Developments in green packaging so far in 2012...

16-Jul-2012 - Last updated on 17-Jul-2012 at 15:43 GMT

As the packaging sector evolves, the industry continues to cross over to the greener side. In light of this, Cosmetics Design looks back over the year so far to note the progress brands have made in a goal to be more sustainable.

Packaging - crucial to success of brand

At the start of the year, cosmetics giant L’Oréal announced it was re-designing its Pureology hair care brand to combine sustainable packaging with aesthetics.

Then a company spokesperson highlighted that; “Image and status are so important in fashion and beauty, so package design is especially crucial to the success of a beauty brand.”

With the new design, the Pureology range was turned into pearlescent toned, multi-tasking bottles to reflect their 100 percent vegan formulation and sustainable packaging.

“L’Oreal wanted the new bottle to appear organic and natural in form, while looking different from all other salon products.”

Meanwhile, DaniMer Scientific announced it had developed a biobased label adhesive to eliminate problems associated with PET container recycling and enable increased end of life functionality and value, last month.

“This is the first hot melt adhesive in the world that is both renewable in content and completely dissolves in the PET recycling wash process,” a company spokesperson had told CosmeticsDesign.com USA.

The label is said to contain more than 50 percent renewable content and dissolves in polyethylene terephthalate flake caustic wash recycling operations ‘without clumps or stickies.’

Sun care sector driving demand

The sun care sector has been driving the demand for products featuring sugarcane-based polyethylene packaging.

In recent months, brands like J&J, P&G and Shiseido have introduced product lines onto the market from sugarcane ethanol a '100 percent renewable raw material that is also used as fuel in flex cars not only prevents CO2 emissions but also removes CO2 from the atmosphere.'

In January, Johnson & Johnson, teamed up with Braskem, a petrochemical company to develop bio-plastic packaging for its Sundown sun care line.

“The sustainable balance of green plastic shows that for each ton of green polyethylene produced, 2.5 tons of CO2 are captured and sequestered. Another advantage is that green plastic is 100% recyclable using existing processes”, a Braskem spokesperson told CosmeticsDesign.com USA.

Challenge

In May, one of two key messages driven home at the North American edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit was to increase adoption rates of sustainable packaging in the industry.

Organic Monitor reported that there are still challenges for the industry in going greener, revealing that heads of natural & organic cosmetic companies stated raw material availability, green washing and lack of legislation as major challenges for brands.