Stress of Opening and Closing Containers: 'Slippery', 'Hands Hurt', 'Takes Time' Rank High! What is the Demand for Universal Design that 'Anyone Can Handle with Light Force'?
A joint survey by Asuka Company and NEXER revealed that 41% of people experience stress when opening and closing containers. Common issues include slippery caps and lack of grip strength, highlighting a strong demand for user-friendly, universal design packaging.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (2h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 06:37 (6h 34m after Collected)
■ Awareness Survey on 'Opening and Closing Containers' in Daily Life and the Need for Universal Design
The PET bottle cap just won't open.
Struggling with a jar of jam.
The cap slips and won't turn when hands are wet.
Everyone has likely experienced these minor stresses related to opening and closing containers in their daily lives at least once.
Therefore, this time, in collaboration with Asuka Company Co., Ltd., we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide regarding the 'Opening and closing of containers in daily life and the need for universal design'.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:
- State that the source is a 'Survey by NEXER Inc. and Asuka Company Co., Ltd.'
- Place a link to Asuka Company Co., Ltd. (https://askacompany.co.jp/)
- Place a link to the relevant article (https://askacompany.co.jp/plastics/domestic-market-sample/27251/)
'Questionnaire on Opening and Closing Containers' Survey Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: March 19, 2026 - April 1, 2026
Target respondents: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 500 samples
Question content:
Question 1: Have you ever felt that a container cap or lid was 'hard to open' or 'hard to close'?
Question 2: In what situations did you feel that way? (Multiple selections allowed)
Question 3: Please tell us specifically in what situations you often feel container caps or lids are hard to open or close.
Question 4: Specifically, what kind of stress did you experience? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 5: Regardless of age, gender, or physical condition, how important do you feel universal design containers that 'anyone can handle with light force' are?
Question 6: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
Question 7: Do you think the burden of daily household chores would be reduced if there were pouch containers with 'highly functional spouts' that are easy to hold and open/close smoothly?
Question 8: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
*As a rule, numbers are rounded to one decimal place, so the total may not be exactly 100%.
■ 41.0% Answered They 'Have Felt' Container Caps or Lids are 'Hard to Open' or 'Hard to Close'
First, we asked if they had ever felt that a container's cap or lid was 'hard to open' or 'hard to close'.
As a result, 'Yes' was 41.0%, and 'No' was 59.0%.
It can be seen that about 40% of people have experienced some inconvenience opening and closing containers. Because these are containers used daily, this number is by no means small.
■ The Most Common Situation for Feeling Hard to Open was 'When it is hard to apply force with hands' at 70.2%
Next, we asked those who answered 'Yes' in what situations they felt that way.
The most common response was 'When it is hard to apply force with hands' at 70.2%.
This was followed by 'When hands are wet' at 53.2% and 'When fingertips hurt or are tired' at 24.4%.
We asked for specific details on the situations where they feel difficulty opening or closing, and here is a selection.
Situations Where it Feels Hard to Open or Close
- When it is tightly closed, or when hands are wet or slimy with detergent, etc. (Male in his 20s)
- When doing skincare, my hands are wet, and I often feel the lids of skincare products are hard to open. (Female in her 30s)
- When opening a new water PET bottle, it's so tight that I wrap it in a tissue to open it. (Female in her 30s)
- I feel the most difficulty opening and closing when the contents of the container are stuck to the lid. Also, when my hands are wet or sticky. (Female in her 30s)
- With the type of lid that you open by hooking your finger and pulling up, the cap area is narrow, and my finger doesn't catch well. (Male in his 40s)
- The cap my husband closed previously is often tight and hard to open. (Female in her 40s)
From these specific anecdotes, inconveniences emerge from various angles, not simply the problem of 'lacking strength,' but also the condition of hands, the shape of the container, and even the difference in force applied within a household.
It is clear that small daily recurring problems are common to many people, such as using a tissue for PET bottle caps or being unable to open them because the contents are stuck to the lid.
