MATERIAL DEVELOPMENTS
People with Limb, Vision Disabilities Gain Access with Inclusive Deodorant Pack Design A deodorant pack prototype from Unilever’s Degree brand, in beta-testing in certain communities, makes the deodorant application process much more accessible. MATT REYNOLDS, EDITOR, PACKAGING WORLD Degree Deodorant, a Unilever brand and maker one of the world’s best-known antiperspirants, introduces what it calls the world’s first inclusive deodorant for people with visual impairment and upper limb motor disabilities: Degree Inclusive. One in four Americans has a disability, yet products are rarely designed with this community in mind. According to the brand, across the beauty industry, there is currently no deodorant product suitable for people with upper body disabilities to use. Twisting a deodorant cap, turning a stick, or pushing down on a spray with limited arm mobility is a real challenge. In addition to meeting the needs of those with disabilities, Degree Inclusive offers refillable packaging to limit waste impact and a gender-neutral fragrance. Degree partnered with an inclusive team of design experts from brand agency Wunderman Thompson, including occupational therapists, engineers at SOUR Studio, consultants, and people living with disabilities across the globe to create a prototype for Degree Inclusive. The pack has been designed with the following features as noted in the brand’s product development video (check it out here: hcpgo.to/degreevideo): • A hooked cap design and integral handle on the base for one-handed usage • Magnetic closures that make it easier to take the cap off and put it back on for users with limited grip and/or vision impairment • Enhanced grip placement for easier application for users with limited grip or without arms • A braille label with instructions for users with vision impairment • A larger roll-on applicator to reach more surface area per swipe To ensure this original prototype is effective and accessible, Degree is running a beta program to engage and get input from people living with disabilities. In partnership with The Chicago Lighthouse, Open Style Lab, and Muscular Dystrophy Association,
The pack design includes a larger roll-on applicator to reach more surface area per swipe.
Degree has invited 200 people with disabilities in the U.S. to trial the prototype design and share their feedback on the concept, product features, and messaging, to help improve the innovation for its future commercial launch. “As a brand that’s committed to inspiring confidence in everyone to move more, Degree believes no one should be held back from experiencing the transformative benefits of movement,” says Kathryn Swallow, Global Degree Brand Vice President. “More than 60 million people in the U.S. live with a disability, yet products and experiences are still not designed with this community in mind. With Degree Inclusive we hope to inspire bold action across the industry to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal playing field.” Read this article on how brands and CPGs are reinventing themselves and their packaging to stay relevant to Gen Z: hcpgo.to/genz
12 | Healthcare Packaging • November/December 2021
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