April 22, 2025, marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, a day dedicated to promoting environmental awareness, education and action. Across 192 countries, more than one billion people are expected to participate this year, with many engaging in environmental conservation and awareness events, organizing cleanups, planting trees or leading recycling efforts.
Source: earthday.org
Earth Day also serves as an important call to action for brands to adopt sustainable packaging solutions. The staggering 96 million tons of annual packaging waste in the U.S. highlights the critical need for a widespread shift to sustainable packaging to reduce this massive amount of refuse.
By rethinking packaging strategies and transitioning to more sustainable options, brands have a significant opportunity to reduce their environmental impact. Moving to more sustainable packaging allows companies to contribute to a healthier planet while also meeting evolving regulations and appealing to increasingly eco-conscious consumers.
Innovations like the EEASY Lid offer a readily recyclable packaging option that directly contribute to these environmental and consumer-related benefits.
The world’s first aluminum lug jar lid, the EEASY Lid is recyclable after use. Lightweight, yet durable, this innovative packaging solution also helps brands reduce transport costs and lower the carbon emissions linked to transportation.
This Earth Day, it is estimated that 7,500,000 pounds of garbage will be removed through the Great Global Cleanup. By proactively adopting sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions, brands help ensure their packaging avoids contributing to the millions of pounds of waste collected during initiatives like this.
Protecting the planet is a responsibility we all share, every day, not just on Earth Day. Brands can do their part by adopting the EEASY Lid to minimize waste, lessen their environmental impact, and support a circular economy.
Contact us today to discover how the EEASY Lid can help your brand tap into the power of sustainability to better protect our planet.
Carmine’s signature sauces now featuring the EEASY Lid debuted at the Wyckoff ShopRite on March 28. The debut, celebrated with an in-store event, gave customers the opportunity to try the accessible EEASY Lid and taste the award-winning sauces from the legendary New York City family-style Italian restaurant.
Shoppers at this event experienced the perfect pairing for both taste and convenience with the winning combination of Carmine’s highly acclaimed signature sauces and the innovative, accessible EEASY Lid.
On hand at the Wyckoff ShopRite event were the Carmine’s team, including Chef Glenn, and the CCT team.
Carmine’s is the latest company to use the EEASY Lid on its products. CCT’s EEASY Lid is the first jar lid innovation in 80 years. It reduces the amount of effort needed to open a jar by up to 50%, allowing customers to just push, twist, and open their favorite jarred foods without the struggle.
Carmine’s signature sauces topped with the EEASY Lid are now available at ShopRite grocery stores located in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, with rollouts in additional grocery stores coming soon.
Enjoy the photos below which offer a visual recap of the successful launch of Carmine’s sauces featuring the EEASY Lid at the Wyckoff ShopRite:
CCT and the EEASY Lid continued to make headlines in the first quarter of 2025, appearing in specialty food publications and a broad range of packaging trade publications.
Read on to discover the headlines and article highlights in this edition of CCT In the News.
PLMA Attendance Reflects Popularity of Store Brands
Consumer Convenience Technologies introduced a convenient product called EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in decades.
It allows consumers to vent a jar by pressing the button on the lid, which opens a tiny slit that breaks the seal.
The technology reduces the amount of force needed to open the lid by up to 50%, CCT said in a news release. The lid also can be screwed back onto the jar to preserve any leftover sauce.
New York City-based Italian restaurant chain Carmine’s is adopting a lid that makes opening pasta sauce jars easier for a wider range of consumers.
Carmine’s, a family-style New York City Italian restaurant, has partnered with Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT) to adopt the EEASY Lid, a product that helps meet consumer demand for inclusive and sustainable packaging.
CCT’s EEASY Lid is designed to help brands provide greater accessibility to jarred food products. For Carmine’s, this means consumers of its pasta sauces sold across over 300 retail locations can have an easier time opening the brand’s jars.
“With accessible packaging like the EEASY Lid, we’re making sure no one gets left behind,” states Brandon Bach, president of CCT. “More than one in four adults in the U.S. struggle with some sort of disability, and that doesn’t even consider people who have weakened grip strength for other reasons.”
Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT) has announced a partnership with New York City-based family-style Italian restaurant Carmine’s to evolve its line of sauces through accessible packaging innovations and expanded retail availability.
Sustainability is another key advantage of the EEASY Lid. Made from recyclable aluminum, the lid provides a lightweight and durable alternative to traditional tin plate lids. CCT manufactures these lids at its Dayton, US, technology center, which has the capacity to produce more than 250 million aluminum lug lids annually.
Jeffrey Bank, CEO at Carmine’s, says: “Carmine’s was created to bring people around the table for simple yet delicious meals for the whole family. Now, with the EEASY Lid, we hope to make that experience even more convenient so that people can recreate the Carmine’s experience at home with ease. We want consumers to be able to access our sauces effortlessly.”
The EEASY Lid allows for the effortless opening of vacuum-sealed jars, reducing the torque required by up to 50%.
The solution is particularly beneficial for individuals with physical challenges such as carpal tunnel or tendonitis and those recovering from surgery. The lid’s design incorporates an aluminum lug, offering a recyclable alternative to traditional tin plate lids, furthering Carmine’s commitment to sustainability.
“CCT president Brandon Bach said: ‘We’re proud to soon have the EEASY Lid in 300 Shoprite stores atop Carmine’s delicious signature sauces – with more availability to come in the near future.”
New York’s iconic Carmine’s adopts EEASY Lid for signature Italian sauces
Carmine’s, a well-known family-style Italian restaurant in New York City, has partnered with Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT) to introduce the EEASY Lid on its line of signature sauces. The move aligns with the restaurant’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and sustainability as it celebrates its 35th anniversary.
The EEASY Lid is designed to assist those with limited hand strength or mobility issues and is made from aluminum, offering a recyclable alternative to traditional tin plate lids.
As Chilau Foods products roll out with the EEASY Lid (as old stock sells out), Anderson is making his delicious stew base line accessible for all—including his 90-year-old grandmother.
“My previous jars, if someone isn’t there to help my grandmother open the jar, that would be an issue. But now with the EEASY Lid, I can send her jars in the mail and be confident that she can open the jar and not need any assistance,’ he says.”
We’d love for you to read and share these articles. Check back frequently for the latest EEASY Lid updates!
Despite the critical need for accessible packaging among millions of people with disabilities and conditions that weaken grip strength, many products remain frustratingly difficult to open. That’s especially true when it comes to traditional jar lids. Jars ranked among the top five most difficult packaging types to open in Arthritis Australia’s 2024 ‘That’s a Wrap’ campaign and are a repeat offender in this category year after year.
The results of surveys like this show that progress is still critically needed to make more packaging universally accessible.
Companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility and are actively transforming their packaging for universal ease of use. Some of the brands recently making news for this transformation include:
Source: Nestlé Confectionery
Nestlé Confectionery is trialing Accessible QR codes on its KitKat and Quality Street brands to help shoppers who are living with sight loss access product information more easily. According to the company, shoppers will be able to scan the Accessible QR codes on their phones using existing apps already used by the blind and partially sighted community, meaning there is no need for additional downloads. When scanning the enhanced QR code, shoppers can access details on allergens, dietary requirements, and usage instructions. The information is presented via standard accessible features such as large fonts and audible screen reader technology.
Tilt Beauty, recently launched in the U.S., was founded by Aerin Glazer after she was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and found traditional makeup challenging to use. The beauty brand’s products feature patented packaging that is easy to grip, open and close. According to the company, Tilt Beauty is the first to receive The Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use® certification, recognizing its patented packaging as user-friendly for everyone, including those with arthritis and chronic pain.
Ketel One Family Made Vodka announced last September the addition of accessible on-bottle QR codes (AQRs) on bottled Espresso Martini and Cosmopolitan products from the company’s The Cocktail Collection. These AQRs enable easier product identification and information access for blind and low-vision consumers. Upon scanning the AQR, the user’s phone announces the product category and its physical distance from the user through text-to-speech and enhanced font size. The app also detects key information including product details, specific allergens and can even provide recipe suggestions, all of which would normally require additional, visual assistance to obtain.
