All the latest packaging trends for life sciences, all at PACK EXPO East
Explore new packaging solutions for life sciences, all in one convenient location at PACK EXPO East, March 18 – 20 in Philadelphia.

Annual OTC Package Design Gallery: Part 1

Each year, Healthcare Packaging evaluates an array of over-the-counter product packaging designs, assessing the pros and cons from a user perspective.

Kids Stress Relief

This year’s gallery featured many calming and minimalist aesthetics, signifying a consumer looking for relief at home and work—outside of the clinical setting.


Trends on the shelves

  • While perhaps not pandemic-related (with formulation, package design and commercialization often taking years), there was a notable increase in stress-fighting, anti-anxiety, and calming products, even for children.
  • Blues, greens, and serene imagery were featured more prominently than last year.
  • The minimalist trend continued with whitespace on labels and cartons, and casual, quippy copy directed at consumer.
  • Larger mainstream brands used nature-inspired images and touted few ingredients or “what’s absent” from the product.
  • More recyclable packaging and instructions featured.

Garden of Life Kids Stress ReliefKids Stress Relief

Pros

  • A shrink sleeve makes the most of the real estate, offering founder’s story, icons for expected effects, and symbols for gluten-free, recyclability, renewable energy use, and more
  • Calming sea and cloud images; suggested use lets parents know daily dosage
  • Square jar stands out on shelf; wide mouth child-resistant (CR) lid was easy to open

Notes

  • The sleeve was a bit curved on the bottom of two panels, which caused copy to distort slightly but it remained legible
  • Customers would presumably need to remove the sleeve before recycling





Olly Goodbye Stress Gummies

Screen Shot 2021 06 04 At 2 18 51 Pm

Pros

  • Bright standup recloseable pouch features serene blue and turquoise hues
  • Servings per package are clear; touts “Jet Set Friendly” size
  • Matte pouch with spot gloss/foil on front and back gives high-end look; notches for easy opening
  • Usage, warnings, and symbols on back are spaced well

Notes

  • Disposal instructions not specified






La Mend Inc. The Good Patch

Screen Shot 2021 06 04 At 2 25 19 Pm

Pros

  • Matte baby blue recloseable pouch with dreamy icons and whitespace (which is easier when Drug Facts are not required)
  • Back panel is well-organized with lines separating ingredients, directions, warnings, a link to a “surprise,” and more         

Notes

  • Disposal instructions not specified





Noho Health Inc. care/of Immunity

4 Noho Care Of APros

  • Matte outer carton in soothing green; matches matte rectangular easy grip bottle
  • This is part of a colorful care/of product family for various needs; enclosed leaflet showcases product combinations
  • Glossy lettering and imagery are printed on bottle; instructions are small but contrast well against simple background
  • Minimal abstract graphics allow for conversational, explanatory copy without a “busy” feel

Notes

  • Carton says “please recycle me” on bottom, but consumers may not know how to recycle the bottle (#7) depending on local infrastructure
  • More aesthetically minded consumers may notice that the white lid stands out against the coordinated pastel bottle and carton


Wyld Cannabis Infused Peach Gummies

Screen Shot 2021 06 04 At 2 24 26 PmPros

  • Eye-catching hexagonal carton with triangular top; THC symbol and potency are prominent
  • Batch-specific info is printed directly on carton and on jar; bright orange inner carton with warning copy; jar label also features botanical imagery
  • Opaque polypropylene CR pop-top jar features tamper-evident sticker and opening instructions on lid; jar opened smoothly and features serving info

Notes

  • It may be difficult to see the tiny recycling symbol on bottom of jar
  • Edible-specific instructions are useful and stand out in silver, but could potentially be missed on bottom of carton
  • The carton shape is certainly eye-catching, but it's good to note that anything that isn't flat on top becomes harder to stack in shipping cases. 


Check out Parts 2 and 3

Part 2: Cold and sleep medicine, and infant care

Part 3: Topicals, skin care, and personal care 


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