Radienz Living and Graphic Packaging International Launch First Curbside-Recyclable, Child-Resistant Paperboard Packaging for Laundry Pods

Breakthrough solution delivers sustainability, safety, and e-commerce readiness—setting a new industry standard for laundry pod packaging

COMMACK, N.Y. / MT. PROSPECT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Radienz Living, a leading private label and contract manufacturer of home and personal care products, in collaboration with Graphic Packaging International (Graphic Packaging), has introduced a category-first: the first certified child-resistant, curbside-recyclable paperboard package for laundry pods. This milestone achievement brings together superior sustainability, certified safety, and robust supply chain performance—redefining what’s possible in laundry care packaging.

The innovation, CleanClose™ with ChildBlock™, is now certified under U.S. 16 CFR 1700.20. and represents a pivotal shift away from flexible plastic packaging. Designed to protect children while meeting consumer demand for recyclable packaging, it strengthens Radienz Living’s position as an industry pioneer in sustainable solutions, building on its track record as the first to market with a recyclable club-size pouch that replaced traditional tubs and reduced plastic use by 80%.

“We’re passionate about designing brilliant products made for life,” said Ernesto Levy, CEO of Radienz Living. “This paperboard pack represents the next chapter in laundry pod packaging—safe, curbside recyclable, and built for the realities of today’s supply chains. Our long-standing focus on innovation and collaboration made this possible, and we’re proud to offer our customers a meaningful step forward.”

Made from paperboard with 50% recycled fiber content and prequalified as 'Widely Recyclable' by How2Recycle, the CleanClose pack is curbside recyclable—a meaningful differentiator in an industry dominated by hard-to-recycle flexible plastics. It is engineered to be intuitive for adults and difficult for children, closing with an audible “click” for added security and peace of mind.

From a supply chain perspective, CleanClose delivers real-world advantages for retailers and consumers. The packaging is:

• Delivered flat for efficient warehousing and shipping
• At least 10% more space-efficient than traditional plastic pouches
• Top-load tested to 400 lbs. for self-palletization
• SIOC (Ships in Own Container)-ready and club-store optimized, meeting durability standards for e-commerce and large-format retail
• Designed to help maintain pod integrity and product efficacy, addressing common concerns around degradation in soft or poorly sealed packaging

“Achieving child-resistance in a recyclable paperboard format that also meets supply chain demands has been one of the most exciting packaging challenges of my career,” said Chuck Tarlton, Director of New Business Development at Graphic Packaging. “Partnering with Radienz Living gave us a true innovation engine—and together, we’ve delivered a packaging platform that is safer, more sustainable, and market-ready.”

“We are deeply focused on delivering products that protect children and support environmental stewardship,” added Tom McLenithan, Vice President of R&D at Radienz Living. “This project builds on our history of first-to-market innovation. Our ability to align the right partners—whether in paperboard, closures, or packaging design—enables us to solve complex challenges for our customers.”

About Radienz Living

Radienz Living is a trusted partner to top retailers and consumer brands, providing private label and contract manufacturing solutions across unit dose, wipes, and personal care. With over 35 years of expertise, Radienz delivers science-backed, scalable innovation grounded in sustainability and speed-to-market execution.

Radienz operates major manufacturing hubs in Long Island, New York, where it produces home and personal care wipes, and in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, home to the largest independent unit dose manufacturing site in North America. The company’s technical expertise, supply chain agility, and deep category knowledge support the world’s leading national and private label brands with turnkey, future-forward solutions.

To learn more, visit www.radienzliving.com

About Graphic Packaging International, LLC

Graphic Packaging International, LLC, is the primary operating subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Graphic Packaging designs and produces consumer packaging, made primarily from renewable or recycled materials. An industry leader in innovation, the Company is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of consumer packaging. Graphic Packaging operates a global network of design and manufacturing facilities serving the world's most widely recognized brands in food, beverage, foodservice, household, and other consumer products. Learn more at www.graphicpkg.com.