Some consumers remain concerned with the coronavirus’ ability to survive on surfaces, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website states “In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging.” Nevertheless, rising health consciousness among consumers and those hyper-diligent about virus prevention makes antiviral packaging a consideration in purchasing decisions, driving companies to experiment with packaging materials and raise the standards of safety.
The global antimicrobial packaging market was valued at $8.71 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $13.28 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027, according to Verified Market Research.
The good news for packaging designers is that new coatings with antimicrobial properties have started to enter the market. One such innovation is Matter, an antimicrobial coating that uses silver ion technology developed by San Francisco creative agency Designsake Studio as a way for brands to easily adapt packaging standards to ensure both safety and sustainability.
The FDA- and EPA-certified antimicrobial technology provides protection against 99.9% of microbes, and can be applied to physical materials such as shipping boxes and product packaging, as well as paper, plastics, glass, metal, and textiles. Matter uses advanced silver technology developed over years by chemists and packaging experts to eliminate the opportunity for microbes to exist on a protected surface. Because it is a versatile, invisible coating, it can be applied to both new or existing packaging, making it the most efficient and cost-effective way of providing antimicrobial protection to consumer products.
“We know the risk of disease transmission from surfaces is real, but the global pandemic has caused us all to realize the actual vulnerabilities of high touch surfaces, including product packaging. As a creative studio working closely with companies who are leading the way in developing products that put customers first, we asked ourselves, how are brands meeting these new demands for safer delivery of products, and how can packaging be a tool to achieve this?” said Danielle McWaters, founder and CEO of Designsake Studio. “We began to explore possible solutions that eventually led us to launch Matter. We’ve proven you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for safety or recyclability. We hope this can bring joy back to the unboxing experience and create the next evolution of safe and sustainable packaging solutions, as we know this shift towards purchasing products online is here to stay.”
Brands will be able to integrate the Matter logo on their packaging, where it will act as a first-of-its-kind antimicrobial certification, while highlighting a brand’s values around safety and sustainability. The invisible coating doesn’t compromise the integrity of a product’s aesthetic or functionality, and can be quickly integrated into a company’s existing packaging in the final steps of the print production process. With sustainability top of mind, Matter was also created to have no impact on the ultimate recyclability of the end product, while still providing protection for the lifetime of the treated material.
“With Matter, Designsake continues to push the boundaries of packaging design by innovating where consumers care the most, the precise touchpoint where human hands meet packaging surfaces,” said Dallas Franklin, Neenah Paper Creative Director.
