New Standard for Laundry Detergent Packet Design and Packaging Moves Forward

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Sep 04, 2015, 12:51 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Cleaning Institute^® (ACI) welcomed the approval of a new voluntary standard designed to help reduce liquid laundry detergent packet accidents among children.

The standard is on track for final approval this month by ASTM International, a forum for establishing technical, consensus-based voluntary standards. The voluntary standard sets guidelines for the labeling and design of packets and packaging for liquid laundry detergent packets aimed at reducing accidental exposures, particularly by children.

"Manufacturers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and consumer advocates came together over the past year under ASTM to evaluate numerous potential safety measures and ultimately chose a strong set of package and product design interventions supported by science and research," said Richard Sedlak, Executive Vice President, Technical & International Affairs at the American Cleaning Institute. "The protective measures in this new standard are designed to help reduce further incidents."

New Laundry Packet Package and Design Guidelines

The standard includes a menu of secure package closures designed to challenge the typical strength, mental acuity or dexterity of a young child. From this menu, manufacturers can choose a configuration that is effective at deterring child access while ensuring adults are able to open it and completely close it in between uses.

Under the new guidelines, warnings and immediate first-aid instructions if there is an accident will be standardized and prominent on packages.

The laundry packet standard also calls for other changes that were recently enacted in Europe: ensure packets withstand the squeezing pressure of a child; include a soluble film containing a bitter substance; and use a film that delays release of liquid contents so the bittering substance takes effect.

The laundry packet standard is expected to be published within the next month, at which point manufacturers will work with CPSC on when changes will transition into the market.

ACI continues to reach out to parents with messages on storing liquid laundry packets properly and safely. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.keypledge.com.

The American Cleaning Institute^® (ACI) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry^® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

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SOURCE American Cleaning Institute