Observed each October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign aimed at supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, educating people about breast cancer risk factors, stressing the importance of regular screening, and raising funds for breast cancer research.
Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a cause very close to our heart at CCT. The development of CCT’s EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in more than 80 years, was inspired by Dawn Real, a company friend who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
The cancer treatments weakened Dawn and made jar lids even more of a struggle for her to open. Dawn asked CCT’s founders why jar lids are not easier to open. That question triggered an eight-year journey of research and development which resulted in the EEASY Lid.
Because of Dawn’s inspiration, the EEASY Lid is topping more and more jarred products on grocery store shelves, making these products more accessible for everyone regardless of ability. This October, we are proud to say our EEASY Lid is currently being used on products in more than 500 stores across the U.S. and Germany, with additional availability expected by the end of the year.
Accessible packaging will become the norm as more brands realize that no one should have to struggle to open their food, drinks and necessities.
Please let Breast Cancer Awareness Month serve as a critical reminder to prioritize making products accessible to all consumers despite age, gender, disability or physical ailment.
CCT and the EEASY Lid are continuing to make headlines. In this edition of “In the News,” our ever-growing list of media coverage includes AL Circle, a global aluminum industry platform that covers the entire value chain of the aluminum industry, and the Chronicle News, a community newspaper headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, focused on providing impactful news to the Mid-Michigan area.
AL Circle Headlined “The EEASY Lid is the world’s first aluminum lug jar lid,” AL Circle featured an in-depth Q&A with CCT President Brandon Bach.
When asked why the name EEASY Lid, Brandon talked about how the jar lid innovation is designed to help brands provide unprecedented accessibility to their jarred food products and said the EEASY Lid’s name aptly describes this innovative jar lid that everyone can use – just push, twist, and open.
The publication also asked Brandon why the EEASY Lid is made of aluminum. The answer: Aluminum is durable, corrosion-resistant and helps streamline the manufacturing process.
Another question touched on the topic of sustainability and how the use of aluminum in the EEASY Lid aligns with sustainability goals. Brandon explained that aluminum is a more sustainable choice than traditional steel lids because it can be recycled repeatedly without losing its quality and is a low carbon resource that supports the circular economy. Because it is a lightweight material, aluminum packaging can also decrease fuel consumption and emissions during product transport.
A question about the recently released peer-reviewed white paper entitled “New Aluminium Lug Closure Reduces Removal Torque while Ensuring Hermetic Seals in Glass Jars” gave Brandon the opportunity to highlight the high performance of the EEASY Lid. Written by the Cornell University Department of Food Science and published in Food Protection Trends, the white paper compares the EEASY Lid to traditional steel lug jar lids – the packaging industry standard. Cornell researchers found that the EEASY Lid delivered a hermetic seal comparable to jars with standard steel lug closures (meaning the EEASY Lid does not affect sealing performance) and jars with the EEASY Lid had a torque value 20% to 51% lower than jars with standard lids (meaning the jars with the EEASY Lid were easier to open).
The Q&A came to a close with a question on Brandon’s vision of the future of aluminum usage in food packaging, and how the EEASY Lid contributes to that vision. Brandon highlighted the importance of brands delivering on customer preferences for sustainable products and packaging in order to remain competitive in an oversaturated market and noted that CCT is at the forefront of helping brands make their packaging more sustainable.
The Chronicle News The Chronicle News covered the expanded availability of the EEASY Lid atop Chilau Foods’ southern-inspired stew and boil bases at 250+ Meijer grocery stores. The article noted that luckily, for stew lovers in Lansing, stubborn jar lids are a thing of the past.
This news story highlighted that the “EEASY Lid allows consumers to vent a vacuum-sealed jar – think pickles, sauces, olives and more – by simply pressing a button on the lid, reducing the amount of effort needed to twist off the lid by up to 50%.”
Michael Anderson, founder of Chilau Foods said: “Meijer shoppers now have the opportunity to try Chilau’s various stew and boil bases without the struggle.”
Also quoted in the story, CCT president Brandon Bach said: “Every time the EEASY Lid becomes available on a new store shelf, we are one step closer to achieving our goal of eliminating the perennial jar opening struggle.”
Today, there is a growing trend in the packaging industry toward inclusive and accessible design. And it’s about time – really past time – for products with accessible packaging to be the norm on store shelves, not the exception!
