Easy to Open (ETO) & Ease of Use (EOU) Certification Program
Arthritis Australia offers two distinct Certifications to recognise products and packaging that are accessible for the broader population, including people living with arthritis and the ageing population.
Ease of Use Certification recognises products while Easy to Open Certification identifies packaging.
To achieve Certification, products and packaging are tested with arthritis consumers to ensure they meet the community’s needs. Read our Consumer Testing Report section below for more details.
Ease of Use (EOU) – products
Key Features and Benefits of Certification:
- Easy Product Identification: Certification enables consumers to quickly recognise products that are easy to use for all users, but particularly for consumers living with arthritis and other physical limitations as well as the ageing population. This saves time and reduces frustration during shopping.
- Trusted Certification Authority: Arthritis Australia’s reputation as a respected not-for-profit organisation in the accessibility space lends credibility to certified products, instilling consumer confidence and trust.
- Consumer-Tested Assurance: Rigorous testing with arthritis consumers ensures certified products and packaging truly meet community needs, providing genuine value beyond marketing claims.
- Expanded Medical Device Coverage: With TGA approval, Certification now extends to medical devices and packaging, broadening accessibility options in healthcare and improving daily life for those with physical limitations.
- Community-Focused Promise: Certification represents a commitment to the arthritis community, fostering brand loyalty and positive consumer relationships while supporting improved quality of life for users.
Easy to Open (ETO) – packaging
Real consumers using our Certified packaging
Consumer Testing Report
Ease of Use/Easy to Open testing is a comprehensive design audit that combines scientific and consumer testing to evaluate product and packaging accessibility. This in-depth process offers valuable insights into every aspect of a product’s design, identifying areas for improvement and suggesting potential solutions.
Testing is conducted by the Intuitive Design Applied Research Institute (IDARI), which also conducts this test for the US Arthritis Foundation and the Arthritis Society of Canada. Passing testing is the first step to Ease of Use/Easy to Open Certification.
- Consumer-centric approach: Testing is conducted with individuals living with arthritis, ensuring real-world feedback from an insightful demographic.
- Detailed reporting: The process generates a comprehensive report containing insightful consumer feedback on various design elements.
- Certification pathway: Successful completion of this testing is the initial step towards obtaining Easy to Open Certification for packaging or Ease of Use Certification for products.
- Design improvement suggestions: The report provides recommendations for design modifications to enhance accessibility and usability.
Approx. 5-8 weeks
- Ease of Use: 12 samples of each product being tested
- Easy to Open: 56 samples of each packaging being tested
Contact Division to discuss smaller sample quantities
Successfully passing the testing phase is the initial step in the Ease of Use/Easy to Open Certification process.
The flowchart below illustrates the Certification Process.
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