The market for detergents and cleaning products places high demands on packaging solutions: alongside cost efficiency, safety and sustainability are key priorities. The STI Group’s Circular Innovation Team has now developed a new fibre-based packaging solution for laundry pods that meets all of these requirements. The patent-pending Click-Box sets new standards in pod packaging – delivering maximum efficiency, functionality and full recyclability.
Detergent pods are practical and popular, but they require special safety precautions. The warning “Keep out of reach of children” has become standard in product communication. As a result, the requirements placed on packaging are particularly demanding. In addition to enhanced child safety, packaging must also ensure resealability and provide an effective barrier against moisture to protect the pods.
With the Click-Box, the STI Group has developed an innovative advancement of existing packaging concepts that meets these diverse requirements in a significantly simpler, more sustainable and cost-effective way.
Reduced to the essentials – without compromising functionality
Compared to conventional detergent pod containers made from corrugated board, the STI Group’s Click-Box offers several key advantages:
Single-piece construction instead of multi-part systems: efficient in both materials and processing
Tamper-evident opening and resealing without additional labels: a consistent mono-material concept
Flat-pack delivery to filling operations: space-saving and logistically efficient
Water-based barrier coating: fully recyclable
Safety comes first: the corrugated board Click-Box features child-resistant functionality and reliably protects the contents from unauthorised access. At the same time, adults can remove the pods intuitively and easily thanks to the ergonomically designed opening system. The integrated snap-lock mechanism ensures that the packaging remains securely closed even after opening – right down to the last pod.
Unlike standard solutions currently available on the market, the Click-Box is produced from a single blank. This significantly reduces material usage and process steps while lowering energy consumption, carbon emissions and costs across the entire value chain. The intelligent design can also provide two separate internal compartments if required and enables flat-pack delivery to filling operations.
In addition, the use of a water-based coating provides an effective water vapour barrier. Since detergent pods are hygroscopic, they would otherwise dissolve if exposed to moisture inside the packaging. After use, the packaging can therefore be disposed of in the paper recycling stream and fully recycled.
Technology meets innovation
The Click-Box was initiated and developed by the STI Group’s Circular Innovation Team, which focuses on bringing sustainable packaging innovations to market readiness. With this solution, the STI Group reinforces its position as an innovation leader in fibre-based sustainable packaging concepts and demonstrates how maximum functionality, safety and resource efficiency can be combined through technological excellence.