Categoría: Concepts and trends

Nowadays, consumers are looking for packages that are “Instagramable” and also sustainable. It is impressive how brands are adapting fastly to these new movements and trends in order to meet the customers expectations before the competence does. Refillable and reusable packaging are no longer a “nice to have” but more a must have. 

These new demands and customer expectations are forcing brands to express their sustainable values and brand positioning through one of the most powerful communication tools: packaging. 

Speed to market is how you keep ahead of your competitors

But how can large brands with rigid structures adapt faster to these new trends in order not to miss the selling opportunity? Forbes said speed to market for products and technologies is “vital to ensure long-term competitiveness”, and this is particularly essential for larger beauty behemoths to keep up with the nimbler drugstore competitors.

“Fast beauty” has always been the big opportunity for smaller brands that can be more competitive and flexible when creating their values and gaining engagement with the customer. An example is how smaller companies can shave down its product-time-to-market time to a mere 13 weeks in comparison with large brands that can take longer than 9 months. This competitive advantage makes smaller brands grow up to 4.8% according to market measurement firm Nielsen.

In order to accelerate these processes, choosing the right package and making sure it is on time is essential. 

Most of the big brands, when they want to do something agile, launch as a whole new brand. According to Benjamin Punchard, Global Packaging Insights Director, Mintel; I’ve seen a lot of small niche brands that have been launched by the big houses in order to tap into an emerging trend because they’re testing the waters.

Start-ups and indie brands cannot afford to stock and they source packaging on demand, so quick turnaround is essential. A surge of these businesses is entering the market during the pandemic to meet emerging consumer demands. Many are doing so with great success, being small and agile and quicker to adapt to market changes. 

In fact, due to the Covid-19 crisis and uncertainty of the future, time to market and agility have become important for all brands, not just indie brands.

By instilling these relationships, brands can ensure connections and the ability to adapt quickly to beauty’s evolving global consumer. It also helps establish relationships with packaging converters that are going to be providing the novel technologies going forward.

How to choose the right package to accelerate the process?

1. More is less: simplicity as key to speed-to-market 

In beauty, trends are fluid. In make-up in particular, trends change rapidly and pack design needs to be optimised to adapt to shifts in demand. The US is a particularly fast-moving market, with high demand for short lead times.

When thinking about design, the key to adapting fastly to changes is choosing simplicity to ensure adaptability and flexibility. For those brands without backing from big beauty players, the fewer components required within the pack design will ensure speed-to-market. 

From Molpack we are specialists in creating packaging for the beauty sector and our aim is to help clients succeed in their projects. Since innovation is one of our core values, we provide a fast service through 3D customisation in which we help the client co-create their design with us and choose the best option to improve their speed-to-market. 

2. Sustainability is a must

Since 2020 we have amplified the number of eco-friendly solutions and therefore offer a new Eco line of packaging in which you can find a refillable jar, injectors, tottles and click pens. 

Our value proposition  stands above our product therefore we focus always on designing and producing the best packaging solutions for our clients that guarantee the least environmental impact for the planet. In order to achieve this goal, at Molpack we invest in innovation as a key driver to keep on developing projects that support our eco-friendly focus:

Packaging that is 100% recyclable

Solutions that are lighter and therefore more eco-friendly

Refillable packaging

Using the latest sustainable materials available in the market.

3. Find the right supplier to optimize your packaging projects

From Molpack we help our brands accelerate their time to market through the latest software to customize our packaging in 3D and validate it in real time. Our 3D configurator is currently accelerating x3 brands time to market when launching new customized products and adapting faster to the markets’ trends. 

Need more help?

In case you are looking for a specific solution for your product, our team of experts can help you choose the packaging solution that will adapt best to your cosmetic product. You can contact us and we will do the rest. 

Without a doubt, the dialogue on sustainability is becoming more vocal. Sustainability covers a wide range of topics, such as the use of recyclable and recycled packaging, responsible ingredient sourcing, and manufacturing practises. We have witnessed innovation in pack design, product formulation, and component selection for products in the beauty, wellness, and personal care sectors that helps address the growing consumer concerns about environmental friendliness.

What Buyers Are Searching For

45% of customers say they are searching for products that have a positive impact on sustainability, according to our continuing study. In actuality, 47% of consumers seek for goods with ingredients that are obtained sustainably. Sustainable or ecologically friendly packaging is also reported to be «very important» (23%) or «very significant» (39%) to study participants. The study focused on plastics, and found that 73% of American consumers wanted to buy and use fewer things packaged in plastic. What does this mean for the personal care, health, and beauty sector, then?

