Dispensers and Airless edition sponsored by airlesspackaging.net

About Airless Packaging

An airless packaging product normally comprises some sort of container with a dispensing system. The packaging is sold as a combo in order to ensure that once the dispenser has been mounted, no air can enter the container to contaminate and/or degrade the product, all the way from filling through to the last use by the consumer. This is the primary advantage of the airless concept - it provides a receptacle for a product that might be more sensitive to changes brought on by contact with air. There are numerous products made with natural components that lose their properties when oxidized, and the current trend is to steer clear of adding preservatives as much as possible. Airless packaging provides a medium where products can enjoy extended shelf-lives thanks to the lack of degenerating influence of air in the mix.

Aside from considerations of product formulation and the effects of air on a product's efficacy or freshness, airless technology provides contemporary packaging purchasers with a number of advantages for their products.

Airless Packaging Benefits

Airless products do not include the typical dip tube found in standard pumps or sprays, they normally feature a diaphragm that rises to evacuate the product. As the diaphragm moves up the inside of the bottle, pulled up by the vacuum pressure, close to 100% of the product is evacuated. Other airless containers use a bag filled with product inside a hard container, but the concept of having evacuate nearly all the product is the same. This high percentage usage is a great selling point for packaging, as it generates less waste and is perceived to be "greener".

This type of packaging also provides precise repeatable dosing. When the expulsion aperture is set, along with a specific vacuum pressure, the dosage provided by a stroke of whatever actuator is being used will provide an exact quantity that proves to be invariable throughout the usage of the product. By changing the aperture size, very specific dosages can be achieved, from a few microlitres up to several mililitres.

Along with freshness, hygiene is a key value proposition for airless packaging. Once the product has been expelled, none of it can make its way back into the product reservoir. There is no pump spring to rust and taint the product. Physics takes care of ensuring that every dose of product expelled by an airless container is fresh and uncontaminated.

More intangible is the consumer perception factor linked to airless products. When compared with standard pumps, sprays, tubes, and other packaging components, the marvellous flow, controlled dosage, and high-end look of airless packaging makes it a sure bet for the luxury and masstige markets.

How does airless packaging work?

There are actually several different technologies considered to be "airless", with some sort of piston system being the first choice among packaging purchasers. This is the sort of system where a piston at the bottom of the inside of the package is pulled up to evacuate the product, much like hypodermic needle.

The "bag-in-a-bottle" is another option, and works exactly as the name suggests. It uses a bag that collapses as the product is evacuated. It's not as common as a piston system, but is excellent for speciality products with special barrier needs or that require a non-standard shape.

Where will airless packaging go next?

Who knows. We've recently seen a rush toward using the technology in different packaging containers ranging from tubes to jars, so we may eventually see it in small container formats for make-up dispensing, large formats for precisely dosed shampoos, and more. One thing's for sure: it's definitely a space to watch.

For more information:

The Airless Packaging Association
Learn about the physics behind airless packaging
Find airless products

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