A solid ball of detergent, Oxi Clean “Toss-n-Go” is no ordinary laundry product. Its packaging, a thermoformed clamshell inside a conical paperboard sleeve, is equally innovative. Amid the ever-so-predictable jugs and cartons in the detergent aisle, brand owner Church & Dwight’s conical sleeve packaging with the protruding ball in the front really stands out.

Making all of this even more unusual is that the detergent is filled as a slurry directly into the clamshell during manufacturing before it cools and hardens. Thermoformed of PVC, the clamshell functions both as mold and as container.

A different ball resides in the starter kit. It’s an injection-molded dispensing ball, made of blue rubber, at the bottom of the sleeve cone. The dispensing ball holds the detergent ball during use when it’s tossed into the laundry. It controls the dissolution of the laundry ball and protects the washer drum from damage. Consumers close the ball’s sealing flap to lock the detergent ball during use.

Display Pack produces the package components with the exception of the blue ball.

The consumer removes the detergent ball from the clamshell and places it into the rubber ball, leaving it in the wash machine for 25 loads. No measuring and pouring of detergent is required.

The starter and refill kits have respective suggested retail prices of $6.99 and $9.99. Read more about this package.

- By Rick Lingle, Packaging World