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Why is sanitizer important in our daily life?
2020 brought about an unprecedented, exponential rise in the demand and supply of a particular product: hand sanitizer. This simple liquid - once only spotted in hospitals and with germaphobes - is now a daily household requirement.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers primarily contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol), though some also use isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) or n-propanol. The alcohol itself constitutes 60-95% of the formula by strength. As per WHO recommendations, a hand sanitizer formulation with above 70% alcohol content is most effective against COVID-19.
In addition to this main ingredient, hand sanitizers may also contain emollients, such as glycerin to soothe the skin, along with some skin-friendly thickening agents, fragrance, and coloring agents. To attract consumers, many hand sanitizer manufacturers in India have added vivid colors and both common and unique fragrances to make the experience pleasant, and honestly, fun. Just Human, the best sanitizer company in India, uses ethanol with deionized water, a proprietary smart molecule, and skin-friendly moisturizers to develop a DCGI-approved hand sanitizer formulation.
The storage, transportation, and dispensing of sanitizer are very important criteria for hand sanitizer manufacturers in India. The packaging required to contain such sanitizers needs to match the physical attributes. The material should be able to handle liquids of various viscosity. It must also be non-reactive to alcohol, which is the key component of hand sanitizer formulation. The bottle's body should be transparent or translucent to allow the colors and liquid level to be visible clearly. While fulfilling these parameters, the packaging also needs to be handy, portable, easily refillable, and dispensable.
The creation process for hand sanitizer bottles
The basic bottle design is created keeping in mind the type of sanitizer and how it intends to be dispensed, whether dispensed, sprayed, or poured. Plastic is the preferred material for this purpose. First, an image is created to conceive how the packaging needs to look like. This image is then further processed and converted to a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) render. This CAD render is then made into a 3D model. This 3D model of the bottle is then sent for approval, testing, and evaluation.
With the use of such modern technology, hand sanitizer manufacturers in India have managed to keep packaging costs low. Earlier, the bottles themselves would be expensive, as the process of making and modifying molds was costly and time-consuming.
What are the various plastic bottle options?
The general base of most hand sanitizer bottles may be the same: a cylindrical container that is capable of holding a measurable amount of liquid with good visibility. Occasionally, it may be a cuboidal shape, but this is often unstable. What varies is the type of dispenser mounted on top of the bottle. The containers can be classified as:
- Cylindrical bottles
- Plain cylindrical bottles with a regular cap or stopper
- Industrial round bottles
- Similar to cylindrical bottles, but with a dispenser
- Spray bottles
- Bottles with a cylindrical base, with a nozzle-type dispenser that can be used to spray with a trigger or handle
- F-style bottles
- Bottles with a plunger or pump to dispense liquid, and a handle
- Foam pump bottles
Similar to F-style bottles, but a healthy infusion of air creates a foam-type substance that is dispensed
The material is broadly plastic so that it does not react with the alcohol. However, to offer the right amount of rigidity and structural integrity, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is the preferred material used by Just Human, the best sanitizer company in India.
What are the various types of caps and closures for hand sanitizer bottles?
Based on where the bottle is to be used, the type of cap or dispensing outlet will vary. With the pandemic, hand sanitizers are now being used in a variety of places. Earlier, many people would carry a small bottle for emergencies in their pocket or purse, which was small as well. Such sanitizers needed leak-proof caps.
Now, institutions, buildings, residential complexes, and office complexes require a pump-type bottle at the entrance. This is often operated using a foot pedal. Security personnel, reception, and hospitality staff need a solution that does not take too much space, yet is easy to handle and dispense to guests. Many upscale establishments have automatic IR sensor-based sanitizers. These dispensing machines need a different bottle that operates in conjunction with the sensor. Additionally, due to the risk imposed by COVID-19 to even the younger population, parents have to ensure their children carry sanitizers too. For this age group, the packaging needed to be easy to operate and resistant to breakage.
The types of caps and dispensers can be broadly classified as:
- Dispensing pumps
These deploy a simple tube with a spring mechanism pump. Pressing the pump creates a negative pressure which brings up fluid from the bottle. The spring then ensures the handle returns to its original position after use. These usually require the full force of a palm, hand, elbow, or foot pedal operation.
- Fingertip sprayers
This mechanism is similar to the dispensing pumps, but only the pressure exerted by your fingertips is required.
- Threaded screw caps
Simple bottle caps are twisted around a few times to fit snugly on the bottle preventing any leakage.
- Flip-top closures
This is a screw-on cap with a lid. The lid locks firmly into place into a small groove, thus preventing any leakage. The user has to flip it open, dispense the viscous liquid and close the top with a click.
- Snap-top closures
These are similar to flip-tops but have a small depression at the outer end. When the circular lid is flipped open, it raises the entire bottle cap to allow the liquid to flow through a small outlet.
The importance of quality packaging in sanitizers
Hand sanitizer is a vital hygiene tool to fight this pandemic. Improper bottle quality can cause unintended loss and damage. Bottle leakage will inevitably create a mess in your pocket, or bag. If the sanitizer pump fails, it may either dispense nothing at all or spray the liquid or gel in sudden bursts.
This is why quality packaging is just as important as hand sanitizer formulation, a principle taken seriously by Just Human, the best sanitizer company in India. Matching the correct type of dispenser to the viscosity of hand sanitizer also affects user experience. The wrong dispenser cap may prevent the hand sanitizer from exiting the bottle properly or lead to more quantity than intended.
Investing in the right type of bottles for packaging hand sanitizer provides better returns as there is decreased loss of product during transportation. As the wastage goes down, every stakeholder in the process finds more reliability and comfort in trusting the product. With this rationale, it is essential to partner with a trusted, reputed, experienced, and knowledgeable brand like Just Human that uses the best-suited bottles needed to package hand sanitizer in India.
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