Alexei Volkov
Plastic packaging is prevalent, annoying, and potentially dangerous. The difficulty of opening some types of plastic packaging, especially hard plastic packaging, has led to the phenomenon of wrap rage or package rage, with thousands of consumers seeking medical treatment for injuries caused by attempting to open this packaging. This type of packaging includes heat-sealed plastic blister packs and clamshells, which can be impossible to open without tools and often require potentially unsafe implements such as box cutters, tin snips, and knives. While this packaging can protect products during shipping and deter shoplifting, it has also been voted the worst design ever.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Clamshell packaging |
| Other names | Blister packaging, wrap rage, package rage |
| Inventor | Thomas Jake Lunsford |
| Year invented | 1976 (patented in 1978) |
| Material | Plastic, PET plastic |
| Properties | Strong, durable, resistant, lightweight, cheap to produce, recyclable, transparent, tough, chemical and solvent resistant, high tensile strength, heat-sealed |
| Uses | Packaging for lightbulbs, batteries, pills, food products, electronics, toys |
| Issues | Difficult to open, unsafe, causes injuries, recycling challenges, environmental concerns |
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What You'll Learn
Clamshell packaging
The invention of clamshell packaging is credited to Thomas Jake Lunsford, who filed a patent for a ""Separable Packaging and Display System" in 1976. Lunsford's design was intended to be an improvement on blister packaging, which uses a clear, form-fitting plastic sheet on the front with a paperboard backing. He replaced the paper with form-fitting plastic, creating a package with two plastic moulds that form a ""vacuum lock" when pressed together. Interestingly, Lunsford did not intend for the moulds to be welded together and implied that the packaging should be reusable and pull-apart.
Despite the challenges associated with clamshell packaging, it remains a popular choice for retailers and manufacturers. Companies offer custom clamshell packaging solutions, and products packaged in clamshells line the shelves of retail stores and supermarkets. While clamshells can be recycled, they often are not due to issues with collection and sorting, as well as the presence of labels, food residue, and cardboard backing.
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Wrap rage
The frustration of dealing with hard-to-open packaging can lead to consumers using potentially unsafe tools such as razor blades, box cutters, tin snips, and even ice picks to access their purchases. This can result in injuries, with a British study finding that over 60,000 people in the UK require hospital treatment each year due to injuries sustained while opening food packaging. The most common injuries include cuts to the hand or fingers, sprained wrists, and strained shoulder muscles.
While some packaging must be made difficult to open for safety or security reasons, such as child-resistant packaging for over-the-counter medications, excessive or hard-to-open packaging can reflect poorly on a brand. In some cases, companies have introduced frustration-free packaging in response to customer complaints, leading to a significant reduction in negative feedback.
The challenge of opening clamshell packaging, in particular, has gained attention. Clamshells are made from two identical plastic "shells" that fit around a product and hinge on one side, often requiring tools to open. This type of packaging has been voted the "worst design ever" and has been blamed for the term "wrap rage" itself.
To address wrap rage, companies can work with packaging engineers to optimise their package design, making it safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective. By improving packaging design, companies can enhance the customer experience, reduce negative feedback, and potentially increase customer loyalty.
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Plastic recycling
To address these issues, efforts have been made to improve plastic recycling. In the late 1980s, the U.S. Society of the Plastics Industry created the Council for Solid Waste Solutions to promote plastic recycling and expand waste collection programs. Resin identification codes were introduced to standardize the identification of polymer types. Globalization in the 1990s led to the export of plastic waste to developing and middle-income countries for cheaper sorting and recycling. More recently, supermarkets and retailers have started collecting a wider range of plastic bags and wrappings, including soft plastics such as baby food pouches and delivery bags.
Mechanical recycling is the most common method, involving the melting and reforming of plastic into new items. However, this process requires sorting plastic by colour and polymer type, which can be complicated and expensive. Feedstock recycling is another method that converts waste plastic into its starting chemicals, but it involves higher energy and capital costs. Burning plastic in energy recovery facilities or biochemically converting it into useful chemicals are alternative approaches. While recycling is important, reduction and reuse are more favourable long-term solutions for sustainability.
Despite challenges, there is a growing demand for recycled plastic content, especially in the food industry. However, clamshells, a common type of plastic packaging, are not often recycled due to difficulties in collection and sorting, as well as the presence of sticky labels, food residues, and cardboard backing. To improve recycling rates, it is crucial to optimize the lifespan of plastics by reusing and recycling items as much as possible. This can reduce the need to create new plastic and minimize the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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Blister packs
In other markets, blister packs are used for packaging toys, hardware, electrical items, and other small consumer goods. The clear plastic allows consumers to visually examine the product, while the paperboard backing provides space for graphics and product information. Blister packs are typically designed to hang on merchandising walls and often feature a hanging element.
One of the main advantages of blister packs is their compact size, making them more space-efficient than other types of packaging. They are also cost-effective and provide a deterrent to theft, as the product is sealed or trapped between the blister and the card. However, one disadvantage is that blister packs can be difficult to open, sometimes requiring tools such as scissors or a sharp knife. This has led to the phenomenon known as ""wrap rage," where consumers experience anger and frustration when trying to open difficult packaging.
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Frustration-free packaging
The term "impossible plastic packaging" likely refers to plastic packaging that is difficult to open, also known as "wrap rage", "package rage", or "clamshell packaging". This type of packaging is often heat-sealed and requires tools such as scissors, box cutters, or tin snips to open, which can pose a safety hazard to both the person opening the package and its contents. Clamshell packaging, invented by Thomas Jake Lunsford, consists of two identical plastic "shells" that fit around a product and hinge on one side, forming a tight seal. While this type of packaging provides protection during shipping and allows customers to view products directly, it has been criticised for being difficult to open and harmful to the environment due to its recyclability challenges.
The benefits of FFP extend beyond customer satisfaction. It helps prevent "wrap rage" and contributes to a more positive buying experience, leading to enhanced seller feedback and product reviews. Additionally, FFP reduces the overall amount of packing materials used and eliminates excess packaging. While FFP may not always contain everything from the original packaging, it ensures that the product inside remains the same, and all necessary components are included.
While FFP has its advantages, there have been some mixed experiences. Some customers have reported receiving damaged or dented boxes, with the contents spilling out. Others have noted that certain items, such as Lego sets, arrive in a factory box inside another cardboard box designed for shipping, which may not always be necessary. However, FFP is a step towards more sustainable and user-friendly packaging solutions.
Overall, FFP offers a more convenient and environmentally conscious approach to product packaging. By eliminating the frustration associated with impossible plastic packaging, Amazon's FFP program improves customer satisfaction, reduces waste, and promotes the use of recyclable materials.
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Frequently asked questions
It has many names, including wrap rage, package rage, blister packs, and clamshells.
Plastic packaging is designed to be durable, strong, and resistant. Clamshells, for example, are made from two identical plastic "shells" that fit around the product and hinge on one side. When the sides are pressed together, snaps form a seal, some harder to unfasten than others.
Some manufacturers are putting perforations in or making easier-to-open tabs. If not, you can use anything from box cutters to tin snips to open these packages. However, be careful when using sharp objects to open plastic packaging, as it can be dangerous.