Source: all®
all® free clear announced in January that the brand will be the first laundry detergent in the U.S. to incorporate NaviLens technology on its packaging. The technology will be featured on all® free clear MIGHTY PACS® Original laundry detergent tubs and pouches. Once consumers download the NaviLens app, the device detects NaviLens codes, audibly notifying the user of the product name, type, and precise in-store location. The company notes that this technology can benefit those with blindness, low vision, language barriers and anyone in need of additional resources.
Carmine’s recently partnered with CCT to adopt the EEASY Lid, an accessible packaging innovation designed to help brands provide greater accessibility to jarred products. Sold at more than 300 retail locations, Carmine’s sauces topped with the EEASY Lid allow consumers to open the sauce jars with a simple push of a button and easy twist of the lid. The software designed EEASY Lid reduces the effort needed to unscrew a lid by up to 50%.
Is your brand packaging accessible? It can be. The EEASY Lid transforms your packaging, ensuring ease of use and improving the customer experience.
The pasta sauce market is heating up across the globe. The global pasta sauce market is projected to reach $11.5 billion by 2032, up from $8.32 billion in 2024.
The introduction of new flavor profiles, consumer preferences for convenience, and increased consumer focus on health and wellness are all factors boosting sales of pasta sauce.
New flavor profiles
Source: SAUZ
One of the key drivers of the growing pasta sauce market is the introduction of unique and interesting flavors to satisfy consumer demand for new taste experiences. SAUZ, a new entrant in the pasta sauce market, is innovating in this area with the introduction of Hot Honey Marinara, Summer Lemon Marinara, Creamy Calabrian Vodka, and Wild Rosemary Marinara. Food Navigator reports that SAUZ intends to “disrupt” the pasta sauce aisle with novel flavor combinations and locally sourced ingredients.
Unique flavor profiles like these appeal to evolving consumer tastes and attract a growing number of shoppers seeking more variety in pasta sauces on store shelves.
Convenience
Demand for pasta sauce is rising in tandem with consumer preference for convenient, time-saving meal prep options.
According to a consumer grocery shopping survey by Deloitte, 52% of respondents said they value convenience now more than they did in the past.
Ready-to-use, easy-to-open pasta sauces facilitate quick meal prep which today’s busy consumers value more and more in the kitchen. FMI research notes that quick meal options, particularly those preparable in under half an hour, have grown significantly in popularity over the last four years. FMI data revealed that 32% of shoppers spent less than 30 minutes preparing meals at home in 2024, up from 18% in 2020.
New packaging formats like the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in 80 years, are helping brands increase sales by delivering on consumer demands for convenient products that help make meal prep faster.
Pasta sauce brands like Guglielmo’s Sauce, Boyer’s Food Market Pasta Sauce, Sixth City Sauce, and Carmine’s transitioned their packaging to the EEASY Lid to offer consumers a more convenient and accessible product experience. With these EEASY Lid topped sauces, a simple press of a button and twist of the lid allows consumers to quickly access their favorite pasta sauces and whip up a great meal in no time.
Health and wellness
Health conscious consumers today are searching for healthier pasta sauce options including low sugar, low sodium, gluten-free, and organic options. They are also looking for products that are healthier for the planet.
A survey by NCSolutions (NCS) revealed that more than half of Americans (55%) say they’re more likely to try a new product if it’s marketed as being aligned with a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. The survey also found that 42% of Americans say their overall positive perception of the brand is enhanced when its marketing of healthy and sustainable products aligns with their values and preferences.
Brands offering healthy pasta sauces topped with the sustainable, durable EEASY Lid are attracting the increasing number of consumers who value health and sustainability and capturing more share of wallet in the growing pasta sauce market.
Grow market share for your brand with the EEASY Lid, a packaging innovation that combines convenience, accessibility, and sustainability. Contact us today to learn more.
Pasta sauce lovers across the Northeast rejoice! The EEASY Lid is now available on jars of Carmine’s signature sauces in 300 ShopRite grocery stores located in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, with rollouts in additional grocery stores coming soon.
