Food that is visible through the packaging whets the appetite and inspires consumers’ confidence in the product – a feature that rigid paper containers have lacked until now. “The WindowCan now combines the advantages of rigid paper containers and plastic packaging in a single packaging solution – including a clear view of the product inside,” explains Séan Cairns, Vice President and General Manager at Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. Sonoco presented a prototype of the innovative packaging solution at the Interpack trade show 2017 where the WindowCan was a magnet for visitors’ attention.

Customisation to strengthen brand identity

The WindowCan is available in different formats, enabling customers to select the ideal product size for specific consumption situations and target groups. The window that gives the WindowCan its name is cut with a laser, and virtually any shape is possible: a window in the shape of a sweet, for example, alludes to the product inside. Stylised windows can also reinforce the brand identity by representing a logo.

Sonoco manufactures the WindowCan using IML technology at its facility in Zwenkau, Germany. During the production process, the die-cut paper label fuses with the plastic of the container. The paper label retains its feel, resembling the classic Sonoco rigid paperboard containers, and is printable on both sides to create an appealing visual contrast.

In addition to its eye-catching appearance, the WindowCan also provides high product protection. A moisture barrier ensures that products have a long shelf life, and before consumers open the can for the first time, a Sealed Safe® membrane or a ring-pull lid provides additional protection. Once the packaging has been opened, consumers can securely reseal it with a snap lid – as they are used to with classic rigid paper containers.