“If it works for them, it works for everyone” – why Ecolean’s packaging earned the Easy-to-Use certification

We asked Kristina Heilborn from the Swedish Rheumatism Association to tell us more about the process – and why accessible packaging is more relevant than ever.

What is the Easy-to-Use certification – and why is it important?

The certification shows that a package works for people with reduced hand function, something that can be caused by rheumatism, MS, stroke, diabetes or simply age. One in four Swedes will be over 65 by 2030, so inclusive design isn’t just a niche issue – it’s about meeting the needs of a large and growing group in society.

How is the testing carried out?

Each product is tested by 20 people with medically diagnosed hand function impairments. They rate how difficult it is to carry out every step – opening, lifting, pouring, resealing – using a six-point scale. Their results are then calibrated against a reference group of over 100 people to ensure fairness across all tests. For certification, all handling steps must be rated “neither difficult nor easy” or better.

What made Ecolean’s latest package pass the test?

Although the format was smaller than earlier versions, it followed the same functional principles and still met all requirements – showing that thoughtful design doesn’t have to be compromised by size.

Is it common for companies to certify all of their packaging?

No – it’s actually very rare. Ecolean is currently the only company to have submitted all of its packaging types for testing and received certification across the board.

What do you hope Easy-to-Use will lead to?

That more companies take accessibility seriously and make it a natural part of the design process. Good packaging design should never exclude – and with Easy-to-Use, we’re helping make that standard a reality.

At Ecolean, we believe that good design includes everyone. By certifying all our packaging as Easy-to-Use, we’re not only raising the bar for ourselves – we’re also showing that inclusive design is both possible and necessary. Because when packaging works for more people, it works better for everyone.