Bayer Consumer Health UK has won a Best in Class for Universal Design at the PAC (Packaging and Consumer) Global Awards 2025 for their work with Zappar on making Berocca and Canescool products accessible to people who are blind or low vision using Zappar’s Accessible QR codes.

Bayer was awarded the prestigious trophy by PAC in New York alongside companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Diageo.

The Accessible QR codes were developed in close partnership with regulatory and accessibility bodies including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), ensuring compliance with GS1 standards (enabling unique identification, accurate data capture, and seamless information sharing across businesses) and healthcare packaging requirements.

By scanning the Accessible QR code that features on both Canescool and Berocca product packaging, users can access important product details such as dosage instructions, allergens, and side effects in a clear, structured format, reducing risks associated with misuse or unintended actions. AQRs allow for more informed buying decisions for all consumers.

Accessible QR codes are supported in the world’s leading accessibility apps such as the Envision app, Be My Eyes and Microsoft SeeingAI.

Under Bayer’s global vision of ‘Health For All, Hunger For None’, the connected packaging initiative, launched in 2022, is a consumer-centric project designed to enhance and deliver a superior, inclusive consumer experience by leveraging data from product scans. This initiative aims to understand and retain consumers by offering value beyond the products themselves. By integrating accessible QR codes into packaging, the initiative not only provides easy access to health information for all but also builds a robust data lake that increases media effectiveness and reduces dependency on third-party platforms for data.

It supports our sustainability strategy by improving access to self-care and reducing packaging waste through the removal of paper Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) from Canescool products and on-pack cartons for Berocca Mind. This marks the beginning of significant strides in realising Bayer’s commitment to making packaging more inclusive.

PAC Awards

The PAC (Packaging and Consumer) Awards celebrate innovative advancements in product packaging, particularly those that address pressing industry challenges such as sustainability, accessibility, and consumer engagement. They bring together thought leaders, organisations, and technology pioneers to highlight solutions that redefine packaging as more than just a container but as a vital touchpoint for delivering value and improving lives. The awards are a platform for recognising creative, future-forward ideas, and initiatives like Accessible QR codes, which transform packaging into an inclusive, experience-led service for diverse user needs.

More info on PAC: https://www.pac.global/about/ 
More on PAC Awards: https://www.pac-awards.com/