GB2589816A

GB2589816A - Packaging for household liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2589816A
Application number: GB1908492.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Hadley Stuart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-13
Filing date: 2019-06-13
Publication date: 2021-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-13
Also published as: GB201908492D0; GB2589816B

Abstract

Packaging for household liquids comprises a sealable liquid receptacle 20 formed of a biodegradable and/or compostable material, and a sleeve, formed of a cellulose pulp and dimensioned to receive the liquid receptacle. To use, the sealable liquid receptacle is filled with a liquid and the filled receptacle is inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve is then closed around the filled receptacle. The sealable liquid receptacle can comprise a main body and a spout part 50 extending from the main body, each of which are formed from the biodegradable and/or compostable material. The spout can have one or more perforation lines 60 so that part or all of it may be torn from the main body of the packaging. The spout can be tapered away from the main body, and the receptacle can be of a unitary construction. The receptacle can further be photodegradable. The sleeve can be formed of an opaque stiff paper or cardboard material. The sleeve can be foldable and can include a tab or tongue for closure of the sleeve around the sealable liquid receptacle.

Description

Packaging for household liquids

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packaging, in particular for household liquids such as shampoos, liquid soaps, detergents and the like.

Background to the Invention

Packaging for consumer liquids comes in a variety of different forms. Some products (such as milk) are supplied in glass bottles. Fruit juices and the like are supplied in cartons such as those produced by Tetra-Pak (R). Other liquids -e.g. soups-are packaged in aluminium cans. More recently, a variety of different plastics have been employed as packaging, particularly for bathroom, kitchen and personal cleaning products.

Manufacturers, retailers and consumers have increasingly become more aware of the environmental impact of such packaging. Some of the traditional packaging -such as aluminium cans and glass bottles -can be recycled straightforwardly but there are cost and transport implications due to the weight and volume of such packaging, as well as the energy required to recycle the products once recovered.

Cartons such as Tetra-Pak(R) also present difficulties. Paper/cardboard is relatively easy to recycle but is not, by itself, suitable for packaging liquids. Instead it must be treated with one or more materials, such as polyethylene and aluminium, to make it waterproof. This makes it harder to recycle; the added materials are typically coated onto the interior of the cardboard making them difficult to separate off for recycling.

Plastics are generally lighter than glass or aluminium and more readily compressed. However they are still relatively bulky also more challenging to recycle. Currently, it is commercially viable to recycle PET and HDPE polymers but many of the harder plastics cannot be recycled and thus are either sent to landfill or are incinerated. There is also a particular problem with the recycling of pigmented plastics, such as are necessary to identify the contents and origin of plastic packaging.

The present invention addresses the problems with packaging for household liquids, in particular with regard to its impact on the environment.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided packaging for a household liquid, comprising a sealable liquid receptacle formed of a biodegradable and/or compostable material, and a sleeve, formed of a cellulose pulp and dimensioned to receive the liquid receptacle therein.

Aspects of this invention thus provide for packaging that is straightforwardly recyclable. The sleeve can be employed to print information relating to the identity of the packaging contents, the manufacturer and so forth, but being formed from a cellulose pulp such as stiff paper, cardboard, bamboo or the like, it may be readily recycled. The sealable liquid receptacle can contain a domestic liquid such as a liquid detergent, a shampoo, or a foodstuff such as a soup. The sealable liquid receptacle preferably has a spout that may be cut or torn off, optionally once the receptacle has been at least partially removed from the sleeve. The contents of the receptacle may then be decanted into another container, such as an existing (less readily recyclable) shampoo bottle for example, or a bowl if the contents are edible. Most preferably, the packaging comprises a single sleeve configured to receive a single sealable liquid receptacle.

The receptacle, being biodegradable or compostable, is recyclable in an environmentally sustainable manner, unlike for example plastic pouches (which are usually aluminium foil lined with hard plastic twist off spouts). Moreover, because the sleeve can contain all of the information needed to identify the manufacturer, the contents and any regulatory information, the receptacle need have no printing or pigmentation, further improving its environmental friendliness.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sealable liquid receptacle is formed of a photodegradable material. In that case, the cellulose pulp sleeve may be configured to form a light reducing or opaque container within which the sealable liquid receptacle is fully received, when in use. Such an arrangement permits liquids to be placed into the liquid receptacle, which is then shielded from light by the sleeve, so that the receptacle does not start to photodegrade whilst the packaging (with liquid inside) is in transit or being stored prior to sale or use. Once the receptacle is removed from the sleeve to allow the contents of the receptacle to be decanted into another container, it will commence photodegradation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention may be put into practice in a number of ways and some specific embodiments will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, highly schematically, packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, comprising a liquid receptacle and a sleeve; Figures 2a and 2b shows, in more detail, front perspective and bottom views, respectively, of the liquid receptacle of Figure 1, having a spout; Figure 3 shows a close up of a part of the liquid receptacle of Figure 2, along with the spout; Figure 4 shows a close up of a part of an alternative liquid receptacle, again with a spout; and Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of the sleeve of Figure 1, in more detail.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of packaging 10 embodying the present invention. The packaging comprises a sealable liquid receptacle 20 and a cardboard or other cellulose pulp based sleeve 30.

