Fresh-Lock® Closures Wins 2024 WorldStar Packaging Award for Child-Resistant Innovation

Industry-leading technology recognized for child-resistant closure, shelf impact, and sustainability

Figure 1 Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean HE Laundry Detergent Pacs WorldStar Award

Fresh-Lock® closures, a leading brand in reclosable flexible packaging technology, has recently been honored with the 2024 WorldStar Packaging Award in the household category from the World Packaging Association. This accolade recognizes their collaborative efforts with Accredo Packaging Inc. and Radienz Living in developing a fully recyclable* pouch with child-resistant reclosability for Kirkland Signature® Ultra Clean HE Laundry Detergent Pacs.

Developed for Costco Wholesale Corporation, the project aims to replace a rigid tub with a more sustainable, flexible pouch that retains the same laundry package capacity. Ensuring the closure’s resilience through 152 open-close cycles while maintaining its child-resistant properties was a critical aspect of this project.

In a unified effort, Fresh-Lock® closures, Accredo Packaging Inc., and Radienz Living realized this innovation, achieving an impressive 80 percent reduction in plastic usage when compared to the product’s original, rigid canister.

“We are incredibly proud to have our work chosen as a winner of the 2024 WorldStar Awards. What an honor,” said Todd Meussling, Fresh-Lock Senior Manager Market Development. “Now having successfully demonstrated its viability in commercial production and the marketplace, the recyclable, child-resistant pouch opens doors for potential expansion into other sectors, such as household cleaners and pharmaceutical products.”

“Collaboration is the cornerstone of the circular economy,” said Trei Johnson, Director of Sustainability at Accredo. “That’s why we take pride in seeing our collaboration on this pouch culminate in the prestigious 2024 WorldStar Award. As the sustainability needs of brands undergo perpetual refinement, creating partnerships with companies who embody collaboration, innovation, and agility is essential.”

Alongside this prestigious 2024 WorldStar Award, this child-resistant pouch designed for Kirkland Signature® Ultra Clean HE Laundry Detergent Pacs received the Flexible Packaging Association Gold Award for sustainability in March 2023. Eligibility for WorldStar Awards is reserved for packages that have won a national or regional packaging award within the last two years from a competition recognized by the World Packaging Association.

*The term” recyclable” as used herein is for the sole purpose of referencing recyclability potential. Whether an item is ultimately recycled hinges on several factors, including but not limited to the local availability of programs and facilities that collect, process, and recycle the plastic packaging referenced herein. This package is recyclable only in the communities that have access to appropriate recycling facilities. For more information and check for recycling programs in your area, go to https://recyclingpartnership.org/data

**Carbon footprint impact calculations are based on internal Accredo Life Cycle Accessment (LCA)