Animal bottles, snack cups & more
Kids Eco Line
The project began with the development of four bottles aimed at encouraging kids to drink more water. Designed to be collectible and cost-effective, these bottles unexpectedly sparked the creation of an entire new product line. Together with the engineering and manufacturing teams, the project pushed the boundaries of what Tupperware had previously achieved with blow-molded bottles.
Behind the scenes
From sketch to production
Everything started with a sketch
Each bottle underwent an ideation phase focused on proportions, facial expressions, and unique features. The challenge was to simplify animal characteristics while ensuring each design remained recognizable.
Clay is always helpful
Transitioning from sketches to 3D files for organic shapes proved challenging. Clay prototypes facilitated rapid iterations and marketing feedback, with a 3D-printed model serving as the starting point for these clay designs.
Moving into CAD world
Once the shapes were finalized, clay models were 3D scanned by the application lab, creating a detailed reference for the CAD files. Every detail was refined while respecting production limitations to achieve the desired shapes.
Little hands
Prototypes were tested with children in both Mexico and the USA to ensure appropriate proportions and usability.
Unexpected surprises
The bottom of the first Penguin bottle samples was breaking, requiring additional structure. The solution had to be steel-safe, and adding a tail and feet provided the necessary reinforcement without compromising the design intent.
Low mold investment
To maintain low production costs, all bottles were produced using the same preform and capacity. The challenge was to keep consistent height and dimensions while giving each animal a distinct appearance.
Bottles, graphics, snack cups & more
The success of the initial four bottles exceeded sales expectations, revealing opportunities for expansion. This led to the creation of snack cups, character bottles, graphics, and backpacks.
The line now includes 14 bottles, 10 graphics, and 5 snack cups, along with complementary merchandise like backpacks and coloring books.
Graphics for sandwich keepers
Learning curve
With a deeper understanding of blow molding, boundaries were pushed to achieve more complex shapes, while mold debugging was minimized in the later bottles.
Opened the door for future collaborations
Innovating within blow-molded products paved the way for potential partnerships with various brands, expanding the reach and impact of the kids' eco line.
