ADF/PCD 2020: recycling and refilling of packaging for beauty and cosmetics
Last week PCV visited the Aerosol & Dispening Forum (ADF) and the Packaging of Perfume, Cosmetics & Design (PCD) in Paris. Important themes were sustainability, responsibility and consumer sensibilities.
Overall most exhibitors presented the use of recycled plastics in their packaging to improve sustainability of their products. Only a few companies presented disruptive, truly innovative solutions.
Techniplast presented their refilling station, that can be used for refilling of for instance L’Óreal Source shampoo and Clarins perfume, and is collaborating for refilling of more packaging.
Companies like Kao, L’Occitane and Pernod Ricard are investigating ways to refill their packaging.
There are companies that are looking to substitute propellants to improve sustainability. A few examples:
Greenspense from Israel promotes their propellant free system that makes use of an elastomer “pouch”. Their solution applies pressure on the contents of the packaging, forcing the contents out when the spray is activated. This allows for spraying in any angle (even upside down).
Lablabo also uses a pouch to dispense their products, with viscosities up to 150000 mPa.s.
Gaplast uses their Bag-in-bottle system to dispense up to 3 separate components simultaneously.
The bag-in-bottle systems allows for air-free storage of the contents, which may eliminate the need for preservatives; thus catering to increasing consumer demand for additive-free products.
Medspray in collaboration with Aptar, presented “DOLCE”, a spray using the patented Medspray nozzle that allows for uniform droplet size spraying. Consumer benefits are precision of dosing, silent spraying and better sensory experience of the fragrance.
Most companies were focused on recyclability of their packaging. Plastic is still the best material with regard to weight, cost, robustness for packaging liquid beauty and cosmetic products.
Therefore steps are being made to improve recyclability: using post-consumer recycled plastics, using biodegradable plastics like PLA, making mono-material packaging that can be recycled more easily, collection of used packaging through shops.
Plastics can now be recycled mechanically 2-3x before properties degrade; by blending it with virgin material, recycled materials can be reused a few more times. “Chemical” recycling will allow for depolymerisation of used plastics, which will allow making recycled plastics with properties equal to virgin material. This technology is gradually being scaled up and can be used to produce recycled packaging materials suitable for even the most critical applications.