■ The Most Common Stress When Opening/Closing Containers was 'Slippery and Hard to Open' at 51.2%
Next, we asked those who answered 'Yes' specifically what kind of stress they experienced.
The most common response was 'Slippery and hard to open' at 51.2%.
This was followed by 'Fingertips or hands...
The PET bottle cap just won't open.
Struggling with a jar of jam.
The cap slips and won't turn when hands are wet.
Everyone has likely experienced these minor stresses related to opening and closing containers in their daily lives at least once.
Therefore, this time, in collaboration with Asuka Company Co., Ltd., we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide regarding the 'Opening and closing of containers in daily life and the need for universal design'.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:
- State that the source is a 'Survey by NEXER Inc. and Asuka Company Co., Ltd.'
- Place a link to Asuka Company Co., Ltd. (https://askacompany.co.jp/)
- Place a link to the relevant article (https://askacompany.co.jp/plastics/domestic-market-sample/27251/)
'Questionnaire on Opening and Closing Containers' Survey Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: March 19, 2026 - April 1, 2026
Target respondents: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 500 samples
Question content:
Question 1: Have you ever felt that a container cap or lid was 'hard to open' or 'hard to close'?
Question 2: In what situations did you feel that way? (Multiple selections allowed)
Question 3: Please tell us specifically in what situations you often feel container caps or lids are hard to open or close.
Question 4: Specifically, what kind of stress did you experience? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 5: Regardless of age, gender, or physical condition, how important do you feel universal design containers that 'anyone can handle with light force' are?
Question 6: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
Question 7: Do you think the burden of daily household chores would be reduced if there were pouch containers with 'highly functional spouts' that are easy to hold and open/close smoothly?
Question 8: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
*As a rule, numbers are rounded to one decimal place, so the total may not be exactly 100%.
■ 41.0% Answered They 'Have Felt' Container Caps or Lids are 'Hard to Open' or 'Hard to Close'
First, we asked if they had ever felt that a container's cap or lid was 'hard to open' or 'hard to close'.
As a result, 'Yes' was 41.0%, and 'No' was 59.0%.
It can be seen that about 40% of people have experienced some inconvenience opening and closing containers. Because these are containers used daily, this number is by no means small.
■ The Most Common Situation for Feeling Hard to Open was 'When it is hard to apply force with hands' at 70.2%
Next, we asked those who answered 'Yes' in what situations they felt that way.
The most common response was 'When it is hard to apply force with hands' at 70.2%.
This was followed by 'When hands are wet' at 53.2% and 'When fingertips hurt or are tired' at 24.4%.
We asked for specific details on the situations where they feel difficulty opening or closing, and here is a selection.
Situations Where it Feels Hard to Open or Close
- When it is tightly closed, or when hands are wet or slimy with detergent, etc. (Male in his 20s)
- When doing skincare, my hands are wet, and I often feel the lids of skincare products are hard to open. (Female in her 30s)
- When opening a new water PET bottle, it's so tight that I wrap it in a tissue to open it. (Female in her 30s)
- I feel the most difficulty opening and closing when the contents of the container are stuck to the lid. Also, when my hands are wet or sticky. (Female in her 30s)
- With the type of lid that you open by hooking your finger and pulling up, the cap area is narrow, and my finger doesn't catch well. (Male in his 40s)
- The cap my husband closed previously is often tight and hard to open. (Female in her 40s)
From these specific anecdotes, inconveniences emerge from various angles, not simply the problem of 'lacking strength,' but also the condition of hands, the shape of the container, and even the difference in force applied within a household.
It is clear that small daily recurring problems are common to many people, such as using a tissue for PET bottle caps or being unable to open them because the contents are stuck to the lid.
■ The Most Common Stress When Opening/Closing Containers was 'Slippery and Hard to Open' at 51.2%
Next, we asked those who answered 'Yes' specifically what kind of stress they experienced.
The most common response was 'Slippery and hard to open' at 51.2%.
This was followed by 'Fingertips or hands...