Overview
ISO 17480:2015 - Packaging - Accessible design - Ease of opening defines requirements and recommendations for designing consumer packaging that is easy to open. It applies to reclosable and non-reclosable packaging that do not rely on additional mechanical aids. The standard covers openability from an accessible-design and usability perspective, including where and how packages should be opened, and how to evaluate openability using both instrument-based and user-based methods. For regulated products (e.g., toxic goods, medicines, medical devices) applicable safety regulations take precedence.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Context of use: identify intended users, tasks (grip, pull, lift), and environments affecting openability.
- Opening strength: nominal opening force should be achievable by intended users and kept as low as possible without compromising integrity.
- Dexterity and cognition: opening mechanisms must accommodate a wide range of dexterities and be intuitively understood (visual and tactile cues).
- Opening location and signage: openings must be readily found using clear visual (colour, font, pictograms) and tactile markers (notches, embossing, texture).
- Opening methods: clarify and design for common actions (tear, peel, pull, push, turn) to minimize spillage and injury risk.
- Reclosing: where applicable, reclosing must be easy, clearly indicated, and support repeatable secure use (e.g., tactile or auditory feedback).
- Evaluation methods:
- Instrument-based evaluation: quantitative measures such as removal torque, peel strength, ring-pull force, friction and other physical attributes.
- User-based evaluation: panel testing and qualitative methods to assess sensory, physical, and cognitive aspects (aligned with ISO 20282 guidance).
- Conformance: satisfy all specified requirements and use included checklists and informative annexes for practical guidance.
Applications and who uses ISO 17480
- Primary users: packaging designers, product developers, usability and accessibility evaluators, and packaging engineers.
- Sectors: food & beverage, FMCG, cosmetics, consumer electronics packaging, retail packaging-where ease of opening and inclusive access influence customer satisfaction and usability. (Note: regulated product packaging must follow applicable regulations first.)
- Practical uses:
- Improve accessibility for older adults and people with disabilities.
- Reduce customer complaints and returns related to difficult-to-open packaging.
- Inform design iteration using combined instrument and user testing.
- Provide a defensible accessibility rationale for packaging decisions.
Related standards
- ISO 21067 - Packaging vocabulary (referenced for terms).
- ISO 20282 series - Guidance for user-based usability testing.
- ISO 8317 - Definitions for some reclosable packaging types (referenced).
ISO 17480 is a practical resource for embedding accessible-design principles into packaging to enhance openability, usability, and inclusive product experience.