Biodegradable Packaging for Water-Soluble Detergent Capsules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging for water-soluble detergent capsules is not environmentally friendly due to its reliance on plastic, and biodegradable materials face challenges with moisture and child-resistant closures, leading to potential leaks and accessibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A package comprising at least 50% wt. biodegradable material, with unit dose detergent pouches averaging 3 to 9.5 g, and incorporating a child-resistant closure mechanism and printing on the inside of the capsules to reduce sticking and enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic packaging is used for water-soluble capsules, then moisture barrier performance is improved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional plastic to biodegradable materials (paperboard, pulp, bioplastics like PLA, PHA, PBAT), transforming the packaging system to achieve both moisture protection and environmental sustainability through controlled biodegradation properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite packaging structures combining biodegradable materials with appropriate barrier coatings or laminates to achieve the necessary moisture protection while maintaining biodegradability and environmental sustainability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable materials are used for packaging, then environmental sustainability is improved, but moisture protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the moisture barrier properties of biodegradable materials through parameter changes such as controlling fiber density, adding barrier coatings, or adjusting material composition to achieve adequate moisture protection while preserving biodegradability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary barrier layers or coatings on biodegradable packaging materials to mediate between the need for moisture protection and the requirement for biodegradability, allowing moisture blocking during storage while enabling controlled degradation at disposal
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable packaging is used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but child-resistant closure reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the mechanical properties and structural parameters of biodegradable packaging to ensure child-resistant closures maintain adequate strength and reliability, possibly through material composition optimization or structural reinforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structures combining biodegradable materials with reinforced closure mechanisms to achieve both environmental sustainability and reliable child-resistant functionality
4Loss of information
If printing is applied on the outside of capsules, then information visibility is improved, but capsule sticking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional printing location from the outside surface to the inside surface of capsules, eliminating the sticking problem caused by external printing while maintaining information visibility through transparent or translucent capsule materials
Data Source
AI summary
A package comprising at least 50% wt. biodegradable material and a plurality of unit dose detergent pouches, and wherein said unit dose detergent pouches comprise on average from to 15 g detergent composition.