Accessible packaging that is easy to open and handle is a win for consumers and a win for brands. It’s essential for enhancing consumer experience and satisfaction, strengthening brand loyalty and customer retention, and increasing market reach. In a nutshell, when product packaging is accessible, consumers get a great experience, and brands rack up more sales.
Brands are increasingly realizing the universal benefits of inclusive, accessible product packaging and are revamping their packaging to make it easier for everyone to use.
Here’s a roundup of some of the accessible packaging innovations recently introduced by forward thinking brands:
Source: Xbox
Microsoft Xbox – Inspired by feedback from the Gaming and Disability community, Microsoft designed the Xbox Adaptive Joystick packaging with accessibility in mind. Some of the new accessible packaging features include a large base-tab to prompt an uncomplicated out-of-box experience, hinged box lid, with large loop attached for product access, a large loop for seamless cable folio access, and no twist ties on cables for simple handling. Microsoft also applied these insights to redesign and improve the accessibility of the packaging for three new Xbox Series X|S console options.
e.l.f. Cosmetics – Collaborating with world champion blind swimmer Anastasia ‘Tas’ Pagonis, e.l.f. Cosmetics launched the “Beauty For Every Eye” limited edition kit. The kit features three of Pagonis’ favorite e.l.f. products each with a scannable QR code that links to an audio recording by Pagonis describing the product, including finish and application tips. This collaboration aims to make the company’s beauty products more accessible for the blind and low-vision community.
Source: Nestlé
Mattel Barbie– Mattel partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to launch a blind Barbie for their Fashionistas line. Working with AFB, Mattel created accessible packaging for the doll, including the placement and writing of ‘Barbie’ in braille on the package.
Nestlé SMA Nutrition – SMA Nutrition recently announced the incorporation of NaviLens technology into the packaging of its entire Infant Nutrition range. Customers can use the NaviLens GO app on SMA to easily find the product they are looking for in-store and have product instructions and ingredients read aloud. According to the company, blind and partially sighted parents and caregivers can now use NaviLens on all SMA formula packs, giving them a higher level of independence when it comes to making choices regarding their children’s feeding.
Müller Yogurt & Desserts – Müller Yogurt & Desserts announced in July that the company will roll out NaviLens codes across all its branded products, increasing accessibility for blind and partially sighted (BPS) people. Dedicated NaviLens codes printed on Müller products can be scanned using the corresponding app, with audio and haptic cues allowing users to locate and center the code in the smartphone’s camera. Depending on shopper preferences, the app can either read aloud the ingredients, allergens, nutrition, and recycling information for the product, or the user can read the information on their phone using accessibility tools.
Being – The packaging of Being’s line of hair care products which recently debuted at Walmart was designed to be inclusive and accessible. Beauty Packaging reports that some of the accessible packaging features incorporated in the company’s product line include soft, easy-to-squeeze tubes that are ideal for one-handed use, a lipped-lid design on tubes and jars that makes it easier for individuals with limited dexterity to open the packaging, and high contrast labels, large typography, and tactile indicators on the bottles enhance accessibility for individuals with visual impairments and colorblindness.
Chilau Foods – Chilau Foods’ line of southern-inspired stew and boil bases topped with the easy-to-open, accessible EEASY Lid is now available at 250 Meijer stores in the Midwest. The expanded availability of these products means shoppers in the region can purchase a flavorful product line that offers a convenient and accessible jar opening experience. The EEASY Lid makes these Chilau products up to 50% easier to open than jarred products with traditional jar lids.
These companies are winning with accessible packaging. Isn’t it time for your company to adopt a winning packaging strategy?
Go for the win. Make your product packaging inclusive and accessible with the EEASY Lid.
Contact us today to learn more about the EEASY Lid – a packaging innovation designed to provide an unprecedented level of accessibility.
According to EPA estimates, the amount of plastic waste in the United States’ municipal solid waste system has grown continuously since 1960. Plastic waste generated in the U.S. increased from 0.4% of total municipal solid waste in 1960 to 12.2% in 2018. This waste predominantly consists of containers and packaging, including single-use products, such as bags, wraps, and bottles.
To address the problem of plastic packaging waste, governments across the globe are enacting regulations aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices.