Impact on Personal Care, Wellness, and Beauty

To reduce pack waste, abandon plastics, and increase customer access to recycling, a number of cosmetic and personal care brands have intensified exploration of alternate product formats. Ingredient sourcing is another facet of sustainability that beauty firms are exploring. Customers are looking for products with «free-from» claims that are cleaner and chemical-free.

There is a belief that environmentally friendly items are also health friendly, which is a crucial characteristic for the goods people use in their personal care and beauty routines.

Packaging Innovations to Meet Demands for Sustainability

How products are packaged is one of the easiest aspects of sustainability for customers to comprehend and value, and firms have been innovating to make packaging that is more sustainable. In the market, such examples are Procter & Gamble’s innovative shampoo bars and reusable aluminium shampoo bottles, L’Oreal’s Seed Phytonutrients in novel recyclable paper bottles, and Ethique’s completely plastic-free, carbon-neutral packaging for items like lip balms and face cleansers. In this field, where alternative formats are flourishing, market success depends greatly on testing.

The Procurement of Cleaner Products

Beauty customers can look for a range of industry certifications, such as the Ecocert Natural Cosmetic stamp, the USDA-Certified Organic or NSF Organic-Certified, and the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, to identify products with pure and ethically sourced components. When customers are looking for sustainable ingredients, communicating with them on the package is crucial.

Consumers of today don’t want to identify with companies that support unsustainable purchasing cycles that involve little wages and high levels of product waste. The beauty market has changed as a result, prompting firms to reconsider the environmental impact of their existing strategy. Consumers are asking questions like, «Is the packaging reusable?,» and brands need to be aware of this. Reduces waste, does it not? Are the recipes pure? Is the carbon footprint of it minimal? Does it recycle? Do they make use of main or secondary packaging?

Refillable packaging, which helps to reduce waste and gives the industry a fresh spin on «reduce, reuse, recycle,» is a growing entrance point into brand sustainability. While it’s a start, brands will need to delve further into their product offerings because they may benefit more from reducing overproduction and focusing on limited edition collections with thoughtful and distinctive designs that feel upscale and special – ideal for an instagrammable photo opportunity or a YouTube unboxing.

We are noticing both luxury and prestige businesses moving toward an all-encompassing sustainable and inclusive strategy when thinking about innovative packaging in the cosmetics industry. In order to emphasise the idea that people should wear whatever makes them feel good and support brands that make them feel good, brands have given priority to non-gender specific products and the packaging that goes with them.

The Outset by Scarlett Johansson, which recently debuted, offers classic, unisex skincare with French pharmacy-inspired packaging that includes reusable components and an easy-to-follow routine. Pharell Williams’ skincare line Humanrace offers re-usable containers with a distinctive pod capsule. The HumanKind company also produces a fantastic, simple deodorant in a cutting-edge, refillable bottle. They also provide waterless toothpaste pills and refillable glass floss containers among their other re-usable goods. Rogue offers gorgeous refillable lipsticks with luxurious leather travel cases that can be personalised for a distinctive touch in the beauty industry.

Without a question, there is a glut in the beauty sector. Brands must take their audience into account in ways that some have yet to do when embracing simplicity. In order to meet sustainable needs and ensure the brand’s and its customers’ longevity in the long run, they will have to set out on a new path and embrace learning new skills.

Polyethylene terephthalate, often known as PET or PETE, is a transparent, robust, and light-weight plastic that is a member of the polyester family.

Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE, is the chemical term for polyester.

PET, a transparent, robust, and lightweight plastic, is frequently used to package meals and drinks, particularly convenience-sized soft drinks, juices, and water. PET is primarily used to make the single-serving and 2-liter bottles of carbonated soft drinks and water that are sold in the United States.

Salad dressings, peanut butter, cooking oils, mouthwash, shampoo, liquid hand soap, window cleaner, and even tennis balls are frequently packaged in this manner. Carry-home food containers and prepared food trays that may be warmed in the oven or microwave are made out of special grades of PET.

Ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid are the fundamental constituents of PET, and they are mixed to create a polymer chain. PET is extruded from the resulting spaghetti-like strands, immediately cooled, and then chopped into tiny pellets. The resin pellets are then heated to a molten liquid state, which allows for simple extrusion or molding into objects of almost any shape.

When DuPont researchers were looking for new synthetic fibers in the middle of the 1940s, they created PET for the first time in North America. Later, DuPont gave its PET fiber the «Dacron» name. Today, PET, which is known as «polyester» when used for fiber or fabric applications, makes up more than half of the synthetic fiber used in the world. It is known as PET or PET resin when used for containers and other uses.

