While many cosmetic packages benefit from recyclable solutions (tubes, glass and plastic bottles, cardboard boxes), others have no existing recyclable options on the market. In order to support the actors concerned in this approach, Citeo (a company with a mission created by companies in the consumer goods and distribution sector to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging and paper) and its subsidiary Adelphe launched a call for sectoral projects in early 2022 in order to find concrete solutions to better eco-design packaging in the beauty and cosmetics sector.
Supporting manufacturers in the development of innovative solutions
Through this new call for projects, Citeo and Adelphe wish to study the technical, environmental and economic conditions for changing the design of household packaging in the beauty and cosmetics sector. The selected projects aim to improve the recyclability of packaging currently made of non-recyclable plastics, in order to move towards plastic resins or other materials with a recycling channel. The projects may also include other eco-design actions such as lightweighting or reuse, provided that recyclability is maintained or improved. In the long term, this work should help manufacturers develop new and innovative solutions, from R&D to prototyping, to industrialization and marketing of packaging.
The expected duration of the projects is between 12 and 18 months. Citeo and Adelphe are providing 50 % of funding. In addition to the evolution of packaging, Citeo and Adelphe will provide their expertise to the winners to ensure that the options studied will not have an impact on the other packaging flows coming out of the sorting center so as not to degrade their quality.
Six winning projects on four key themes of the beauty and cosmetics sector
Plastic bottles with pump There is no easily deployable solution to date to make PET bottles with a pump recyclable. PE or PP bottles with a pump can be recycled, with areas for improvement depending on the type of pump used. This type of packaging is therefore a priority area of work.
- The Neo Pump project, by PRP Creation, aims to develop pumps for care, make-up and hygiene products that are reusable, monomaterial (PE or PP), recyclable and produced in France by removing the metal elements present in the pumps available today.
- The Matrix project, by Elidose, intends to evaluate the relevance of developing a single-material cylindrical flexible packaging with dual functionality: that can be used as a single-use, using less material than a standard, reclosable tube, or as a refill in a glass or plastic pump bottle.
The samples The sector develops numerous samples for the general public. Many of them are available in non-recyclable packaging, and improving recyclability is a major challenge for the sector today. In addition, the Climate and Resilience Act is pushing to reinvent the way products are tested.
- The Cosmépack project, by Lactips, aims to replace the currently non-recyclable samples with samples that can be recycled in the paper/cardboard industry, using a natural polymer applied by complexing on paper/cardboard. Its dissolution in water makes it possible to recycle paper/cardboard packaging, as well as magazines, in this sector without disturbing the processes.
- Project of mini perfume spray ready for recycling by Elidose and Karza: supported by a consortium of two packaging manufacturers, this project aims to develop a new format of perfume sample in monomaterial (PE or PP) to join an existing recycling channel. Composed of a high barrier flexible packaging with a pump, it allows to reduce the amount of material used. The pump technology is already mastered, the challenge of the project is to miniaturize and integrate it into a dedicated packaging line.
The leading make-up packaging Mascara, make-up cases, lipsticks... cosmetics packaging is bound to evolve and be integrated into existing or new recycling channels.
- The RECYMakeUp project, by Albéa aims to replace materials such as ABS or SAN by PP or PET, for mascara/lip gloss packaging, lipsticks or powder cases. The objective is twofold: to work on the design of technical solutions (prototypes) compatible with the current French recycling channels and to share best practices with the entire profession (technical constraints, obstacles to development or channel requirements), in order to advance the sector.
Films about perfume boxes Two options are to be considered: the elimination of these films by making the box itself carry their function, or the development of recyclable PE or paper tubes. It is on this last axis that the winning project will work in the coming months.
- Project of transparent/translucent biosourced and recyclable paper, by Thibierge & Comar: its objective is to offer luxury brands an alternative solution to plastic films for the over-wrapping of perfume and cosmetic cases and packaging sleeves, while preserving their properties: inviolability, quality, security and hygiene. The proposed packaging is composed of transparent/translucent paper and a regenerated cellulose film, allowing the paper to be adapted to the specific constraints of the packaging. The developed substrate will be 100% biosourced and recyclable in the paper industry.
These winners were chosen by a jury of packaging and cosmetics experts.
Learn more about each project:
https://bo.citeo.com/sites/default/files/2022-04/AAP_ecoconception_cosm%C3%A9tique_laur%C3%A9ats_20220407.pdf
