A BSI brochure about easy-to-open packaging. It explains how standards can help manufacturers design packaging to ensure that all consumers can open their products with ease.

1. Easy to open packaging www.bsigroup.com/ConsumerStandards
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2. Easy to open packaging
A consumer’s guide to the European technical specification for packaging –
ease of opening (CEN TS 15945)
If you’ve ever struggled to get into a carton, a packet or a jar, you’re not
alone: nearly half of over-65s, and one in six people under 40, find it hard
to open everyday items, such as plastic milk bottles or jars.
While packaging has to be robust and secure enough CEN TS 15945 – The details
to protect what’s inside – often over long distances
or a long shelf life – it’s also vital that consumers can The best way to find out whether packaging is easy to open
access the contents easily. With an ageing population is to ask real people to use it. This is why the specification
and more people living independently into old age, recommends using a group of ordinary but older consumers
it’s more important than ever that packaging is easy to carry out the testing, as described below.
to open for everyone, including older people who
tend to have reduced hand strength. The consumer panel
There’s also increasing demand from consumers of all ages • The testing panel will consist of up to 100 people aged
for products – from cartons to tins to bottles – that can be between 65 and 80. Hand strength tends to reduce as
opened without the need for traditional tools such as tin we get older, so, if this group of people can open the
openers, scissors or corkscrews. items with ease, the vast majority of the population
will also be able to manage the task.
Fortunately, manufacturers are realising the importance
of making their products accessible and easy to open, • 70% of panel members will be female to reflect the fact
and many are investing in the development of more that women generally have a weaker grip than men do.
user-friendly packaging. Studies show that consumers
will avoid buying products that are difficult to open, The test
so ease of opening can mean more sales – as well
The test is designed to evaluate the consumer’s complete
as happier customers.
experience of using the packaging – from opening it
The technical specification (TS) described in this leaflet to taking out the contents to closing it again. Packaging
has been launched to help manufacturers design packaging is tested for effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction,
that all consumers, whatever their age or physical strength, as follows.
can open with ease.
• Effectiveness: The effectiveness test asks the users
to open an unfamiliar package, then allows them up
CEN TS 15945 – The basics to five minutes to read the opening instructions and
• CEN TS 15945 doesn’t stipulate a type of packaging that open the package.
must be used. Instead, it sets out a method for testing
• Efficiency: Once the user is familiar with the pack,
how easy it is to open a particular design of packaging.
they are asked to open a second sample of the pack.
• The test can be used for a range of consumer packaging, This time, they are expected to be able to complete
including jars, bottles, cartons, boxes and cans. the task within a minute.
• The test method involves asking a group of consumers • Satisfaction: Users are then asked to take out some of
aged between 65 and 80 to open the packaging and the contents from the opened pack, and reclose the pack
reach the contents inside, taking note of how long (where applicable). Each user records their own satisfaction
this takes and how easy users find it. with the process – showing how easy they found the task
and whether or not it was uncomfortable or problematic.
• The TS is voluntary and can be used by anyone with
an interest in accessible packaging – including designers,
manufacturers, retailers and consumer groups.

3. Using the results
• From the results of the small sample of users, it’s possible of testers can open it efficiently and effectively and were
to work out how the population as a whole will cope with satisfied with the process.
the packaging.
• Manufacturers can use the test results to improve existing
• There is no pass or fail mark but the packaging will packaging and develop new, more accessible products.
be considered to be easy to open if the large majority
Checklist: What to expect
✓ You can expect organizations to take note of the TS and to use the test method when designing
new packaging and reviewing existing products.
✓ Consumer groups might also use the specification to test different types of packaging. They are likely
to report their findings publicly and to lobby manufacturers for improvements.
✓ Over the next few years, the TS will be tried and possibly modified and expanded, and is likely
to be adopted as a British Standard in 2014.
USEFUL INFORMATION
AgeUK – 020 8996 9001 – www.ageuk.org.uk
British Standards Institution (BSI) – 020 8996 9001 – www.bsigroup.com
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) – www.cen.eu
Ricability (consumer testing for older and disabled people) – 020 7427 2460 – www.ricability.org.uk
What are British Standards?
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has been
developing standards for over 100 years to make
products and services safer for consumers.
Standards set out good practice and guidelines
for organisations to follow.
It’s not compulsory for organisations to sign
up to a standard, so you can feel confident
that those that choose to comply with British
Standards take safety and customer service
seriously.

4. Frequently asked questions
Q. Who developed the TS? Q. Why does the test method use ordinary consumers
to evaluate packaging?
A. It was drawn up by the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN), a non-governmental organization A. A user panel is the best way to understand how consumers
that develops standards to support business and consumers really use and open packaging and how easy or difficult
in Europe. The test method is based on an existing they find it. Over the next few years, other methods will
international standard – ISO/TS 20282-2:2006, Ease be developed, including mechanical tests to measure such
of operation of everyday products. The British Standards things as the strength of packaging or the force needed to
Institution (BSI) is a member of CEN and the International open it. These methods will be added to the TS to be used
Organization for Standardization (ISO). alongside the consumer test. Until then, manufacturers are
being encouraged to develop their own mechanical tests.
Q. Where can I find a copy of the full TS?
Q. Will focusing on ease of opening make packaging
A. Your local public library should be able to give you access less safe and secure?
to a reference copy, or you can purchase a copy from BSI
either as a printed document or in electronic form A. No. Existing safety regulations will continue to apply to the
(PDF format). packaging of dangerous goods and substances, medicinal
products, and medical devices – taking precedence over
Q. What’s the difference between a TS ease of opening. Similarly, the TS does not cover packaging
and a British Standard? for large, heavy items, such as washing machines, as these
need to be packaged securely.
A. In most respects a technical specification works just like
a standard but it has only a three-year life, after which time Q. I am partially sighted and often have difficulty with
it is due to be adopted as a British Standard. During these packaging. Will the TS mean that more packaging
three years, users will have the chance to try out the is designed with me in mind?
standard and suggest amendments if necessary.
A. The test method is designed to evaluate how easy packages
Q. Why doesn’t the TS say more about what type are to open, particularly for people with reduced hand
of packaging should be used? strength. It doesn’t currently specifically address any issues
relating to visual or cognitive problems, but it is hoped that
A. It would be impossible in a single standard to specify future versions will do so.
requirements for all individual types of consumer
packaging, from vacuum-packed bacon to self-assembly Q. I often struggle using corkscrews and tin openers.
wardrobes. Instead, this specification concentrates on Will the TS make these easier to use?
helping manufacturers to ensure each package is fit for
its purpose and balances security of contents with ease A. This TS applies only to packaging that does not require
of opening. It will thus improve all but the largest a separate tool to open it. So the test method could be
packaging – it does not cover, for example, washing used to assess screw top bottles or tins with integrated
machine packaging. ring-pulls, for example, but it doesn’t apply to bottles
with corks or to tins that need a tin opener.
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