Wrap rage, also called package rage, is the common name for heightened levels of anger and frustration resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging, particularly plastic blister packs and clamshells. Consumers suffer thousands of injuries per year, such as cut fingers and sprained wrists, from tools used to open packages and from the packaging itself. Some companies have come up with solutions to improve frustrating and potentially dangerous packaging.
According to a British study, over 60,000 people receive hospital treatment each year due to injuries from opening food packaging. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that attempts to open packaging caused about 6,500 emergency room visits in the U.S. in 2004.A 2009 study conducted by the Institute for Good Medicine found that 17 percent of adults over the age of 21 were either injured at least once or know of someone who was injured while opening a holiday or birthday gift.
Companies are increasingly streamlining their products’ packaging to reduce wrap rage. Forces driving the efforts to improve packaging include pressure from consumers and retailers such as Wal-Mart for more eco-friendly packaging, and baby boomers who find it increasingly difficult to open packaging as they age.