Development of a Leakproof, Silicone Free Lid for IKEA 365+ Food Container

Abstract

This report elaborates on the development process of a silicone free, leakproof seal for the lid of the IKEA 365+ food storage platform, to alleviate the need for a silicone gasket that is used for the product today. Silicone is undesirable due to the energy intensive production and because it is not recyclable at large scale. The report uses a traditional product development process along with simulation driven design to develop a polypropylene lip seal for the lid, which is then validated through realistic simulations. Emphasis is put on explaining the design choices leading up to the final design to give ample background and understanding of the reasoning behind the decisions.

The report finds that a polypropylene lip seal incorporated in the lid can in theory reliably seal against the container while being inexpensively produced at a large scale. However, high fidelity prototypes made from injection molding will be needed to validate the full functionality of the seal in a real setting. The report therefore encourages the further development of polypropylene lip seals for food and kitchen containers in the future. It concludes that by doing so, large improvements can be made regarding the sustainability of food containers.

Abstract (Swedish)

Denna rapport redogör över utvecklingsprocessen för ett silikonfritt, läckagetätt lock för matlådan IKEA 365+, för att undvika användandet av en silikonpackning som produkten gör idag. Drivkraften bakom projektet är att silikon är ett mycket energikrävande material att producera, samt är inte i stor skala återvinningsbart idag. Rapporten använder sig av en traditionell produktutvecklingsprocess samt simulationer för att utveckla en tunn läpptätning i polypropen som sedan valideras. Emfas för rapporten läggs på att förklara de olika beslut om utformningen som har tagits och som lett upp till den slutgiltiga designen. Detta för att ge god bakgrund och förståelse för de valen som gjorts i processen.

Rapporten finner lovande resultat som tyder på att en tunn läpptätning i polypropen i locket effektivt kan täta mot matlådan, samtidigt som det kan tillverkas i stor skala till ett lågt pris. En formsprutad, realistisk prototyp kommer dock behövas för att kunna verifiera att tätningen fungerar i alla situationer. Rapporten uppmanar därav till det fortsatta utvecklingsarbetet av polypropentätningar för mat-och köksbehållare i framtiden, och drar slutsatsen att stora miljömässiga och ekonomiska vinster kan göras om detta fullföljs.

Popular Abstract

You might have used the food container IKEA 365+ before. The ubiquitous food container that many people love because of its sealing properties. But did you know that the silicone gasket isn’t recyclable and is very energy intensive to produce? The development of a replacement for the gasket that is recyclable is presented in this report. All while maintaining the food container’s properties that many people know and love.

The world needs to become more sustainable and circular. For big actors such as IKEA, small improvements can create a big difference in how materials are utilized and they can help drive the change for other corporations. That is why this report researched and developed a silicone free sealing solution for the IKEA 365+ food container. It was conducted in collaboration with IKEA of Sweden. Silicone is a material that has many positive characteristics; however, it is very energy-intensive to produce and it is not on a large scale possible to recycle. Therefore, it should only be used when no other alternative is possible.

The results of this design study show that there is an alternative to the silicone sealing for the 365+ food container lid. Additionally, it can be cheaper to produce, reduces plastic usage which is good for the environment and reduces transportation which cuts costs as well as emissions. A so-called lip seal, in the same plastic material as the rest of the lid has been verified theoretically with simulations to be an alternative that provides equal sealing properties compared to the current silicone gasket. The main purpose of the original IKEA 365+ was to prevent food spoilage and create an easy to use, everyday food container. This has of course continued to be of high importance and the new design additionally allows for easier washing of the container, to ensure that everyone can eat their lunch from a hygienic lunch box.

Since the 365+ food container is a product many people have encountered and have thoughts on, great focus in the report is put on explaining the different choices and requirements in this process. This provides background and motivation as to why this is the best design for this application and to hopefully motivate implementation in other areas. Especially in “airtight” storage solutions who do not have the same leaking proof requirements, but where silicone still is liberally used. It is the authors’ hope and wish that this report can lead to more silicone gaskets to be replaced by recyclable sealing solutions, both within IKEA and their many storage solutions and food containers but also for other actors working with similar products.

This report shows how the gasket can be replaced by something more recyclable while maintaining its properties that many people know and love.

• author: Nygren, Kajsa and Dättermark, Erik
• supervisor: Anders Warell
• organization: Innovation
• alternative title: Utveckling av ett silikonfritt, läcktätt lock för matlådan IKEA 365+
• course: MMKM10 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Polypropylene, seal, food container, sustainability, recyclable, silicone free
• language: English
• id: 9199351
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-17 08:40:16
• date last changed: 2025-06-17 08:40:16