for the basis of an international standard for easy-to-open Packages” (2006-2008)
- “Assessible packages for the elderly and disabled - Guidelines to the industry” (2008-2012)
- Evaluation of draft standard CEN 261-WG 2 N “Ease of Opening” (2008)

Head of the technical work of material evaluation in:
- Light protection of food (2006-2007)
- Enzymatic coating through nanotechnology “Enzycoat” (2007-2010)

Company Profile

The Danish Technological Institute is a self-owned and non-profit institution.
We develop, apply and disseminate research- and technologically-based knowledge for the Danish and International business sector. As such we participate in development projects which are of use to society in close collaboration with leading research and educational institutions both in Denmark and abroad.

Financial review: Profit for 2007 is EUR 3.2 million and the group’s total turnover amounts to EUR 100.7 million, which represents an increase of 3.1 % compared to 2006. Staff accounts for 795 employees in 2007.

Departments of Danish Technological Institute: Building Technology, Industry and Energy, Business Development, Materials, Productivity and Logistics. 
Subsidiaries with activity: Technological Innovation A/S, Swedish Technological Institute AB, Swedcert AB, FIRMA 2000 Sp. Z.o.o.

Abstract

Easy opening of consumer packaging is becoming a major issue and a more frequently expressed demand among consumers. All consumers appreciate easy-to-use packaging, but the problem is especially apparent when looking at people with a disability or elderly people. The Danish Technological Institute seeks to address this issue by organizing a local Danish initiative financed by the Danish government. The project (2008-2012) consists in designing guidelines for the industry as encouragement to produce and sell more user-friendly packaging. The constellation is a mix of anthropologists, designers, engineers and companies. Input from the industry is the base for the production of the guidelines. The upcoming CEN standard “Ease of Opening” may deliver the acceptance criteria for easy-to-open packages, thus, the industries may need guidelines in how to reach the level. However, easy-to-open packages require more than minimum use of force in the opening process. Observations of the opening technique of elderly people were discovered during the evaluation of the draft CEN standard “Ease of Opening”. Also, ethnologic and perception studies of rheumatism patients and a questionnaire of ordinary people bring knowledge of the consumers’ everyday living with packages and the use and acceptance of tools.