Researchers developed PET film in the late 1950s by stretching a thin PET extruded sheet in two directions. PET film is now widely used for packaging, video, and picture films. The technology for blow-stretch molding PET into bottles was created in the early 1970s. In 1973, the PET bottle received a patent.

PET is Globally recognized as safe

The FDA and other health safety organizations across the world have certified PET as safe for contact with foods and beverages.

The FDA and other health safety organizations across the world have certified PET as safe for contact with foods and beverages. Through in-depth research, regulatory approvals, testing, and its widespread adoption for more than 30 years, PET’s safety for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical applications has been repeatedly proven. PET doesn’t include phthalates or bisphenol-A (BPA) (plasticizers).

PET is quickly replacing paper as the world’s favorite packaging material for foods and beverages because of its special qualities.

Similar to glass, it is an extremely durable and inert substance that won’t react with food, won’t be attacked by microorganisms, and won’t biologically deteriorate. PET, however, is much lighter, more transportable, and shatterproof than glass.

PET is fully recycled

PET is the most recycled plastic in the world and is 100% recyclable. Every year, the United States recovers more than 1.5 billion pounds of discarded PET bottles and containers for recycling. The triangular «chasing arrows» code’s #1, which is typically molded into the bottom or side of the container, makes it simple to recognize PET. There are no other plastics with the #1 code.

PET can be chemically broken down to its component components to create fresh PET resin, or it can be thoroughly washed and remelted. PET containers are accepted by almost all municipal recycling programs in North America and Europe.

PET can be chemically broken down to its component components to create fresh PET resin, or it can be thoroughly washed and remelted.

New PET bottles and jars, carpet, apparel, industrial strapping, rope, automotive components, fiberfill for winter jackets and sleeping bags, construction materials, and protective packaging are all products that are frequently created from recycled PET.

PET recycling is now only 31% in the United States. Although this number is increasing, it is still far behind Europe, where the rate of PET recycling is 52%.

PET bottles and containers that end up in landfills represent little risk of injury or leaching, despite recycling being the most economical and environmentally friendly way to reuse resources. The polymer won’t biologically deteriorate because it is immune to microorganism attack and inert. PET can be easily flattened and takes up relatively little room in landfills. Only 1% of municipal solid trash in the US is attributable to PET containers, according to the EPA.

PET packaging is sustainable

PET is a packaging material that uses extremely little energy. In contrast to glass, aluminum, and other container materials, it has a very positive sustainability profile even if its base components are generated from crude oil and natural gas.

Recycling increases its sustainability even further because 40% of the energy used by PET is attributed to its «resource energy»—the energy that is essentially locked in its raw materials and that can be recovered and utilized again through recycling.

An important factor in PET’s energy efficiency is its high strength in relation to its light weight, which enables more product to be supplied in less packaging and uses less fuel for transportation. The technology for light-weighting is always improving, thus increasing its energy efficiency. The advantages of PET as a packaging material for the environment have repeatedly been supported by life cycle research.

Since PET was initially created 60 years ago, it has grown to be one of the most popular, adaptable, and reliable materials in use today.

Thousands of various varieties of cosmetic packaging can be seen as you browse the aisles of your neighborhood beauty supply store. There are countless options, from compacts to tubed goods. Each cosmetic product is distinctive due to the range of packaging types and features that are available.

Brands are vying for market share with designs ranging from exceedingly flamboyant to minimalism. Additionally, packaging can be created from a wide range of materials, including metal, plastic, and glass.

Jars: Because they come in a variety of sizes, jars are a good option for products that may not pour well or that a client may not want to purchase in large quantities.

Powders and heavier items, such as some face creams, skincare lotions, or hair gels, perform nicely in cosmetic and makeup jars.

Bottles are useful for liquid products that you wish to be dispersed in bigger amounts and by a specific way (pump, sprayer).

Examples include soaps and shampoos, spray-on cosmetics like some hair treatments, and lotions for the skin. Glass bottles come in a variety of sizes and forms.

The Various Material Types for Cosmetic Packaging

Let’s talk about the materials for these packaging alternatives now that we’ve covered the different sorts of containers that may be utilized for cosmetic and makeup packaging. Glass and plastic are important materials to consider when selecting the proper container for your cosmetic product. Cost, use, and even the appearance of the packing can all be impacted by the material the container is composed of.

