Jun 20 2007
Method Products, Inc., San Francisco, CA has relaunched its new method All Floor Cleaner line in 25-ounce oval polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from Amcor PET Packaging. The larger-sized bottle is an extension of the company’s Omop system which features a starter kit in an oval carrying pack. (The kit contains a disassembled mop, microfiber mop pad, compostable sweeping clothes and a 14- ounce round starter bottle of cleaner.)
The aesthetically pleasing oval Omop system is just one example of how method has made its mark in household products by breaking away from the utilitarian look long associated with that category. Additionally, the company has a strong environmental stance which includes the use of biodegradable ingredients in its formulation and “most readily” recyclable packaging for its containers.
“Why do people hide their products under the sink? Well, we’re not really sure, but we think it’s shame. And at method, we prefer to be shame free, so we use design to give you an aesthetic experience you can take to the top of the counter. It sure does make cleaning more convenient,” its website whimsically proclaims.
In keeping with its aesthetic and function mantras, method challenged Amcor to push the PET bottle blowmolding envelope to support the relaunch of the Omop 25-ounce size cleaner in a new oval shape.
“The previous bottle was in a non-method looking shape and we wanted to change that to be more consistent with our design philosophy. Initially, the Omop bottle we conceptualized for the relaunch was round, but we found that it didn’t give us the shelf ‘pop’ we wanted. We then designed a unique raised oval bottle and challenged Amcor to develop a unit tool for it. We knew that the curved oval perimeter coupled with an oval label panel would push the manufacturing envelope. Our goal was to be able to blow a ‘clean’ bottle without unsightly ‘touch’ marks - also it needed to allow efficient labeling,” explains Jason Crouch, project manager, method.
“When method first came to us, they were looking at a round bottle with an indented label panel, which was also round. We tried to meet the dimensional requirements of putting a 25- ounce fill in a round bottle and found that wasn’t possible. We then began to work together on ideas to solve the capacity and dimensional issues, while also providing shelf appeal,” explains Patrick Mallon, project engineer, Amcor.
To help method visualize the concepts, Amcor provided the company with three-dimensional color images—complete with label placement. One of the challenges was how to produce the deeply-dented front and back label panel.
“The challenge with the label panel is that the raised metal in the blow cavity which creates the bottle indentation got very close to the preform. Ideally, you want some clearance between the preform and the blow cavity to facilitate the blow molding process,” Mallon says. The Amcor/method team worked together to redefine the maximum parameters of the indentation so that the bottle could be consistently blown, but still provide the desired aesthetics and function.
“That’s why we love working with Amcor. We can tell them what we want to achieve and instead of telling us what isn’t possible, they go out of their way to push the envelope. This is particularly important for a company such as method. Our goal is to integrate both function and beauty and we feel this bottle does both,” Crouch says.
The 25-ounce bottle is being used for two varieties—Lemon Ginger Non-Toxic Floor Cleaner and Wood for Good Almond Non-Toxic Floor Cleaner.
Having just launched earlier in the year, initial feedback for the bottle has been positive. “Everyone has been really happy with the performance. The design really carries over to the function,” Crouch notes.