The demand for solution-oriented product development is growing steadily. It is accelerated in part by the rising consumer class known as "Best Agers", but also by families on the lookout for safe, child-friendly products. Many businesses are already responding to this, offering products designed to make everyday life easier for all age groups, whatever their specific requirements.

This trend is something which the LifeCare initiative and the jury "Kitchen Innovation of the Year^® 2012" award in collaboration with the Swiss Tertianum Stiftung (Tertianum Foundation) seeks to promote. This special jury award will be presented therefore the fi rst time to single out products for the kitchen which are specially adapted to individual needs.

The products are evaluated based on criteria such as:

__ Outstanding user-friendliness
__ Outstanding ergonomic design
__ Outstanding …

In view of the wide range of requirements, the criteria are defined individually according to product performance.

The seal gives the consumer a quick, clear guide to the particular strengths of the product and hence its everyday usefulness.