The invention relates to a package (11) containing one portion of beverage precursor (2) for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus (100). The package comprises a pair of packaging sheets (12, 13) sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor (2) individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion (2). In the package, the sheets (12, 13) are forming a cavity (14, 15) covering the beverage precursor portion (2) on each side, wherein the cavity (14, 15) is provided with a ridge (18, 19) on at least one of the sheets (12, 13), the ridge (18, 19) being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part (31, 41) of the beverage preparation apparatus (100). The invention also relates to a package strip (10) comprising a plurality of packages (11) and to a system comprising a beverage preparation invention apparatus (100) and at least one package strip (10), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a dispensing device (110) which comprises a protrusion part (31,41) which cooperates with the ridge (18, 19) of one package (11).

Methods for making films including a water-soluble polymeric material and a vapor-deposited inorganic coating are disclosed. The method comprises providing a layer of water-soluble polymeric material and vapor depositing an inorganic coating to at least one surface of the layer of water-soluble polymeric material, wherein the inorganic coating comprises a metal oxide. The method further comprises forming a plurality of microfractures extending along the surface of the inorganic coating.

Films including a water-soluble polymeric material and a vapor-deposited inorganic coating are disclosed. The water-soluble polymeric material may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. The vapor-deposited inorganic coating may include a metal oxide. The vapor-deposited inorganic coating may include a plurality of microfractures. The films may form part of a package and/or a water-soluble unit dose article.

A packaging element (2, 3) has two shells (21, 22, 31, 32), each shell having a margin (210, 220) defining an access opening giving access to the inside of the shell, said packaging element (2, 3) having at least a “closed” configuration in which the shells form a chamber that is substantially closed and that is suitable for receiving an article, such as a medical implant. The packaging element (2, 3) further has a sealing strip (4) that extends, outside the shells (21, 22, 31, 32), over the entire length of the margins (210, 220) of the shells of the packaging element, and from one margin (210, 220) of the shell to the other margin (220, 210) of the shell in such a manner as to seal the chamber defined by the two shells. An assembly has two packaging elements received one inside the other, with a corresponding sealing method.

Methods for making films including a water-soluble polymeric material and a vapor-deposited inorganic coating are disclosed. The method comprises providing a layer of water-soluble polymeric material and vapor depositing an inorganic coating to at least one surface of the layer of water-soluble polymeric material, wherein the inorganic coating comprises a metal oxide. The method further comprises forming a plurality of microfractures extending along the surface of the inorganic coating.

The invention provides a packaging element (2, 3) comprising two shells (21, 22, 31, 32), each shell having a margin (210, 220) defining an access opening giving access to the inside of the shell, said packaging element (2, 3) having at least a “closed” configuration in which the shells form a chamber that is substantially closed and that is suitable for receiving an article, such as a medical implant. Said packaging element (2, 3) further comprises a sealing strip (4) that extends, outside the shells (21, 22, 31, 32), over the entire length of the margins (210, 220) of the shells of the packaging element, and from one margin (210, 220) of the shell to the other margin (220, 210) of the shell in such a manner as to seal the chamber defined by the two shells. The invention also provides an assembly comprising two packaging elements received one inside the other, and the invention also provides a corresponding sealing method.

Packaging systems are configured for improving long-term stability of a composition. Packaging systems may include a packaging container defining an enclosed volume. The packaging system may additionally include a removable cover that enables the packaging container to be opened and closed such that the packaging container system includes a sealed or sealable volume to contain a main composition in fluid communication with a sacrificial composition. The main composition may include one or more volatile or gas-releasing materials and the sacrificial material may include a stabilizing component that replaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the main composition or displaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the enclosed volume. The sacrificial composition helps maintain stability of the main composition by accelerating equilibrium of vapors or gases within the headspace of the sealed interior volume.

Packaging systems are configured for improving long-term stability of a composition. Packaging systems may include a packaging container defining an enclosed volume. The packaging system may additionally include a removable cover that enables the packaging container to be opened and closed such that the packaging container system includes a sealed or sealable volume to contain a main composition in fluid communication with a sacrificial composition. The main composition may include one or more volatile or gas-releasing materials and the sacrificial material may include a stabilizing component that replaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the main composition or displaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the enclosed volume. The sacrificial composition helps maintain stability of the main composition by accelerating equilibrium of vapors or gases within the headspace of the sealed interior volume.

Films including a water-soluble polymeric material and a vapor-deposited inorganic coating are disclosed. The water-soluble polymeric material may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. The vapor-deposited inorganic coating may include a metal oxide. The vapor-deposited inorganic coating may include a plurality of microfractures. The films may form part of a package and/or a water-soluble unit dose article.

Packaging systems are configured for improving long-term stability of a composition. Packaging systems may include a packaging container defining an enclosed volume. The packaging system may additionally include a removable cover that enables the packaging container to be opened and closed such that the packaging container system includes a sealed or sealable volume to contain a main composition in fluid communication with a sacrificial composition. The main composition may include one or more volatile or gas-releasing materials and the sacrificial material may include a stabilizing component that replaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the main composition or displaces the at least one volatile or gas-releasing component within the enclosed volume. The sacrificial composition helps maintain stability of the main composition by accelerating equilibrium of vapors or gases within the headspace of the sealed interior volume.