The sealable liquid receptacle 20 is formed from a biodegradable, compostable or similar material. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the receptacle is generally rectangular in side view, although other shapes may be contemplated.

The sealable liquid receptacle 20 may be formed from a single sheet of biodegradable or compostable material which is folded and welded or otherwise sealed along an edge to form a receptacle. Alternatively, two generally equally sized sheets may be laid one upon the other, with the edge of each sheet sealed to the other to form a liquid tight receptacle.

Figure 2a shows a side perspective view, and Figure 2b shows a bottom view, of the sealable liquid receptacle 20 of Figure 1. As may be seen from Figure 2b, the receptacle comprises first and second sheets 30a, 30b. These are welded together to form a seam 40 around the periphery of the receptacle 20, as may be seen in Figure 2a. Thus the receptacle 20 of the preferred embodiment forms a generally rectangular pouch (Figure 2a) which, when filled with a liquid, is broadly ovoid in section (Figure 2b).

As may also be seen from Figure 2a and as shown in close up in Figure 3, the receptacle 20 is also formed with an integral spout 50. The spout is formed with one or more lines of weakness 60 such as perforations that extend across the spout 50. The spout 50 is preferably tapered to fit different openings in different containers into which the contents of the receptacle 20 are to be decanted.

In use, the receptacle is formed by welding the sheet or sheets of biodegradable or compostable material to form the seam 40. However the spout (or another location around the seam 40 of the receptacle 20) is left unsealed. A needle valve or other injection means is then inserted into the opening left in the receptacle 20 and the receptacle is filled with the liquid by the manufacturer or supplier of the filled packaging.

Once filled, the remaining opening in the seam 40 of the receptacle 20 can then be sealed to provide a liquid tight receptacle in which the contents are held.

Figure 4 shows a part of an alternative liquid tight receptacle 20. In Figure 4, the spout 50' is formed in the middle rather than in the corner of the receptacle as is shown in the earlier embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3. The spout 50' of Figure 4 is again tapered to allow the contents of the receptacle 20' to be inserted or decanted into containers having a variety of different opening sizes. The receptacle 20' again has perforations 60 to facilitate opening when a user wishes to decant the contents.

Figure 5 shows the sleeve 30 of Figure 1, in further detail, and in perspective view. The sleeve is formed of a cellulose pulp such as thin foldable cardboard, although other materials such as bamboo, cotton or the like could be used instead. It is folded into a closable shape with a tab (not shown in Figure 5) at one end. The surface of the sleeve 30 may be printed with branding, information pertaining to the contents of the liquid receptacle 20, 20', and so forth.

Once the liquid receptacle 20, 20' has been filled and sealed as explained above, it is inserted into the sleeve 30 through the open end thereof. Then, the tab or flap can be folded over and optionally bonded to the remainder of the sleeve 30 to provide a single unit comprised of the sleeve 30 with the receptacle 20, 20' sealed or otherwise captured inside it, the liquid receptacle 20, 20' itself being filled with a household liquid such as detergent, the liquid receptacle further being sealed to prevent leakage of the liquid.

The sleeve 30 is shown in the figures as a generally rectangular pouch, with a foldable base and an opening at an opposite end that may be closed with a flap or the like. This arrangement is preferred because it allows the sleeve to be folded flat when empty, so that it is essentially two dimensional when not in use (that is, for example, for transport from a sleeve manufacturer or supplier to a place where the liquid receptacle 20, 20' is filled and inserted into the sleeve 30). This reduces the volume of the sleeves when being transported empty. The sleeves can be expanded to form the shape shown in Figure 5, when the receptacle 20, 20' is to be inserted or is inside.

Nevertheless it is to be understood that a variety of other forms of sleeve are contemplated. The sleeve, for example, may be tubular, or may be formed or foldable into a cuboid shape. Most preferably, however, the sleeve 30 has an internal volume suitable to hold a single liquid receptacle 20, and the shapes (and volumes) of the sleeve and receptacle are generally similar so as to minimize packaging waste.

