Aluminum packaging is on the rise as a sustainable packaging option because it’s not just highly recyclable, but infinitely recyclable, but it’s also dentable and is implicated in environmental toxicity.
Aesthetics in beauty is hugely important and labelling is a key design component that brands must closely consider, particularly when working in the booming online space, a specialist supplier says.
Where plastics fail in biodegradability and recyclability, some companies are turning to paper packaging, which doesn’t entirely get brands out of the woods of meeting sustainability goals.
Personal care major Beiersdorf is rolling out climate-friendly valves and post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium cans across its core Nivea aerosol ranges, supporting a significant reduction in overall environmental footprint.
Haircare brand Herbal Essences announced they will be implementing a resin derived from an advanced-recycling technology which turns waste plastic in molecularly virgin plastic.
NFC-enabled packaging can help to minimise the environmental impact of product packaging, in addition to boosting engagement with consumers, claims a company that has recently worked with Paco Rabanne.
The cosmetic and detergent categories are innovating most intensely in bioplastic technologies worldwide, with Europe and the US leading the charge, finds a study from the European Patent Office (EPO).
French luxury fashion house Chanel has co-developed a biobased bottle cap for one of its perfume collections with Finnish startup Sulapac, made from a blend of renewable materials including wood chips.
New Zealand start-up Mushroom Material has developed a sustainable mushroom-based material as an alternative to polystyrene styrofoam and cardboard packaging and is targeting the cosmetics sector for its first products.
International beauty major Estée Lauder Companies has partnered with French moulding specialist Roctool and packaging firm Pinard Beauty Pack to develop a reduced-waste prestige skin care bottle.
UK retail giant Tesco has extended its partnership with TerraCycle spin-off Loop to roll out in-store dedicated fixtures offering a range of consumer goods in durable, waste-free packaging designed to be returned, industrially cleaned and reused.
Packaging and product designs that simplify beauty routines and reduce consumption will be key moving forward, as consumers turn to brands for help limiting impact on the planet, says WGSN.
Prestige beauty major Estée Lauder Companies has developed a reusable pump device that simultaneously cools and dispenses product and a single-use cosmetic pad with a self-heating function and preloaded formulation.
Personal care major Unilever has developed sustainable black packaging made from layered post-consumer resin materials, breathing new life into plastic previously treated as waste.
South Korean cosmetics firm Amorepacific said it intends to use the sweat-proof wearable skin measurement device it developed with MIT to produce cosmetic products according to environmental needs.
UK packaging firm Origin Group has developed a single-dose recyclable sachet that snaps open for easy, sustainable use across cosmetics, skin care and hair care – industries where sampling demands remain high.
The beauty industry needs to shun consumerism, stop confusing consumers and invest in infrastructure, packaging technology and manufacturing if it is to begin to address the enormous plastic challenge, says the CEO of the British Beauty Council.
The Body Shop has begun rolling out in-store refill services in Singapore where it believes the reuse and refill habit will become mainstream among beauty consumers.
As COVID and climate crisis-shaken consumers demand more from beauty, experts believe there remain hurdles in packaging, brand communication and supply chain logistics before industry reaches the zero-waste dream.
International beauty major L’Oréal has co-developed a plastic cosmetics bottle with French biotech specialist Carbios, made using fully recycled PET via an enzymatic recycling technology that also makes it infinitely recyclable.
A robust global recycling market is a long way off and will need favourable macro-economic changes, fast-paced industry innovation and wider engagement from all stakeholders in the supply chain, says the CEO of TerraCycle.
Several beauty and personal care majors have joined 100+ businesses in signing a statement from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation calling for recycling costs and responsibilities to be extended to industry.
Personal care major Unilever is ramping up its refill and reuse trials in UK retailers, adding a ‘return on the go’ system for convenient in-store collection and return of pre-filled stainless-steel bottles across key brands.
Japanese personal care major Kao Corporation has piloted a new initiative to use chemically recycled plastic for its cosmetics packaging in effort to further its efforts to improve its circularity.
