Preamble
Consumers are interested in simple, accurate and pleasing methods to apply cleaners, polishes or other household care product. The challenge seeks dispensing technologies that can meet these needs. Many existing liquid dispensing methods are inaccurate, messy and otherwise unpleasant or frustrating for the user.
Significance
Being able to accurately and easily dispense a household product is appealing for consumers that want to feel that they are competent and in control. Consumers are also interested in the frugal use of a product to minimize cost, but also to reduce product and packing waste and the impact on the environment.
Background
Consumers are interested in household products that are effective and efficient, provide a positive and satisfactory experience to the user, and demonstrate value for money. Existing liquid dispensing technologies including modified caps, specific dispensing add-ons and single use product formats. All have limitations.
Details
The need is for a cost-effective, simple and pleasing methods to dispense liquid cleaners, polishes or other household care product in controlled, accurate volumes.
Consumers are interested in household products that are effective and efficient, provide a positive and satisfactory experience to the user, and demonstrate value for money. Existing liquid dispensing technologies including modified caps, specific dispensing add-ons and single use product formats have limitations.
What has been tried that hasn’t worked
Modified caps or add-on dispensing units are often messy and inaccurate. The consumer may apply too much or too little and have to deal with spills and drips on the container surface. Changing from a lid or cap to a dispensing unit takes additional time and materials, adding cost for both manufacturer and consumer.
Single use product formats provide accurate dispensing but do not provide the consumer with the ability to change the product volume dispensed. Consumers are also concerned about the increase packaging associated with this format.
Verification of why this is an industry-wide problem
Solution CriteriaTechnologies of interest will provide accurate, controlled, dispensing of liquid household products by the consumer and:
– Must be suitable for dispensing volumes in the range of 2 to 20 mL or the range of 20 to 200 mL
– Must be suitable for a range of dynamic liquid viscosities, from 10 to 10,000 CPS (centipoise)
– Must be compatible with standard opening sizes (lids) for household products to be added to existing packaging line platforms
– Must be compatible with high volume manufacturing
– Must not use hazardous materials; complying with with Toxics in Packaging regulations
http://www.toxicsinpackaging.org/tpch_faq.html
– Must provide proprietary benefit for the manufacturer (e.g. intellectual property, exclusive license)
– Have flexibility in amount dispensed to provide maximal control by the consumer
– Minimize residual product left in the container
Paths the solution might lie along-Novel small-volume packaging that can dispense several aliquots of product and can be readily recycled or is biodegradable.
-Novel packaging materials that are flexible and have a memory to return to original shape
-Novel dispensing shapes that provide accurate dispensing.
Areas of knowledge or expertise that would be helpful in solving this challengepackaging, liquid handling, materials science and Chemistry
Award Amount to be paid: $4500 to each participant
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