That’s a Wrap: The Best and Worst Packaging of 2025

5. Induction Seals – Peeling off seals often demands painful levels of grip and dexterity, leaving many wondering why such a small step can create such a big barrier.

4. Medicine Bottles  – “It’s the packaging that keeps me from my own medication.” Child-resistant caps continue to test patience and hands for many in our community, proving that safety shouldn’t come at the cost of accessibility.

3. Water Bottles – “I have to open them with my garlic crusher and twist the lid.” Tight caps on supposedly convenient bottles continue to frustrate users, highlighting how even everyday essentials can be exclusionary, especially without aids or tools you might go to at home.

2. Jars – “The lid is so tight and hard to twist, but the jar is also really wide so I can’t get a good grip on it either.” Many resort to risky tactics like tapping the jar lid on the bench to release pressure, one participant admitted this went badly wrong, saying she “slashed her hand pretty badly” when the glass slipped. A moment meant for cooking or sharing food shouldn’t end in injury.

1. The “Winner” – Medicine Blister Packs – For both human and animal medication, the struggle is the same. “The packaging often splits, and I frequently cut my fingers on the sharp edges.” Others shared, “It’s super hard to pop out, the irony that people in pain use these and get pain doing so.” From foil blisters with stiff cardboard backing to packs requiring knives to pierce through, these designs are turning daily medication into a dangerous obstacle.