Glass is ideal for products that you want the consumer to be able to see clearly. It works well with products like cosmetic jars and smaller bottles for essential oils.The problem with glass packaging is that, unless you buy in bulk, it can be more expensive than other materials.

Plastic – Excellent material for a wide range of cosmetic items. It’s not as straightforward as picking plastic, though. There are numerous varieties of plastic that can be utilized, as we have explained in previous postings.

For squeeze bottles and tubes that need a little bit extra flexibility, LDPE is a fantastic choice.

If you’re searching for something more transparent and rigid, like spray bottles and makeup jars, PET is an excellent option. You can get the appearance of glass without paying the higher price.

While HDPE has many of the same advantages as PET, its natural hue prevents it from being as transparent.

To sum up, deciding what is crucial for your company can make it difficult to choose the ideal cosmetic packaging design. Do you desire to get noticed on the shelf? Are you looking for chic lipstick packaging? Are you trying to find a container that will give your goods the finest long-term stability? The first step is to select the material that is best for you. After making that choice, consider whether a bottle, jar, or tube is best for you.

Are you looking for the best packaging for your cosmetic products?

Contact us and we will analyze your needs and propose the solution that best adapts. 

OPENING THE BOTTLE AND LETTING THE GENIE OUT

With all the wonderful packaging covering department store shelves for the holiday season, it is simple to fall in love. Many boxes don’t require any additional present wrapping and can be placed directly beneath the Christmas tree. Customers enjoy this and are even willing to spend more money for it. After all, it avoids all the ornate gold and glitter wrapping.

The strength of a brand

The candy industry is well known for its use of Christmas-themed packaging, but packaging for the holiday season is also available in other sectors. In the cosmetics sector, where packaging typically plays a significant role, there are numerous examples. Not all creams are created equal. What makes the red lipstick from brand A and the red lipstick from brand B different? Specifically, the brand. This is what creates consumer confidence in a product and serves as the primary driver of product purchases. Additionally, product packaging communicates the brand’s (message).

One business that consistently draws customers in with its perfume packaging right away is Jean Paul Gaultier. A special Christmas edition of its well-known scent will be released in 2018 once more.

FRAGRANCES ARE THE MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS PRESENT

In the cosmetics sector, brand owners frequently «treat themselves» to exclusive holiday packaging. After all, it’s obvious that beauty products are among the most frequently given Christmas presents. According to recent data collected by Kantar TNS and the VKE Cosmetics Association in November, about one in two Germans intend to gift their loved ones bodycare or perfumes. 60% are willing to pay up to EUR 100 on these fragrant personal care products. 25% of people intend to spend up to EUR 200 on cosmetic presents. But this is little compared to what the British spend on gifts on average, which is EUR 2,344. The most popular gifts in Germany are fragrances (63%), cosmetic packages in limited-edition packaging (45%), and individual body care products (33%).

PACKAGING INFLUENCES CONSUMERS BEHAVIOR

About 70% of German consumers choose to purchase cosmetics offline from brick and mortar retailers. This is due to a variety of different factors. Many consumers value advice, availability right away, and the chance to test out products. In addition, the packaging that they see while window shopping is a major motivator to make a purchase. Additionally, up to 45% of online buyers are influenced by attractively packaged goods in stores.

Selling your own products through an internet store is simpler than ever. Cryptocurrency payments, virtual reality dressing rooms, and AI shopping assistants may be trendy right now, but the businesses that adapt to changing consumer trends win.

As millennials take over as the primary source of purchasing power, Mad Men marketing is no longer effective. Even their parents’ shopping habits are evolving. Let’s examine the most popular ecommerce trends right now and how DTC brands can remain relevant.

Age-friendly cosmetic products

The consumer’s life is no longer as predictable in terms of definite turning points like getting a degree, getting married, having kids, and retiring. Today’s workforce switches occupations frequently, keeps studying throughout their lives, retires in their 30s, starts families in their 40s, and never weds.

Therefore, the messaging and goods targeted at those no longer relevant life stages start to seem unnecessary. Brands that rely on the «conventional» way of living are losing touch with millennials. For example, 30-year-olds are crazy about preventative health and wellbeing goods, but 60-year-olds avoid anti-aging products. Obsessively marketing baby products to women between the ages of 25 and 35 is regarded as rude and arrogant. Due to the fact that people are no longer constrained by the notion that «I’m too old to take care of myself,» entirely new markets are created, such as those for men’s beard products and hair dyes.