Australian personal and home care manufacturer Natures Organics has launched a range of refillable hair care products as sustainable packaging is rapidly becoming an “expectation” from Australian consumers.
Nearly 1 year ago, Eastman introduced a new portfolio of beauty packaging materials made with a percentage of plastic that had gone through the company’s molecular recycling process. Now LVMH is putting a luxury lip product from Dior on the shelf in Eastman...
Listen to Beauty 4.0 - A Podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe - as part of our Special Edition on Beauty Tech
Combining beauty tools with topicals for enhanced efficacy and improved usability is a gap in the market with plenty of promise that brands haven’t quite found yet, says Jo Barnard, founder and creative director of Morrama.
Shiseido-owned ELIXIR is targeting to convert all of the brand’s flagship products into a refillable format by 2025 as part of the multinational’s sustainability goals.
Health care major GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has partnered with packaging specialists Albéa and EPL to develop fully recyclable laminated toothpaste tubes, with a first launch under Sensodyne set for Europe this year.
Unilever will launch recyclable toothpaste tubes in India and France – two of Unilever’s biggest oral care markets – as part of its bid to convert its entire global toothpaste portfolio to recyclable tubes by 2025.
Reusable and refillable concepts are an area the L’Oréal Group has pinpointed for development as it works towards its ambitious sustainability goals, according to a leading regional exec.
Personal care major Beiersdorf has co-developed renewable plastic packaging using by-product oils from the forestry industry that it will roll out globally under its Nivea Naturally Good face care range.
Watch On-Demand Now – Exclusive CosmeticsDesign Circular Beauty Webinar
Giving the longest life possible to molecules that make up a product is what circularity is all about, and the reuse movement in beauty is a particularly exciting and innovative path forward, says the CEO and founder of US recycling major TerraCycle.
Personal care major Beiersdorf has co-published a guidance document on the suitability of post-consumer recyclates in cosmetic grade packaging that it says should fuel urgently needed change.
Berlin studio Look Labs has collaborated with Canadian artist Sean Caruso to launch a digital fragrance encoded into non-fungible token (NFT) artwork to accompany a limited rollout of its unisex perfume, a move it says is a nod to the future of prestige...
Swedish eco-startup Lifelong has developed a range of powdered personal care products that need to be mixed with water by consumers and stored in durable containers, drastically overturning traditional habits, its founder says.
In partnership with global specialty materials company Eastman, the beauty maker plans to meet 2025 sustainability goals using recycled and/or recyclable plastic for its luxury cosmetics packaging.
Combining products into skin concern-targeted kits is a smart strategy when trying to educate consumers on the importance of routines, says the retail brand manager of SkinCeuticals.
Personal care major Unilever is revamping its packaging and advertising to remove the descriptor ‘normal’ in a move aimed at fuelling inclusivity and positivity across its global portfolio to align better with consumer expectations.
The beauty needs and habits brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic are pushing companies to rethink packaging and address the shift towards digital experiences, hygiene, sustainability and more.
Listen to Beauty 4.0 – A podcast by CosmeticsDesign-Europe
Beauty 4.0 will see smart, sustainable and ultra-personalised devices and formulations come to the fore, as industry shifts thinking and priorities towards improved user experience and planetary good, says Mike Webster, director of 3D structure and experience...
The humble lipstick has hardly changed in decades, but one design agency believes there is great scope to transform it into a digital 3D colour-printing machine for sustainable, statement beauty.
International paper specialist Arjowiggins has developed a translucent barrier paper suitable for the packaging of cosmetics, providing industry with a sustainable, effective and creative alternative to plastic, it says.
Hong Kong beauty packaging firm Meiyume has identified aluminium as a key material as it focuses its efforts on the development of recyclable packaging solutions.
This month, the packaging supplier and the clean beauty retailer teamed up to make it all the easier for cosmetics, personal care, and fragrance brands to choose packaging that Credo deems sustainable.
