Combining the science of nutrition with advanced technology is the strength of our innovations. These are the stories behind the products.

Research and Development (R&D) is the crucial link for successful development of products at Abbott Nutrition. Supported by a strong commitment to science and the resources necessary for true innovation, we pinpoint emerging patient needs and search for new ways to produce nutritional solutions for people through all stages of life.

Packaging Innovations

From the start, Abbott Nutrition has been a principal innovator of packaging. Our portfolio of science-based packaging solutions has helped people everywhere live healthier, better lives. Some of the recent honors our company has received include:

Product of the Year, Child Care Category

The Similac^® SimplePac won the Consumer Survey of Product Innovation award in 2009.  The award champions innovation and represents products of high value and benefit to consumers.  The Product of the Year program is the largest and most representative consumer-voted effort to recognize innovation in consumer packaged goods.

Industrial Design Excellence Awards “Silver Award”

The 32-ounce ready-to-feed Similac® With Iron infant formula reclosable bottle won a Silver Award at the annual Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) in 2000. The bottle won in the packaging structure category for its innovative qualities and user friendliness. Radically different from anything in the baby aisle at that time, the bottle set the standard for the future.

Institute of Packaging Professionals Awards

We received the first place “Gold Star” and “Best of Show” awards by the Institute of Packaging Professionals for its innovative 2-fl-oz plastic infant formula bottle, PLUS-2. This innovative package design replaced glass bottles in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Abbott Nutrition developed an innovative package to improve efficiency, and reduce breakage and fluid waste.

DuPont® Gold Award

In 2003, we developed one of the single most important packaging innovations to hit the nutrition retail market—Ensure® in a convenient, easy-to-open, reclosable plastic bottle. The sleek, contemporary design was later selected as a winner in the food category at the 17th DuPont Awards for Innovation in Packaging, an international, independently judged competition that sponsors the competition in cooperation with Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association, Gloucestershire (England) and the National Food Processors Association in Washington, D.C. (USA).

The development of the reclosable bottle included the use of previously successful multilayered plastic materials that hold up well to retort sterilization and maintain the 12- to 15-month shelf life of the product. The packaging style, which uses a multilayer extrusion-blown barrier bottle with a threaded, reclosable cap, has a large opening for pouring and provides consumers with a better grip.