Overconsumption to thoughtful purchasing

The preference for quality above quantity is one of the most influential e-commerce trends. Young people today choose to wear items that only insiders would recognize, as the days of showy consumerism are long gone. Status is gained by selecting long-lasting, high-quality goods over flashy, fast-fashion items that must be replaced too frequently. People choose wisely because they truly want to consume less.

There are many causes for this trend, including:

The lack of stability in the economy

Lighter and more mobile lives that prefer less clutter

The oversupply of low-quality goods that drive up prices by obscuring consumers’ ability to adjust their own spending habits to lessen their impact on the environment.

This results in

The new black is ethical.

Ethically produced goods and materials are important considerations when deciding which brand to purchase as ethical and environmentally friendly production is quickly becoming the standard. People are concerned about who made their products, where they were produced, and how they affected the environment and nearby populations.

The general population is becoming more informed about ingredients and aware of unethical production practices. They strongly influence enterprises to adopt better procedures by using their purchasing power.

With its #OptOutside campaign, closing on the busiest shopping day in the US, Black Friday, for four years in a row, and making it a tradition for others as well, REI, the outdoor gear brand, has become a symbol of doing things correctly.

Free of trash and sustainable

The consumer movement that is sweeping through Europe and influencing law the most is certainly this one.

Reusable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging is required; excessive overpackaging while delivery is frowned upon. Reusable straws, food boxes, and produce bags are all experiencing explosive growth in sales. As the whole European food sector transitions away from single-use plastics, new options for to-go containers, like edible plates and flatware, are emerging.

Local and genuine

The craftsmanship used to create a product is also ethical. Consumers of today, who are sick of mass-produced and generic goods, are drawn to brands that uphold traditional manufacturing methods and restore artisanship to the process.

Look about you: you’ll see that neighborhood bakeries and family restaurants are popping up, that young people are reviving their grandfather’s leathercraft and selling it online, and that jewelry designers are preserving historical cross-stitch patterns by creating modern necklaces.

Even at high rates, buying locally manufactured, handcrafted goods that are made by actual people appeals to consumers’ need for authenticity and differentiation.

free of stereotypes goods

Diversity and inclusivity are the benchmarks for a contemporary brand. Those who adhere to outdated ideals of beauty and stereotypes lose favor. Interested in Victoria’s Secret?

There is a massive movement for inclusivity and providing people with the choice they yearn for to pay for. Gender-neutral underwear (TomboyX), 40 shades of foundation for any skin tone (Fenty Beauty), and swimwear for any preference of coverage (Summersalt) are examples that barely scratch the surface.

People don’t want to be contacted at any time or anywhere, bonus prediction

The new luxury of today’s always-connected folks is the delight of missing out. People are becoming more conscious of their online behavior and discriminating in their interactions as they voluntarily unplug from social media and set boundaries for digital diversions. It would appear that we marketers cannot rely on their constant availability and openness to our messages. Soon, omnichannel can become excessive and unwanted. The consumer experience and exposure must be balanced.

Does your company’s product line meet at least one of the current trends? You’re then halfway to achieving achievement. Future consumers will shape brands rather than the other way around.

Owning your own skincare company is a thrilling endeavor. You can establish a meaningful brand identity that reflects your values and give priority to the aspects of skincare products that are important to you. What kind and style of skincare packaging and labeling you’ll use is one of the most crucial considerations you’ll make as you start to build your brand’s portfolio of products. As you evaluate your options, there are a number of things to consider. We’ll go over each detail in this guide and give you a rundown of the top materials for skincare and cosmetics packaging.

Taking into Account the Best Skincare Packaging

Your brand’s best skincare packaging solutions will depend on the kinds of items you sell and how clients intend to use them. Here are the top five considerations for choosing packaging for skincare products.

Ability to block light

Some skincare products are extremely light-sensitive. They degrade more quickly the more light they are exposed to. An excellent example is essential oils. To stay fresh, many goods require protection from sunlight. If the container for your skincare items has to prevent light, consider tinted or opaque choices.

Ability to Handle Acidic Materials

Various cosmetics, particularly those containing fruit extracts, have a high acid content that might corrode some containers, such metal tins. Metal tins can swiftly deteriorate, ruining both the container and the contents, if they are not covered with a protective barrier. For these items, glass or Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) materials are typically the best option.

Flexibility

Some gels or creams for cosmetics work best when they are stored in flexible containers that allow for simple squeezing. Consider your product from the perspective of the consumer, and choose the packaging design that is the easiest to use.

No BPA

Consider utilizing BPA-free plastics if you’re using a plastic container. Consumers are becoming more and more aware that they don’t want BPA to be present in their cosmetics or facial creams.