Personal care major Beiersdorf is primed to publish its industry standard defining cosmetic grade recycled plastic suitability by the end of this year; a standard it co-developed with two specialist German companies.
L’Oréal has created a sustainable cosmetics bottle made with polyethylene from captured and recycled carbon emissions that it wants to commercialise within four years.
The beauty industry has significantly improved its waste footprint over the years, but brands can step up in-house separation efforts and improve consumer engagement to drive further change, says an expert.
For beauty to truly advance in sustainable packaging, globally shared eco-design metrics and common assessment methods will be critical, and the SPICE tool is a strong start, says an expert.
Today the Sustainable Packaging Initiative for Cosmetics (SPICE) announced a new publicly available tool to assess more than 15 environmental indicators of packaging production and life-cycle.
![Beauty brands have a lot of untapped opportunities in prestige and stylised labelling in the booming world of e-commerce [Getty Images]](jpg/online-beauty-packaging-and-labelling-design-key-to-engagement-2.jpg)
![The eco-valves have been integrated into Nivea's EcoDeo range, with the first products hitting shelves now, and the first 100% PCR aluminium cans across Nivea Men deodorants and shaving gels have just been rolled out in Germany [Getty Images]](jpg/beiersdorf-nivea-unveils-eco-valve-and-pcr-aluminium-cans-for-climate-positive-packaging-2.jpg)
![NFC-enabled packaging can help to minimise the environmental impact of product packaging. [Paco Rabanne]](jpg/how-nfc-enabled-packaging-can-help-beauty-brands-aid-the-environment-as-well-as-drive-engagement-2.jpg)
![Several major beauty and personal care majors are particularly active in international patent filings on bioplastics innovation for cosmetics and detergents [Getty Images]](jpg/cosmetics-plastic-innovation-promising-in-bioplastics-plastic-recycling-says-european-patent-office-2.jpg)
![The lid is made of a blend of plant-based materials, including byproduct wood chippings, and maintains a luxury edge thanks to a ceramic feel [Image: Chanel/Sulapac]](jpg/chanel-rolls-out-biobased-lids-across-les-eaux-de-chanel-perfume-collection-co-developed-with-sulapac-2.jpg)
![The Estée Lauder Companies has redesigned its Clinique Clarifying Lotion 200ml bottles, manufacturing them with a smart moulding technology that enables 10-15% reduction in waste during processing [Image: The Estée Lauder Companies]](jpg/estee-lauder-to-launch-new-reduced-waste-clinique-bottles-using-moulding-tech-2.jpg)
![Tesco has now established dedicated reuse fixtures across ten UK stores offering a range of waste-free food, drink and personal care items, designed to be returned in-store [Image: Tesco]](jpg/tesco-extends-terracycle-loop-reuse-partnership-to-10-stores-across-uk-2.jpg)
![Confident and simple colours will also be a key trend as consumers look more towards inclusive designs [Getty Images]](jpg/beauty-packaging-trends-for-smarter-simpler-and-sustainable-design-says-wgsn-2.jpg)
![Estée Lauder says its two devices improve shelf-life and product efficacy - cooling and heating preloaded formulations upon application [Getty Images]](jpg/estee-lauder-companies-patents-on-cooling-and-heating-beauty-devices-2.jpg)
![Developing sustainable black packaging perceived 'acceptable' in colour for premium beauty products has not been easy but Unilever says a multilayer technique and post-consumer resins had worked well [Getty Images]](jpg/unilever-patents-circular-post-consumer-resin-beauty-packaging-2.jpg)
![Amorepacific said it intends to use the sweat-proof wearable skin measurement device to produce cosmetic products according to environmental needs. [Getty Images]](jpg/amorepacific-to-use-wearable-device-to-develop-cosmetics-for-specific-environmental-needs-2.jpg)