Here’s a look at some of these regulations:
United States
In the U.S., there are no federal regulations related to packaging waste. However, states are increasingly enacting laws aimed at reducing plastic waste. Currently, 12 states have single-use plastic bag bans including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
By 2032 the law requires producers to ensure that:
100% of packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable
65% of all single-use plastic packaging to be recycled
25% reduction in plastic packaging
Washington’s plastics lawrequires producers of many everyday products sold in plastic packaging to include a minimum amount of recycled plastic in their packaging.
Under this law, by 2036, all packaging for covered product categories including beverage containers, household cleaners and personal care products, plastic wine containers, and dairy milk containers must include at least 50% post-consumer recycled content, except for trash bags, which are required to contain 20% after 2027.
Outside the U.S.
The list of governments that have enacted laws to address the problem of plastic packaging waste is a long one and includes the European Union, Canada, and India.
Under the EU’s Directive on Single-Use Plastics, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. This applies to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and sticks for balloons.
In Canada, Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) are part of the government’s comprehensive plan to address pollution, meet its target of zero plastic waste by 2030, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The regulations prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws.
India, too, has enacted rules to tackle plastic packaging waste. The rules, which took effect on July 1, 2022, prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic items such as ear buds with plastic sticks, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, and wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets.
Rules prohibiting the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags having thickness of less than one hundred and twenty microns took effect in India on December 31, 2022.
Regulations like these coupled with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products and packaging are fueling the growth of the sustainable packaging market. In 2023, the global sustainable packaging market was valued at approximately $271.86 billion. Market value is expected to exceed $393 billion by 2028.
As regulations addressing plastic and other types of packaging waste continue to evolve, brands must adapt by adopting packaging solutions with better environmental performance.
The EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in 80 years, is a solution. Made of recyclable aluminum, the EEASY Lid can help brands reduce packaging waste, promote sustainability and future-proof their packaging to meet evolving regulations.
Government regulations addressing packaging waste are increasing and becoming more stringent. Is your brand packaging designed for compliance?
Older consumers, a large and growing market segment with considerable buying power, represent a lucrative untapped opportunity for many brands. While senior consumers are a growing market segment with significant disposable income, brands are still overlooking the needs of these consumers.
As the number of older shoppers continues to increase, companies that provide packaging designed to meet their needs and create a better overall experience have a massive opportunity to attract these so-called “silver shoppers” and earn their loyalty.
Today, there are approximately 62 millionadults ages 65 and older living in the U.S., accounting for 18% of the population. By 2054, 84 million adults ages 65 and older will make up an estimated 23% of the population, according to the Pew Research Center.
More than half of all wealth is held by Baby Boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) and the Silent Generation (people born between 1928 and 1945). A report from Circana notes that “consumers aged 55 and older have consistently demonstrated their overall spending strength and continue to be the only age group to increase their spending on discretionary general merchandise.” Circana data reveals that average monthly spending among this age group is up 4% in the first four months of 2024, while all other age groups combined declined 2%.
One of the keys to capturing some of the considerable spending power of older consumers is through accessible packaging.
Packaging accessibility and usability are increasingly important to an aging population that often struggles with arthritis, weakened grip strength, and reduced manual dexterity. In the U.S., over 47% of adults 65 and older struggle with arthritis. These and other aging related challenges are driving a growing demand for packaging that is easy to open and handle. Research firm Market Research Future estimated the value of the senior friendly packaging market at $4.73 billion in 2023 and projects this market will grow to $7.10 billion by 2032.
Source: Market Research Future
Given the growing senior population and rising demand for accessible packaging, brands can’t afford to ignore the need for senior-citizen-friendly packaging.
Packaging that is not accessible – jars that are a struggle to open are at the top of this list – is frustrating for all consumers, but even more so for seniors looking to maintain their independence. Brands with hard to open and handle packaging risk alienating older consumers and missing out on the opportunity to attract and retain shoppers from this lucrative market segment.
Another key to capturing market share among senior shoppers is sustainable packaging.
Older consumers are increasingly considering sustainability when making product purchases. This cohort, like other consumers, is becoming more environmentally conscious, choosing products that are eco-friendly and easily recyclable.
Recent Shopkick survey results reported by Chain Store Age revealed that concern about sustainability is not just for younger generations. The survey found that 38% of Baby Boomers would be willing to pay more for products that are sustainably sourced and packaged, and 40% of Boomers actively seek out eco-friendly products.