Environmentalism

The role that plastics play in polluting the oceans and filling up our landfills has received a lot of media attention. If you’re willing to look outside the box, eco-friendly cosmetic packaging is a great choice. Search for packaging choices that are easily refillable, recyclable, or biodegradable. One skincare company that utilizes eco-friendly practices is Zao Organic Makeup. Their makeup remover oil comes in environmentally friendly bamboo packaging.

Best Materials for Packaging Skincare

Packaging materials for skincare and cosmetics are very diverse. You may determine the qualities you need to search for in packaging using the aforementioned principles. The cosmetic packaging materials described below are frequently used and readily available on the market, albeit they are not an exhaustive list.

Terephthalic Polyethylene (PET)

PET, a polymer that is frequently used to make cosmetic bottles, comes in a variety of colors, making customization simple. It can be used to make flexible bottles or squeezable tubes in semi-rigid containers. PET is a suitable choice for skincare products with high acid levels because it is also very resistant to chemical substances that break down ordinary plastics.

Polypropylene Plastic PP is a sustainable option because it is BPA-free and recyclable. As a result of its high degree of flexibility, which makes it a preferable option for squeezable tubes, it is widely used for packaging a variety of cosmetics and skincare goods.

Labeling Considerations for Skincare

There is no one size fits all when it comes to skincare product labels, just like there isn’t with product packaging. Your requirements will be determined by the characteristics of your items and the intended uses of your customers.

Resistance to discoloration

You’ll want a product label that won’t turn discolored if a drip or smear comes into touch with the label if your skincare product contains acid, such as AHA. Some of the materials used to make product labels are resistant to deterioration when exposed to these products.

Resistance to moisture

The sink and shower are where most skincare and cosmetics are used. If they become wet, labels that are water-resistant won’t become mushy or start to come off the container.

Resistant to oil

Labels on often handled jars and tubes have a habit of absorbing oils from the contents themselves or the natural oils on our hands. Your labels will continue to look great even if they come in contact with oily materials if they have an oil-resistant skincare product label.

Maintaining Brand Image

Your healthcare and cosmetic container designs’ label materials can contribute to projecting the image you seek. An energetic, young brand, for instance, could look best with vibrant BOPP or PET labels.

Most Effective Materials for Skincare Labels

While some materials are better suited for cosmetic items than others, others are not. Here are four top choices.

As a result of its exceptional resistance to moisture, oils, and extremely acidic gels and creams, vinyl stands out for usage in skincare labels. It’s a great option for usage with lip balm tubes, squeeze bottles, perfume vials, and more because it can be readily shaped and easily wraps around small containers.

Polypropylene labels are just as strong as vinyl labels but less expensive. Polypropylene is a more affordable substitute for various labeling applications for skincare products because of its great resistance to moisture, oils, and greases. Moreover, it can be stretched more thinly than vinyl.

Polyester (PET) (PET)

Another tough material for labeling cosmetic products that can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture, oil, and other liquids is polyester or PET.

For more information on all of our packaging options and assistance choosing the right material for your product, visit our website on packaging materials and finishes.

Plastics and Sustainability Overview

A substance or product must be socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable in order to be considered really sustainable. The Three Pillars of Sustainability are the names given to these components. Plastics contribute favorably to each of the three sustainability pillars.

Through their inherent recyclability, energy recovery possibilities, and potential for energy savings, plastics significantly contribute to the sustainability of the environment. Plastics are a significant export item and play a significant economic role in the UK. The plastics sector is a significant, diverse employer that places a strong emphasis on training and education.

Environmental Stewardship

A very positive environmental profile exists for plastics. Plastic manufacture accounts for only 4% of global oil production, and it requires a lot less energy to make than other materials. Due to their durability and light weight, plastics are used in pipes, packaging, vehicles, and airplanes to reduce weight.

When plastics have served their purpose, whether as a bottle or a car bumper, they can either be recycled or, if doing so is not feasible economically or environmentally, their calorific value can be recovered through energy from waste incineration, which can serve as a significant source of domestic energy. Plastics can be thought of as «borrowing» oil as a result.

Plastic Packaging

Plastics as a packaging material offer advantages that are unmatched. This is because to the lightweight, resource-efficient, and superior barrier qualities of plastics. These characteristics make plastic packaging extremely energy-efficient and reduce waste.

Packaging made of plastic saves waste.

The food or items that are included in packaging need, on average, ten times more energy to produce than the packaging itself.

UK food waste is 2%, compared to 40–50% in underdeveloped countries. This is largely because of plastic packing technologies.