![The 100% recyclable SnappD sachets can be opened with one hand through a snapping action, stocking a range of liquid formulas including creams, lotions and serums [Image: Origin Group/SnappD]](jpg/recyclable-single-use-sachets-for-beauty-by-snappd-origin-group-set-to-expand-2.jpg)
![It's time the beauty industry takes responsibility and continues its push forward with packaging innovation to succeed in the wider sustainability drive [Getty Images]](jpg/beauty-industry-must-take-responsibility-for-plastic-waste-problem-says-british-beauty-council-ceo-2.jpg)
![The Body Shop has begun rolling out in-store refill services in Singapore. [The Body Shop]](jpg/the-body-shop-believes-reuse-and-refill-habit-will-definitely-become-mainstream-in-singapore-2.jpg)
![From working with more innovative, exclusive materials like wood to pushing forward with circular business models and refill stations, beauty has plenty to focus on as it drives forward the sustainability agenda [Getty Images]](jpg/sustainable-beauty-post-covid-needs-packaging-communication-and-supply-chain-focus-say-experts-2.jpg)
![The bottle is the work of several years in partnership with French biotech specialist Carbios and part of L'Oréal's wider push away from virgin plastics [Image: L'Oréal]](jpg/l-oreal-to-launch-enzymatically-recycled-and-infinitely-recyclable-biotherm-bottle-in-2025-via-carbios-partnership-2.jpg)
![Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and reuse models will be vital if beauty, and other industries, are to improve current recycling systems and push towards a circular economy [Getty Images]](jpg/circular-beauty-needs-reuse-models-and-extended-producer-responsibility-schemes-says-terracycle-ceo-2.jpg)
![A raft of beauty, food, beverage, retail and NGO majors are calling for changes to existing recycling systems - calling for every packaging stakeholder to take on costs via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes [Getty Images]](jpg/ellen-macarthur-foundation-extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-statement-signed-by-beauty-brands-2.jpg)
![Unilever will continue to upscale its 'refill on the go' trials where consumers can fill up stainless-steel bottles at refill stations but it will also trial in-aisle prefilled bottles to see if uptake is better [Image: Unilever]](jpg/unilever-expands-refill-and-reuse-trials-in-uk-in-partnership-with-beauty-kitchen-return.refill.repeat-2.jpg)
![Kao Corporation has piloted a new initiative to use chemically recycled plastic for its cosmetics packaging. [Getty Images]](jpg/kao-furthers-circular-beauty-goals-with-plans-to-use-chemically-recycled-plastics-for-cosmetics-2.jpg)
![My Soda has launched a range of refillable hair care products. [MySoda]](jpg/my-soda-aiming-to-fizz-in-sustainable-beauty-space-with-refillable-hair-care-range-2.jpg)
![ELIXIR is targeting to convert all of the brand’s flagship products into a refillable format by 2025. [Shiseido / ELIXIR]](jpg/shiseido-s-elixir-aiming-for-all-key-products-to-be-refillable-by-2026.jpg)
![GSK will start the transition to fully recyclable toothpaste tubes under its Sensodyne Pronamel brand in Europe this July [Image: GlaxoSmithKline/Albéa]](jpg/glaxosmithkline-to-convert-toothpaste-tubes-to-fully-recyclable-including-sensodyne-aquafresh-2.jpg)
![Unilever will launch recyclable toothpaste tubes in India and France. [Getty Images]](jpg/unilever-to-launch-recyclable-toothpaste-tubes-in-india-and-france-2.jpg)
![Reusable and refillable concepts are an area the L’Oréal Group has pinpointed for development. [L’Oréal Group]](jpg/l-oreal-sustainability-reuse-and-refillable-concepts-on-the-sustainability-agenda-for-2.jpg)
![The beauty needs and habits brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic are pushing companies to rethink packaging and design. [GettyImages]](jpg/change-fosters-innovation-how-the-pandemic-is-driving-new-beauty-packaging-and-design-trends-2.jpg)
![Meiyume has identified aluminium as a key material for sustainability [Meiyume]](jpg/meiyume-identifies-aluminium-as-key-material-for-sustainable-packaging-solutions-2.jpg)