Carmine’s, the legendary family-style Italian restaurant and beloved New York City institution entering its monumental 35th anniversary year, has teamed up with CCT to bring its award-winning sauces into home kitchens with a lid that makes opening jars a breeze.
The EEASY Lid allows consumers to simply press a button on Carmine’s jar lids to reduce the amount of effort needed to twist off the lid by up to 50%. It’s as simple as push, twist and open. That means no more time wasted struggling to open stubborn jar lids or searching the internet for jar opening hacks.
This partnership is a winning combination for today’s pasta sauce loving, convenience-minded consumers. Busy consumers are increasingly searching for convenient, time saving options like these easy-open, delicious pasta sauces for meal preparation. A YouGov survey found that the majority of Americans (60%) prefer to spend less than 30 minutes cooking dinner.
Commenting on the partnership, Carmine’s CEO Jeffrey Bank said: “Carmine’s was created to bring people around the table for simple yet delicious meals for the whole family. Now with the EEASY Lid, we hope to make that experience even more convenient so that people can recreate the Carmine’s experience at home with ease.”
The EEASY Lid was designed with people of all ages and abilities in mind. While opening stubborn jars is a minor inconvenience to some, it can negatively affect the daily lives of the 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. who struggle with some sort of disability. With the EEASY Lid topping more and more jarred products, the struggle associated with opening traditional jar lids will become a thing of the past – and that’s great news for everyone!
Not only is the EEASY Lid easier to open, but it’s also better for the planet. The innovative aluminum lug lid is recyclable and durable – providing a sustainable alternative to the traditional tin lids.
Jarred sauces from Carmine’s topped with the EEASY Lid are currently available in Marinara, creamy Vodka, fresh Tomato-Basil, and spicy Fra Diavolo varieties.
Consumers are putting pressure on brands to reduce the environmental impact of product packaging. As shoppers become more and more environmentally aware, they are looking for brands that prioritize sustainability.
Recent research from Nova Chemicals Corp. and Schmidt Marketing Research revealed that consumers consider recyclability, creation of the least waste, and functionality to be the most important attributes of packaging material.
Brands are responding to consumer preferences by reimagining how they package their products. To address environmental concerns and build deeper connections with eco-conscious consumers, brands are transitioning to sustainable packaging.
Here’s a look at some of the latest news on companies making the shift to sustainable packaging:
Source: Energizer Holdings, Inc
Cadbury: Brand owner Mondelēz boosted the sustainability of Cadbury’s large ‘sharing’ bars with 80% certified recycled plastic packaging. The rollout of this recycled plastic packaging is underway in the UK and Ireland. Packaging Digest reported that the equivalent of about 661 tons of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic will be used to package approximately 300 million sharing bars annually.
Energizer: Energizer recently launched 100% recyclable plastic-free packaging for its portfolio of batteries. Starting this March, the plastic-free packaging will roll out at Walmart stores nationwide and online, with additional North American retailers following later in 2025.
Bayer: Bayer launched a first-of-its-kind in the healthcare industry: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blister packaging on its Aleve brand. Realized in partnership with pharma packaging specialist Liveo Research, this solution reduces the carbon footprint of Aleve packaging by 38%. Bayer also said the new packaging will reduce factors that contribute to biodiversity loss by using 78% less water and 53% less land (per unit). The new packaging will launch first in the Netherlands.
Source: Chlorophyll Water®
L’Oréal: L’Oréal recently introduced a fully recyclable plastic pump for its Men Expert Derma Control product line. The new packaging format eliminates the metal spring traditionally used in pumps, which was a key barrier to recyclability. The 100% plastic, metal-free pump not only improves recyclability but also simplifies the recycling process.
Chlorophyll Water: Chlorophyll Water plans to introduce new sustainable packaging options in early March at the Natural Products Expo West. The new packaging includes one-liter bottles made from 100% recycled plastic and 16-ounce aluminum cans. The new packaging is aimed at reducing dependence on virgin plastic, improving recyclability, and minimizing environmental impact.
