As grease applications expanded, so did the need for better packaging solutions. The mid-20th century marked a significant advancement with the introduction of the grease cartridge, which quickly became popular for household maintenance and lighter-duty industrial tasks. These smaller, more convenient cartridges were designed for use with a grease gun, providing a cleaner, more controlled application than tin cans.

However, early cartridge designs were far from perfect. They typically consisted of a paperboard body lined with greaseproof materials like glassine paper or aluminum foil, sealed with metal ends. Over time, these multi-component constructions degraded, creating weak points at the barrel and end-cap junction. This design flaw led to frequent leaks, wasted product, and messy storage conditions. Despite these challenges, grease cartridges became the industry standard, offering a more practical alternative to traditional tins.