A cucumber quickly loses moisture, and if it weren’t shielded by 1.5 grams of plastic, it would be unsellable in three days.

Packaging made of plastic is lightweight and uses little resources.

The amount of waste and energy produced, the amount of weight carried, and the cost of packaging would all increase if plastics were not utilized.

Packaging made of plastic has a strong track record for innovation and lightweighting. While the average weight of bottles and containers reduced by 21% between 1991 and 2000, the average weight of plastic film (g/m2) decreased by 36%.

Packaging made of plastic is recyclable.

In 2005, recycling made up 21.8% of the plastic packaging that was put on the market.

The UK recycled 6499 tonnes of EPS packaging in 2006. This accounts for 42% of the EPS packaging produced in the UK.

In the UK, recycling of waste management plastics occurs on a large scale, and much research is done to identify the most effective recycling methods. The industry makes every effort to recover as much raw material as possible because it is a valuable resource and has a high market value.

Plastics can be recycled via mechanical recycling or feedstock recycling; mechanical recycling is the simplest type of recycling. Plastics that soften when heated are reformed into molding granules through mechanical recycling in order to create new goods. Collection, sorting, baling, and size reduction into flake (film and sheet) or granules—which may subsequently require washing and drying—are all steps in the process.This is then extruded and cut into pellets that are suitable for reuse after being re-compound with additives and/or new virgin raw material.

Feedstock recycling entails dissolving polymers into their component elements under pressure or heat. These components can then be used to create new compounds and polymers. Recycling feedstock is advantageous when the materials being recycled are polluted or mixed.

Financial Stability

A strong manufacturing sector is essential to a sustainable economy, and plastics contribute significantly to the UK economy.

Around 7400 plastics companies operate in the UK, contributing to the country’s economy.

The industry has a £17 billion annual revenue.

Plastics exports, which total about £4.5 billion, provide much-needed foreign exchange.

The entire supply chain is located in the UK for many plastics products, particularly those that are related to building.

Microeconomically, plastics are especially important since they allow for the production of single-moulded components in intricate geometries at a very low cost. Costs for fixture use and assembly are greatly decreased as a result.

Products made of plastic also save money over their whole lifespan:

due to their small weight, they require less fuel when in transit.

reduced maintenance demands; for instance, PVC windows don’t need to be painted.

Using plastic insulation reduces the amount of energy needed for heating.

decreased wastage of food and consumer goods because to the unrivaled protective qualities of plastic packaging.

Leading the way in innovation, R&D, and development is the plastics sector.

In order to develop an industry-wide environmental assessment and scoring system for cosmetic goods, 36 important participants in the global cosmetics industry, including brands, manufacturers, and professional organisations, have joined forces as part of the EcoBeautyScore consortium. It is open to other businesses and organizations to join.

The project, which was started in September by Henkel, L’Oréal, LVMH, Natura &Co, and Unilever, is now taking the shape of a new coalition to create a system for scoring and assessing the environmental effect of cosmetics goods throughout the whole industry.

The EcoBeautyScore Consortium currently includes 36 organizations from different sizes and across four continents. It is still open for new applicants to join.

Evaluating how cosmetics affect the environment

The EcoBeautyScore Consortium’s founding members claim that it exists to assist consumers in selecting environmentally friendly cosmetic and personal care goods. To give consumers «clear, transparent, and comparative» information about a product’s environmental impact, they have started developing an industry-wide rating system based on a standard scientific methodology.

The formula, packaging, and application of each product will be taken into account by the new evaluation and scoring system.

Standardized techniques and data sources

The collaboration is collaborating with sustainability consultant Quantis, who founded the Sustainable Packaging Initiative for CosmEtics (SPICE) together with L’Oréal four years ago, to ensure a sound and scientific approach to co-build an assessment methodology and score system.

The tenets of the «Product Environmental Footprint» (the European Union’s PEF scientific technique based on life cycle assessment of products) will support the measurement of environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of products. Additionally, common databases on the effects of formula ingredients and packaging materials on the environment will be put in place.

By year’s end, the first prototype will be ready.

The 36 members of the EcoBeautyScore Consortium have already begun collaborating in groups based on common interests. By the end of 2022, a prototype for footprinting and scoring will be ready, offering initial environmental scores for a number of product categories. After that, it will be examined by impartial parties.

To ensure that the process is as inclusive as possible, the Consortium said it will also contact other experts from many fields, such as scientists, academics, and NGOs.

unbiased global initiative

Regardless of their size or finances, all cosmetics companies are welcome to participate in this worldwide movement.