Accessible and sustainable packaging differentiates products from the competition, influences purchasing decisions, and helps create meaningful connections with all consumers – including seniors, who are among the most brand-loyal customers.
The EEASY Lid is accessible and sustainable packaging that appeals to the most junior and senior of shoppers. The first jar lid innovation in 80 years, the EEASY Lid provides unparalleled accessibility, reducing the amount of torque needed to twist off a jar lid by up to 50%. Made of recyclable aluminum, the EEASY Lid also helps brands deliver on consumer preferences for sustainable packaging.
Brands that ignore the needs of senior shoppers are turning away sales from a large and valuable market segment. Don’t let packaging deter seniors from purchasing your products. Partner with us to adopt the EEASY Lid – packaging that works for all consumers.
As consumers continue to seek out private label brands to make their grocery dollars go further, dollar stores are expanding their offerings of owned brand products. Dollar stores are increasing investments in private label products to offer a high level of value to cost conscious consumers and open up new avenues for differentiation and growth.
According to Circana sales data provided exclusively to PLMA, store brands reached all-time highs in both unit and dollar share during the first six months of 2024, compared to the same period a year ago. Total store brand sales for the six months were $121 billion, and PLMA estimates that if sales continue at the current rate for the rest of the year, total store brand revenue for 2024 will exceed a quarter trillion dollars, setting a new record for annual sales.
Investments in store brand products by dollar stores are helping fuel sales of private label products. Dollar General announced last year that it was expanding its private label brand, Clover Valley, debuting more than 100 new items including a wider selection of sauces, condiments, entrees, sides, snacks and more. Family Dollar also continues to expand private brand offerings, having launched more than 125 new private brand items last year.
The development of new private label products like these is helping dollar stores expand their customer bases and drive growth in the grocery category.
According to Numerator’s Private Label Trends Tracker report, store brands from both Dollar Tree and Dollar General accounted for four of the top 15 fastest-growing private label brands. Numerator data also revealed that private label products account for 29% of Dollar Tree’s overall sales volume and 17% of Dollar General’s sales volume.
Nearly all U.S. households purchased private label products in the grocery category over the last year. When purchasing private label grocery products, consumers are not only evaluating these products for value, but sustainability as well. As sustainability increasingly drives purchase intent, it is critical for brands to make their private label products and packaging more environmentally friendly.
The shift toward sustainability presents a significant avenue for differentiation and growth for private label products offered by dollar stores and other private label brand owners. A report by consumer intelligence company NIQ notes that, “by adopting eco-friendly practices in sourcing, manufacturing, and packaging, private label brands can appeal to environmentally conscious consumers seeking sustainable alternatives.”
The EEASY Lid is the sustainable, accessible packaging solution dollar stores and other private label brand owners need to differentiate their products from the competition and drive customer loyalty. As private label products continue to multiply on store shelves, brands need packaging innovations like the EEASY Lid – the first jar lid innovation in 80 years – to make their products stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
Let’s talk about how the EEASY Lid can drive sales for your private label product. Contact us today.
Consumers today want a more sustainable shopping experience, and this preference for more eco-friendly products is showing up in their purchasing behavior. According to NIQ Retail Measurement and Product Insights data, products with sustainability claims grew 34% more than products without claims from 2018-2022. NIQ survey data also reveals that 95% of consumers indicated they are trying to live more sustainably, taking actions including recycling, buying products with recyclable packaging and using refillable containers.
Brands are taking notice and are shifting packaging strategies to reduce the environmental impact of their products to align with consumer preferences and promote a more sustainable future.
Amazon recently made headlines for eliminating the use of plastic air pillows in its boxes. Instead, the company is now using paper fillers made from 100% recycled content. According to Amazon, this paper filler is curbside recyclable, making it easier for customers to recycle at home. The company estimates that replacing 95% of plastic air pillows from delivery packaging in North America will avoid the use of nearly15 billion of these pillows annually.
Amazon isn’t the only brand rethinking packaging strategies and prioritizing recyclable materials. Some of the other companies making news for optimizing the recyclability of their packaging to reduce waste include:
Source: ThePackHub
Aldi – Aldi recently introduced new plastic-free packaging on its everyday own-label toothbrushes. The company replaced the plastic and card packaging with a cardboard alternative, making it easier for customers to recycle at home without the need for separation. According to the company, the change applies to Aldi’s two-packs of Dentitex Soft and Whitening toothbrushes, helping to remove an estimated 17 tons of plastic packaging per year.