Mars: Berry Global collaborated with snacks and treats company Mars to transition pantry jars for M&M’S, SKITTLES and STARBURST brands to 100% recycled plastic packaging, exclusive of jar lids. According to the company, the move to 100% recycled plastic incorporates mechanically processed recycled content and will eliminate more than 1,300 metric tons of virgin plastic annually – equivalent to the weight of about 238 African elephants.
These are just some of the brands making news for transitioning to more eco-friendly packaging.
Is your brand packaging sustainable and accessible? It very easily can be.
If your brand is looking for sustainable, accessible packaging that gives products a competitive edge – look no further than the EEASY Lid. Made of recyclable aluminum, the EEASY Lid is a jar lid innovation that reduces the environmental impact of packaging while enhancing overall user experience.
Contact us today to learn more about how the EEASY Lid can help your brand tell a stronger sustainability and accessibility story.
Thousands of products line grocery store shelves vying for the attention of shoppers. According to FMI – The Food Industry Association, grocery stores stock more than 33,000 products.
With consumers spoiled for choice and a sea of competing products lining store shelves, it is critical for brands to stand out and quickly catch shoppers’ attention. Quickly as in seconds. An often cited statistic indicates that brands have about 7 seconds to make a first impression.
That’s why product labels are critically important to a brand’s success. Product labels are powerful attention grabbing marketing tools that spark interest in products and influence purchasing decisions.
By communicating the quality and value of products at a glance, product labels create unique opportunities for brands to forge meaningful connections with consumers that shape positive brand perception, increase engagement, and drive sales.
While product labels are the major way brands communicate the ingredients, nutritional value, usage, and safety of products, they can also effectively differentiate brands from their competitors.
A recent article in Supermarket News noted that getting labeling right by spotlighting product claims with messaging such as “organic,” “fairtrade,” “sustainable,” “pesticide free,” and “locally grown” can attract shoppers, enable operators to differentiate products in a crowded sector and boost sales.
As a marketing tool, labels allow brands to call attention to product features that create unique value propositions. For example, labels that highlight the sustainability and accessibility of products can tap into consumer preferences for eco-friendly and convenient products.
Labels that effectively communicate unique product features help brands stand out from the competition and empower consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. Communicating these unique features at the point of sale can be the difference between a consumer selecting a product or passing it by.
The sustainable, accessible EEASY Lid is a packaging innovation that can help brands align label messaging with consumer preferences and values. Brands that adopt the EEASY Lid can highlight “new easy-to-open, sustainable packaging” on product labels to capture consumer attention and drive sales.
Contact us today to learn how the EEASY Lid can help make your product label an even more powerful marketing tool.
Today, sustainable packaging is not a trend. It is a mandate.
Consumer expectations for sustainable products and evolving regulatory requirements are accelerating brand transitions to sustainable packaging.
Brand progress
Photo by Packaging Dive studioID
New research by Packaging Dive’s studioID reveals that companies are making progress in the shift to sustainable packaging.
According to this research, 47% of leaders surveyed indicated that they changed the packaging of their product to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.
EPR regulations require manufacturers, producers, and brands to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their product packaging, including end-of-life management. These laws aim to reduce packaging waste and promote a circular economy.
As of February 2025, five U.S. states – California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon – have enacted EPR laws for packaging materials. Each state is currently finalizing the specific implementation and compliance timelines of these programs.
The Packaging Dive studioID survey also revealed that external opinions play an important role in driving the shift to sustainable packaging, with 80% of leaders agreeing or strongly agreeing that customers and brand perception have a strong impact on decisions to use sustainable packaging.
Consumer expectations
Photo by Shorr Packaging Corp.
Consumer expectations for sustainably packaged products are influencing their purchasing decisions and reshaping brand loyalty.
Shorr’s 2025 Sustainable Packaging Consumer Report, which surveyed more than 2,000 American consumers, found that 90% were more likely to purchase from a brand or retailer if its packaging is eco-friendly, and over half (54%) of respondents deliberately chose products with sustainable packaging in the past six months.
