Child-Resistant Packaging: What You Need to Know

What Is Child Resistant Packaging?

Child–resistant packaging is also called “child-proof packaging” or “CR packaging”. It’s a special packaging that is difficult for a child under 52 months to open (or access the contents), while not difficult for an adult to use.

Kids easily accidentally access harmful items that can cause serious injuries such as marijuana products, medications, household chemicals, and pesticides. Child-resistant packaging was introduced to the market to address this issue, if children need to be protected from access.

Benefits of Child Resistant Packaging

1. Keeping Children Safe

The idea behind childproof packaging is to keep children safe. It stops them from accessing items they shouldn’t. There are many products in the home environment that are potentially dangerous to children.

From bleach to liquid nicotine and other household products. Young children will try to eat anything they find because they don’t know the difference. This packaging will keeps harmful products away from them.

2. Comply with Regulations

Many countries require child-resistant packaging for certain products, like medicines, chemicals, or cannabis products. Take cannabis as an example. Cannabis is gradually becoming legal, many people are paying attention to the topic of child-resistant packaging.

Not only are they discussing it, but they are also launching many solutions. The packaging laws are also being progressively improved. If you think your product may pose a risk to young children, this packaging is for you.

3. Prevent Accidental Poisoning

You can rest assured knowing that your product is harder for young children to open, which will prevent accidental poisoning. Although this type of packaging is not 100% childproof, it can reduce the risk of harm to children.

Children may mistake cannabis edibles (gummies, brownies, cookies, etc.) for regular food, and experience severe symptoms after consuming it.

4. Consumer Trust

People pay attention to every aspect of a brand. Compliance with safety regulations can build consumer trust. Using child-resistant packaging shows consumers that a brand puts the safety of their family first, potentially increasing trust and loyalty.

Determine If You Need Child-Resistant Packaging

So, how do you know if you need to package your product in special child-resistant packaging? According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), your product must be packaged in child-resistant packaging in the following situations:

The product presents a risk of serious injury or illness to children under five, who are able to open the package and eat, drink, or handle the contents, and Technology exists, or can be developed, to produce child-resistant packaging for such products, that the packaging can be used with modern mass production and assembly techniques, and that the packaging will adequately protect the integrity of the product and not interfere with the product’s intended storage, or use.

According to the Commission, a number of products that require the use of child-resistant packaging. Although this blog cannot cover all products in detail, we have listed below some of the most common products associated with the lifestyle, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Lifestyle Products

It’s challenging to understand the packaging requirements for lifestyle products (e.g. cannabis), as many remain illegal at the federal level. There are no specific federal regulations beyond standard labeling requirements.

Packaging requirements for medical or recreational marijuana vary widely from place to place. Many states have strict child-resistant and tamper-proof packaging requirements. Our Guide to Legal Cannabis Packaging blog has detailed information on this topic for your reference.

Pharmaceutical Products

Child-resistant packaging is mandatory for medicines containing the following ingredients:

• Aspirin
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Elemental iron
• Naproxen

The CPSC requires CR packaging for many more OTC drugs, including any OTC drug that was previously only available on prescription.

Healthcare Products

A lot of vitamins and nutritional supplements are regulated under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act(PPPA). In some cases, this means they need to be packed in a way that children cannot open them.

For example, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), products containing iron must be packed in a child-proof way.

This is because iron can be toxic to children, especially in high doses. So, supplements with a specific amount of iron to the size must use child-resistant packaging.

The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations has a complete list of products that need childproof packaging. It’s a useful resource for getting a comprehensive overview of these requirements.

Find the Perfect Child-Resistant Packaging

Child-resistant packaging is usually made of plastic or have a high plastic content. They may contain glass, or use aluminum foil and paper cover materials. But the main materials used are plastic, polypropylene(PP), high-density polyethylene(HDPE), low-density polyethylene(LDPE) or polyvinyl chloride(PVC).

It may be fall into two categories: re-closable child-resistant packaging and non-reclosable child-resistant packaging. Each includes multiple ways designed to achieve child-proof functions.

Re-closable child-resistant packages employ various methods to make sure they can’t be opened by children. Push and turn, squeeze and turn, “line up the arrows” packaging are the three most popular child-resistant mechanisms.

The two-piece moulding, push and turn, presents the child with a false affordance. Squeeze and turnover packages, usually single-piece moulding, have much popularity in the household product segment.

At last, “line up the arrows” packaging is a fun way, needing the alignment of two fixed points on the container and closure for opening.

Blisters and strips are typical non-reclosable child-resistant packages. They’re commonly used for packaging pharmaceuticals and disposable household products.

Blister packaging consists of a polymer tray whose open side is sealed with aluminium foil during filling. Child resistance in a non-reclosable pack is usually achieved by making the opening a two-step process. Such as “peel and push”, or by using a paper label affixed to the lidding film (out of reach of a child’s soft fingernails).

Types of Child-Resistant Zippers

Types of Child Resistant Caps

Additional Safety Measures

We can help you meet complex packaging challenges

Custom design challenges are our specialty. Our team takes the time to understand our customers’ needs and understand their products. We pay attention to details and strive to provide the best product packaging solutions for every customer.

Gozen offers certified child-resistant packaging options. By working with us, your products will meet the strict regulatory requirements of your industry. We can help you find the best solution to your packaging challenges – a solution that takes your product, brand and consumer needs into account.

Please contact one of our professional representatives at info@gozenpackaging.com or via Whatsapp at +86 18571566509 to learn more.