In order to create environmental impact assessment methodology (as done by Henkel, LVMH, Natura &Co, and Unilever) and an environmental and social labeling system (as done by L’Oréal), the congregating five firms will pool their expertise.

The five organizations issued a statement in which they stated that «all enterprises would profit from this existing effort and are asked to contribute their own knowledge.»

All consortium participants and other interested parties will voluntarily publish and make the material produced by the consortium available. Cosmetics Europe has closely monitored the procedure.

Companies or NGOs have been attempting to introduce environmental scoring systems for cosmetic items for a number of years, but comparisons are challenging because these projects are based on different methodology. Thus, the titans of the industry could soon force their presence.

We are continually immersed in a virtual environment that changes how we view the world and beauty. This environment is influenced by augmented and virtual realities, NFT, avatars, and growing online communities. Following the pandemic, self-withdrawal, and widespread adoption of technology, consumer expectations and spending patterns have both changed. According to a Mintel analysis, three major trends will emerge over the next two years: the significance of sustainability and ethics; consumers’ authenticity and a transformed identity fusing the real world with the digital world; and a redefinition of beauty and the removal of barriers. The newest trends are decoded by WANDS Paris.

Transparency, sustainability, and naturalness are shared ideals in the beauty industry. 

According to a 2022 research by Mintel that emphasizes the requirement for brands to produce ethical progress reports, the need to link brands and consumers through a more responsible lifestyle is becoming more and more urgent. When Material Becomes Art, a project by Guerlain that fuses future, ecological, and creative approaches through 4 digital artworks, is one of several web 3 projects that have been thought around sustainable engagements. Through a collection of 1828 cryptobees sold to protect actual bees and to raise money for the creation of a natural reserve, the initiative The Reaverse upholds the company’s ecological values. The public lauds these efforts and they are widely disseminated on social media.

Furthermore, as we can see from beauty social media trends, with ideas like the No-makeup Look, the Dewy Look, or the Glow Up, the interest has changed towards green makeup or a sort of naturality (the expression reminds us of the Netflix show which celebrates diversity). The wellness and spirituality industries are frequently linked to the beauty industry. Recently, Kate Moss started her own beauty and wellness company, promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellness goods like tea that may be used as part of daily rituals.

Genuineness and originality as seen through the lens of the digital age 

The connection between reality and the digital world gives consumers more opportunities than ever to express themselves. The internet world allows people to be unique and free, in addition to cyborg-like filters (poreless skin, high cheekbones, cat-like eyes, and huge eyelashes, a look dubbed «Instagram Face»). The widespread use of virtual try-ons in the cosmetic industry makes shopping more convenient and encourages it. The usage of technology also improves brand engagement, personalisation, and consumer experience. According to a recent study, 92% of Gen Z customers are interested in using augmented reality when buying.

With virtual popups, immersive screens, and augmented reality filters, many marketers today increase the touchpoints during product introductions. It is a means to increase brand recognition, reach a wider audience, and forge a connection with customers. Prada Paradoxe’s most recent example demonstrates how barriers between reality and the digital world have disappeared; the brand challenged its customers whether a fragrance could exist in a virtual environment and allowed them to discover a multidimensional self and identity that is always growing.

Breaking down barriers and redefinition of Beaty 

Describe beauty. On social media, the idea promotes «happy beauty,» which is more all-inclusive and universal. The introduction of Clinique’s first NFT, Metaoptimist, is engraved within this optimistic outlook. Another marketing initiative by the company looks for NFPs (non-fungible people) with a variety of skin tones, face shapes, hairstyles, and makeup to provide more diversity to the metaverse. According to a TikTok survey, there is a growth in beauty videos worldwide as well as material that values inclusivity, diversity, and individuality. Communities alone can change their expectations of beauty and what constitutes beauty.

Some companies draw inspiration from the virtual world while developing their goods, giving customers access to a new market that is akin to the gaming sector. As a result, MAC Cosmetics developed 12 beauty styles for The Sims 4 and unveiled a line of apparel that was motivated by Honor of Kings. The gaming industry opens the door for greater artistic freedom by enabling consumers to express their identities through custom avatars. There are created connections, experiences, and feelings.

In a constantly evolving society, there are innumerable connections between the virtual and physical realms, eccentricity and normalcy, one’s self and others. Consumer preferences and the rise of more genuine and community-focused digital experiences will determine the direction of the beauty industry in the future. To generate engagement and unite groups around shared ideals in this setting, customer experience must be reevaluated. These changes allow for future creative developments for both companies and customers.