Craft Naturals –Packaging World recently reported that Craft Naturals is now offering hand soaps and shampoos in recyclable canned packaging to provide both convenience and sustainability for consumers. With this new packaging, customers can either empty the can’s contents into a refillable bottle or attach a pump dispenser directly to the top.
Starbucks – Waste Dive reported that Starbucks is launching new fiber-based, compostable cups for cold beverages in select locations. The cup is manufactured from double-walled paperboard with a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. According to the article, the compostable cups and lids will initially roll out in 24 stores, based on local mandates, and more markets are likely to be added in the future.
method – method announced in June that it is making all of its clear plastic bottles from recycled recovered coastal plastic sourced through a partnership between SC Johnson and Plastic Bank. Recycled recovered coastal plastic is plastic collected on land, within 31 miles of the coast, to stop it from ending up in the ocean or a landfill.
Dole – As part of its promise to reduce plastic packaging, Dole will debut new paper-based packaging for its Dole Smoothie Bowls. This new packaging uses 97% less plastic than the previous design. The new paper-based bowls will launch in late 2024.
New packaging innovations today are helping brands like these make their packaging more sustainable.
CCT’s EEASY Lid is a consumer-facing packaging innovation that helps brands:
Meet growing shopper demand for sustainably packaged products
Reduce their environmental footprint
Deliver on their sustainability initiatives
The first jar lid innovation in 80 years, the EEASY Lid is made of recyclable aluminum. The recyclability of the EEASY Lid not only caters to consumer preferences but meets evolving regulatory requirements for reducing waste and conserving resources.
Contact us today to learn more about how the EEASY Lid can help your brand attract new customers and build brand loyalty, powering success in an increasingly competitive market landscape.
A ribbon cutting ceremony held on Friday, July 26, celebrated the availability of Chilau Foods, a line of southern-inspired stew and boil bases, topped with the easy-open EEASY Lid at the Dayton, Ohio, Meijer store. As the Chilau Foods products topped with the EEASY Lid hit store shelves at this Meijer location, the wait is over for Dayton area shoppers looking for bold, ethnic flavor profiles to spice up meals and accessible packaging that makes meal prep easier and more convenient.
The EEASY Lid, created by Dayton-based CCT, is the first jar lid innovation in 80 years. It allows customers to just push, twist and open their favorite jarred foods without the struggle. The EEASY Lid reduces the amount of effort needed to open a jar by up to 50%.
CCT president Brandon Bach noted that “it is always exciting to expand the EEASY Lid’s availability in stores across the U.S., but it is especially gratifying to see the EEASY Lid on grocery store shelves in CCT’s hometown.”
The ribbon cutting event formally introduced Chilau Foods products with the EEASY Lid to Dayton shoppers and provided these shoppers with the opportunity to taste the new products and experience the easy open EEASY Lid.
CCT co-owners Jim Bach and Darci Stodd were on hand for the celebration, as well as president Brandon Bach, CFO Sheila Miles, operations manager Niles Richards, and the rest of the CCT’s team members. Michael Anderson, founder of Chilau Foods, was also present.
Please enjoy this photo recap of the event that drew shoppers from the Dayton area and beyond:
In addition to Meijer stores, the EEASY Lid is currently being used on products in more than 250 Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and Tops Friendly Markets stores in addition to select specialty grocers in the Northeast. The EEASY Lid is also being used on products in EDEKA Kempken stores in Krefeld, Germany.
Welcome to the latest edition of CCT in the news. We’ve been busy in the last month expanding into new markets and receiving research validation on the ease of opening and sealing the EEASY Lid. These newsworthy happenings were covered by a host of U.S. and international trade publications including:
News Packaging, a Spanish publication with international circulation aimed at purchasing and marketing managers in the perfumery, cosmetics, food, beverages, and watchmaking sectors.
AL Circle, a media outlet which publishes the latest news and interviews in the aluminum industry.
Packaging World, a publication offering original articles on design, e-commerce, automation, regulatory topics, strategies, and trends that are enhancing packaging across all industries.
Packaging Insights, a go-to platform for all packaging related insights, news, and developments.
Mundolatas, a Spanish publication that offers metal packaging industry news, technical information, market research, interviews, and more.