This survey also revealed that 69% of consumers surveyed expect the brands and retailers they support to offer sustainable packaging by 2025, and 39% of consumers have switched to competing brands because they offer sustainable packaging.
Delivering on the mandate for sustainable packaging with the EEASY Lid
Sustainable packaging is no longer a trend – it’s a mandate. The EEASY Lid can help brands deliver.
Made of recyclable aluminum, the EEASY Lid is a sustainable packaging innovation that allows brands to deliver on consumer and government expectations for eco-friendly packaging. At the same time, the durable EEASY Lid helps brands elevate consumer experience, providing an easy, convenient jar opening experience.
It’s February, and that means it’s time for the Super Bowl and the Super Bowl of date nights (otherwise known as Valentine’s Day). With these two occasions coming up, it’s not just time to be thinking about touchdowns, field goals, hearts or flowers – it’s also time to be thinking about food.
Yes, food. Food plays a make or break role in each of these celebrations. Let’s explore this Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day food phenomena in-depth.
The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is America’s biggest national sporting event, and many of the millions of Americans tuning into the event will be hosting or attending Super Bowl Sunday parties. Data from the National Retail Federation revealed that 113.7 million people plan to throw or attend a Super Bowl party.
With Super Bowl LIX taking place February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, many hosts will want to bring the taste of that city’s flavorful food to their Super Bowl parties. While hosts might want to cook up a New Orleans-style feast, they don’t want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen preparing this feast.
They don’t have to.
All it takes to quickly prepare some of the rich, flavorful dishes that define New Orleans cuisine is a jar of Chilau Foods’ southern-inspired stew and boil bases topped with the EEASY Lid.
Super Bowl party hosts who want to spend more time connecting with their guests and watching the game and less time in the kitchen can turn to Chilau’s stew and boil bases topped with the EEASY Lid to save time creating an ideal New-Orleans-inspired spread that party guests will be talking about long after the final whistle.
Valentine’s Day
Next up on the calendar is Valentine’s Day.
Going out to dinner to enjoy a delicious meal is a primary way that millions of people celebrate the day. However, there are many challenges associated with this gastronomic celebration of love, including getting a dinner reservation, enduring a crowded, noisy dining experience, and dealing with sticker shock when it comes time to pay for dinner.
Creating a Valentine’s Day to remember doesn’t have to involve these challenges. Preparing a restaurant-quality meal at home is a great way to celebrate the holiday.
No reservations needed, no crowds and no sticker shock.
Even better, it doesn’t have to take hours in the kitchen to create a meal that is as tasty as going out. With the right ingredients, a homemade Valentine’s Day dinner can be as elevated as any restaurant meal.
For example, a delicious pasta dish is perfect for a cozy, romantic dinner and is easy to prepare with pasta sauces that will make the dish love at first bite.
Guglielmo’s Sauce topped with the EEASY Lid helps even the most novice of chefs to create delicious, satisfying meals without spending hours in the kitchen. The EEASY Lid is part of this time savings, allowing consumers to quickly open vacuum-sealed jars by simply pressing a button on the lid, reducing the amount of torque needed to twist off jar lids by up to 50%.
With the EEASY Lid topped Guglielmo’s Sauce, there is no wrestling with stubborn jar lids to prepare a big, tasty bowl of pasta that will prove the statement “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.”
Here’s where consumers can find all of these time saving, magic in a jar cooking products that can elevate any Super Bowl spread, Valentine’s Day dinner and any other meal:
Consumers can find Chilau’s stew and boil bases topped with the EEASY Lid on shelves in more than 250 Meijer stores across the Midwest.
Guglielmo’s Sauce topped with the EEASY Lid is sold in more than 250 grocers across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, including Wegman’s, Tops Friendly Markets and many independents.
For future date nights, Carmine’s sauces with the EEASY Lid will also soon be available in more than 300 ShopRite grocery stores across the Northeast, including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, with rollouts in additional grocery stores also coming soon.
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, or any other day, the accessible, sustainable EEASY Lid can make your product a beloved fan favorite with all consumers. Contact us today to learn more.
They don’t have to.
that will make the dish love at first bite.