Eco-Conscious Containers

Root Cause

Poor thread tolerance between bottle and cap; low-quality or missing gasket; stress cracks in cap material.

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Specify neck finish standard (e.g., 24/410), require silicone gasket, and define cap material (e.g., durable PP).

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Fill with water, tighten cap to specified torque, invert and leave for 24h. Perform a vacuum chamber test on a sample.

Root Cause

Inadequate protective packaging (no inserts); thin bottle walls; brittle material (e.g., general-purpose polystyrene).

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Specify packaging requirements (e.g., molded pulp inserts, 200lb test carton) and minimum bottle wall thickness (mm).

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Perform a carton drop test (ISTA 1A standard) on a percentage of finished goods. Inspect individual units for cracks or scuffs.

Root Cause

Weak spring, poor piston seal, incompatible with high-viscosity formulas, clogged product pathway.

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Request pump engine specs, specify 'high-viscosity' compatibility if needed, and ask for pump life cycle test data (e.g., >1,000 actuations).

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Cycle a sample of pumps 50-100 times. Test with a liquid of similar viscosity to the intended product to check for clogging and consistent dosage.

Root Cause

Design flaw where the internal platform cannot be manually pushed back to the base.

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Explicitly require a 'resettable internal platform for refilling' and ask for a video demonstration.

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

After dispensing product from a sample, attempt to push the internal disc back to the bottom with a simple tool (e.g., a pen).

Root Cause

Chemical reaction between product formula and container material (e.g., essential oils degrading certain plastics).

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Provide your product's ingredient list (or MSDS) and request a material compatibility report. Specify inert materials like Glass, PET, or PP.

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Conduct a stability test: fill samples with your product, store for 4-6 weeks at elevated temperature (40°C), and check for bottle deformation, discoloration, or product changes.

Root Cause

Use of different raw material batches; poor process control during coloring or frosting.

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Provide a master color standard (Pantone code or physical swatch) and define acceptable variance (Delta E).

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Compare production units against the approved master sample under a controlled light source (light box).

Root Cause

Poor dimensional tolerance control between components made in different facilities or from different materials.

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Provide a technical drawing with critical dimensions and tolerances for all mating parts.

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Assemble a sample of components from different production runs to ensure consistent fit and function.

Root Cause

Supplier using materials not approved for cosmetic contact in the target market (e.g., ANVISA in Brazil).

What to Specify / Ask Supplier

Require material compliance documentation for your target market (e.g., ANVISA, FDA, REACH).

QC Check (What "Good" Looks Like)

Review all compliance certificates provided by the supplier. For critical applications, send samples for third-party lab testing.