Unilever tries self-piercing closure

Unilever Bestfoods Europe has adopted a new self-piercing plastic closure for its Calvé mayonnaise that’s marketed in the Netherlands. The closure, when screwed down by the consumer, pierces the aluminum foil inner seal that’s applied by conduction sealing. The polypropylene one-piece closure was created by Bericap’s R&D Center of Dijon, France. The flip-top, one-hand-dispensing closure eliminates the need for the consumer to remove the closure and peel off the inner seal.

Unilever Bestfoods Europe has adopted a new self-piercing plastic closure for its Calvé mayonnaise that’s marketed in the Netherlands. The closure, when screwed down by the consumer, pierces the aluminum foil inner seal that’s applied by conduction sealing. The polypropylene one-piece closure was created by Bericap’s R&D Center of Dijon, France. The flip-top, one-hand-dispensing closure eliminates the need for the consumer to remove the closure and peel off the inner seal. The closure is applied with a tamper-evident band that is first removed by the consumer before torquing down the cap to open the inner seal. The 290-mL (9.8 oz) mayonnaise jar is often used and stored upside down, like so many sauce containers in Europe. “The feedback from the consumer is very positive,” says Françoise Surivet-Cuve, team manager for packaging development at Unilever’s European Dressings Innovation Center. “They tell us they find it more practical and easy to use.” The hinged closure employs a star-shaped orifice that keeps the closure cleaner. The same closure debuted in France for Unilever’s Amora mayonnaise jar.