Skip to main content

Client : Premier Tech Home & Garden

In market : 2022

Objectives of the initiative

The goal of the re-design of this jug was to answer consumers feedback and to make it reusable and easy to refill with our Alaskan® refill bags. Our designers worked on this project to create a robust container that the consumer would find not only easy to refill but also easy to use while spreading the product during cold winters. The final product ecodesign features include a new lid to facilitate use for refilling and a mono-material design (with the exception of the label). Instructions were also included on the refill bag to encourage consumers to refill the container when it is empty.

Challenges

Multiple challenges had to be resolved by the Premier Tech design team during this ecodesign project:

  • Jug design: we had to find the right amount of plastic to use to respect both our sustainability objective and maintain the strength of the jug. We also had to ensure a standard shape compatible with the cooling process requirements during manufacturing.
  • New lid design and procurement of materials: A lot of work was also necessary to define the right material that would meet the lid’s functionality and to find the right supplier.
  • Consumer education: A new communication strategy was necessary to educate the customer about the relationship between the reusable jug and refill bags.
  • Use of recycled content: We also tried to include recycled plastic into the packaging, but at the end we found that it would require additional R&D efforts before it could be considered.

Benefits

This ecodesign project led to multiple benefits for Premier Tech:

  1. The ecodesign of the primary packaging also resulted in the optimization of the secondary and tertiary packaging.
  2. The project was very well received by our internal teams and our customers. It allowed us to gain recognition for our ecodesign innovation.
  3. The new shape of the jug allows an impactful visibility on the shelves and improved customer experience when handling the product.
  4. The reusable jug is now made from parts sourced locally.

Optimization actions

We changed the lid’s material from PP to HDPE, which has more recycling end markets. We now have mono-material primary packaging components with the exception of the label.

We optimized the boxes (secondary packaging) so that we can transport more products per truckload. While the product content weight was reduced by 10% (5 kg reduced to 4.5), the product redesign increased the number of containers per pallet by 25% (from 24 boxes of 4 products to 30 per pallet).

  • Increase product life span
  • Improve product handling
  • Reduction of product losses during use
  • Improve the container handle to be more ergonomic

The opening’s shape of the jug was redesigned to facilitate the replenishment by the end user. We also added an easy-to-understand pictogram to promote the refillable feature. The container now includes an improved ergonomic handle.

  • Reduction in the number of different materials
  • Proper marking of materials
  • Intranet
  • Meetings and briefings with multidisciplinary teams
  • In direct consultation with our suppliers
  • In-house development
  • On the packaging
  • Identification of plastic resins by means of RIC codes
  • Indication of appropriate logos (e.g., Möbius band)
  • Creation of content for our website and for those of our retailers and postings for social media
  • On the product
  • Advertising campaign