The internal volume of the receptacle 20, 20' is suitable to hold a quantity of liquid similar to that which would be held by the receptacle into which the contents are to be inserted. This may require that a manufacturer employs a range of different volumes of receptacles (and, therefore, potentially a range of different sized sleeves 30), depending upon the intended contents of each particular receptacle. So, for example, shower gel may be provided in a receptacle having an internal volume of 250m1 or similar, whilst clothes washing liquid may be provided in a larger 750m1 receptacle. Generally speaking, it is desirable that the liquid contents of the receptacle 20 should be ready for use, and single use, that is to say, the user should be able to cut or tear off the spout opening and pour or decant the contents (and all of the contents) directly into the user's existing container. This means that, for example, the user does not need to dilute the contents, which is both messy and requires measurement, and does not need to store opened packaging with the liquid contents partly used, whereupon they may leak into or onto the cardboard sleeve, dry out or otherwise degrade. Instead, the user simply decants the liquid contents "as is', then places the sleeve 30 into cardboard recycling and the receptacle 20 into compostable or biodegradable recycling.

Most generally then, the internal volume of the receptacle may be no smaller than 200m1 and no larger than 800m1. More preferably the internal volume may be between 250m1 and 500m1.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the liquid receptacle 20, 20' is formed of a photodegradable material. In that case, the sleeve 30 may be formed of a cardboard or other cellulose pulp, of a thickness sufficient to provide a relatively dark interior. Thus whilst the filled receptacle 20, 20' remains inside its sleeve 30 (for storage, transport and sale), the receptacle 20, 20' avoids exposure to light and hence should not start photodegradation.

To use the filled packaging, the user opens the sleeve 30 by unfolding the top or tearing across a perforation for example. Then the filled receptacle 20 can be removed from the outer sleeve 30. Either by tearing or cutting (with scissors or a knife for example), across the perforations 60, a part of the spout 50 can be removed to open the receptacle 20. Then the contents of the receptacle can be decanted into an alternative container (not shown in the Figures) such as an existing plastic household container, eg a shampoo bottle, a washing up liquid bottle or the like.

The sleeve 30 can then be recycled along with other paper or cardboard. The receptacle 20 meanwhile can be composted or otherwise allowed to biodegrade by the user or by a local recycling scheme. Because the receptacle 20, 20' is no longer within the sleeve 30, it will commence photodegradation if the receptacle is made of such a material.

Although some specific embodiments have been described, it will be understood that these are merely for the purposes of illustration and that various modifications or alternatives may be contemplated by the skilled person.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Packaging for a household liquid, comprising a sealable liquid receptacle formed of a biodegradable and/or compostable material, and a sleeve, formed of a cellulose pulp and dimensioned to receive the liquid receptacle therein.
2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the sealable liquid receptacle includes a main body and a spout part extending from the main body, each of which are formed from the biodegradable and/or compostable material.
3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein the spout part is formed with one or more perforation lines so that, in use, part or all of the spout may be torn from the main body of the packaging.
4. The packaging of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the spout is tapered away from the main body of the receptacle.
5. The packaging of any preceding claim, in which the sealable liquid receptacle is of a unitary construction.
6. The packaging of any preceding claim, in which the sealable liquid receptacle is photodegradable.
7. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is formed of an opaque stiff paper or cardboard material.
8. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the sleeve is foldable and includes a tab or tongue for closure of the sleeve around the sealable liquid receptacle.
9. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein sealable liquid receptacle is generally rectangular.
10. The packaging of claim 9, wherein the sleeve is generally rectangular and has a larger volume than that of the sealable liquid receptacle.
11. The packaging of any preceding claim, in which the minimum and maximum fluid capacities of the sealable liquid receptacle are between 200m1 and 1000m1, and most preferably between 250m1 and 500m1.
12. The packaging of any preceding claim, in which the sealable liquid receptacle is formed only of biodegradable and/or compostable material(s).
13. The packaging of any preceding claim, in which the sleeve is formed only of recyclable cellulose pulp.
14. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve has a single contiguous internal volume and the sealable liquid receptacle has an external volume dimensioned to fit within the single contiguous internal volume of the sleeve.
15. The packaging of any preceding claim, further comprising a household liquid sealed within the sealable liquid receptacle, wherein the sealable liquid receptacle is positioned within the sleeve, such that the sleeve encapsulates the receptacle.
16. A method of recycling the packaging of claim 15, comprising: removing the liquid receptacle from the sleeve; (ii) opening the liquid receptacle; (iii) removing the household liquid from the receptacle; and (iv) recycling the sleeve and receptacle.
17. A method of packaging a household liquid comprising (a) filling a sealable liquid receptacle with the household liquid, the sealable liquid receptacle being formed of a compostable and/or biodegradable material; (b) inserting the filled receptacle into a sleeve, the sleeve being formed of a cellulose pulp material; and (c) closing the sleeve around the filled receptacle.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sleeve is formed of a foldable stiff paper or cardboard material having a tongue or flap, the method further comprising folding the tongue or flap so as to encapsulate the filled sealable liquid receptacle within the sleeve.