Packaging Digest, a media outlet focused on delivering news, trends, best practices, and new technologies to packaging executives, engineers, developers, and designers at end-user companies.
Metal Packager, a digital publication that provides news and features covering the metal packaging market.
To catch up on what the media is saying about CCT and the EEASY Lid, give these articles a read. We’d love for you to share them too!
CCT Brings the EEASY Lid to Customers in Spain and Latin America
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), maker of the EEASY Lid, an innovation in jar lids, has partnered with intermediary Ur Bofill to bring the EEASY Lid to consumers in Spain and Latin America.”
CCT’s Aluminum Lug Jar Lid a Perfect Choice for the Food Packaging Industry: New Research Shows
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), the company behind the aluminum EEASY Lid, the first major innovation in jar lids in nearly 80 years, has announced a new peer-reviewed white paper. This paper examines the removal torque and hermetic seal performance of the EEASY Lid compared to traditional jar lids.”
CCT Partners with Broker to Bring EEASY Lid to Customers in Spain and Latin America
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), maker of the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in nearly 80 years, announces it has partnered with broker Ur Bofill to expand EEASY Lid availability to consumers in Spain and Latin America.”
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), maker of the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in nearly 80 years, announces it has partnered with broker Ur Bofill to expand EEASY Lid availability to consumers in Spain and Latin America.”
EEASY Lid Prepares to Enter the Spanish and Latin American Markets
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), manufacturer of the EEASY Lid, has announced its partnership with Ur Bofill to expand the availability of the EEASY Lid to consumers in Spain and Latin America.”
EEASY Lid Brings Accessibility to Customers in Spain & Latin America
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), maker of the EEASY Lid, has announced a brokerage agreement with Barcelona-based Vemsa 1857 Packaging Solutions to expand the ergonomic closure’s availability to packagers in Spain and Latin America.”
“Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), maker of the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in nearly 80 years, has partnered with broker Ur Bofill to expand EEASY Lid availability to consumers in Spain and Latin America.”
When CCT developed the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in 80 years, the focus was on creating a jar lid that was easy to open while protecting the safety and integrity of jarred food products. Fast forward to today, and the EEASY Lid is widely recognized in the market as an accessible, safe packaging solution. That market validation is supported by new research conducted by the Cornell University Department of Food Science, which verifies the ease of opening and sealing performance of the EEASY Lid.
In a new peer reviewed white paper entitled “New Aluminum Lug Closure Reduces Removal Torque while Ensuring Hermetic Seals in Glass Jars,” Cornell Department of Food Science researchers studied the removal torque and hermetic seal performance of the EEASY Lid – referenced as a vacuum release aluminum lug jar lid – to traditional steel lug jar lids, the packaging industry standard. Jars packed with tomato sauce and capped with both types of lids were evaluated.
Researchers found:
1. The EEASY Lid delivered a hermetic seal comparable to jars with the standard steel lug closures, meaning the EEASY Lid does not affect sealing performance.
2. Removal torque values for jars with the EEASY Lid were 20% to 51% lower than those for standard lids, making the jars with the EEASY Lid easier to open.
These findings were recently published in Food Protection Trends, the International Association for Food Protection’s bi-monthly publication that publishes peer reviewed articles on applied research, applications of current technology and general interest subjects for food safety professionals.
In a press release highlighting the findings and publication of the white paper, CCT president Brandon Bach said, “While we know the benefits of the EEASY Lid, third party research like this helps to further validate that the EEASY Lid is a smart accessible packaging solution for brands to offer to consumers.”
The EEASY Lid is currently being used on products in more than 500 Meijer, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and Tops Friendly Markets stores in addition to select specialty grocers in the Northeast United States. The EEASY Lid is also being used on products in EDEKA Kempken stores in Krefeld, Germany.
The white paper can be found in Food Protection Trends Vol 44, No. 4, p. 273-282. Click here to access the latest issue.
Headlined “The EEASY Lid is the world’s first aluminum lug jar lid,” AL Circle featured an in-depth Q&A with CCT President Brandon Bach.
The Chronicle News covered the expanded availability of the EEASY Lid atop Chilau Foods’ southern-inspired stew and boil bases at 250+ Meijer grocery stores. The article noted that luckily, for stew lovers in Lansing, stubborn jar lids are a thing of the past.
