There has been studies that indicates U.S. consumers anticipate spending less on skincare, makeup and other personal care items in the future with the new green movement. You seen the news, social media news and the plethora of information on the younger generation on climate, recycling, and using more sustainable items. Even my friend who handles our sock division lists some eye opening statistics on plastic usage. The trend has been growing strong and it doesn't look like it's slowing down. Retails from Nike, Lululemon, Urban Outfitters, Victoria Secrets, L’Oreal, etc are all following this path. Sustainable yarn, plastic, carton boxes, etc. If you want to read a Forbes article on this topic, here it is. Retailers Get Serious About Sustainability Into 2020 (forbes.com)
So what does that mean for the cosmetic brands. It means, it's time to recapture consumers by making changes when it comes to sustainability, and packaging is a key battleground for the fight against environmental waste. The cosmetics industry alone produces more than 120 billion units of packaging each year. You have the ability to recapture consumers and assist in the environmental waste. It's a win-win situation.
Courtesy from Captain Planet. Sorry I grew up with this cartoon but it means well. But I can imagine Captain Planet pitching the Win-Win sustainability for cosmetic packaging.
With that said, we will share three eco-friendly packaging trends you can see in the beauty industry that will help drive this trend to boost your brand reputation and of course boosting profits. Of course, some of this is what we learned dealing with various clients. Hope this helps and if you know of others, we are more than happy to extend this list.
1. Alternative materials than 100% Plastic.
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Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR)- Often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, like aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bottles
Polylactic Acid (PLA) - PLA melts more easily because it has a lower melting point than many fossil-based plastics. It's easy to work with PLA and it requires less energy to transform. Utilizes 65% less energy than producing conventional plastics. Also generates up to 68% less greenhouse gas.
Plant based - Sugar Cane, Bamboo, potato etc. Which are all compostable and recyclable packaging. They have limited usage due to the technology and expensive. But they have a branding appeal.
If you still don't believe in the alternative, L’Oreal, created a breakthrough brand, SEED, with products made from entirely compostable or recyclable packaging.
So what you waiting for, check with your own suppliers or contact us (free consultation and we love to talk)
2. Refill and Reuse
Companies are looking to invest in durable packaging materials that customers can refill and reuse. Brands are putting time, effort and investment into creating primary packaging with reusability . This is an advantage that can provide the following, locking your consumers to buy your product for refill and produce less plastic waste. The research and development takes time and money but if the product is a success, you can hold your brands appeal longer towards your consumers. Here are some examples of products with reusability. I only share two examples, because these seem to be the most popular way to do this.
The cosmetic packaging that be reused by refilling with a cartridge.
Dove Deodorant - Introducing our first refillable, reusable deodorant – Dove. Made with 98% recycled plastic that has a lifetime use guarantee. Consumers can enjoy the benefits of lower price points for repeat purchasing refills, without having to pay for excess packaging. It's a win win situation.
The cosmetic packaging that is filled by a pouch.
Olika Hydrating hand sanitizer spray- Unique bottle that can be filled with Olika refill pouches.
3. Minimalist design
Minimalist design in packaging is a growing trend in the cosmetic industry. Brands are looking to create simplistic designs that communicate targeted messages by reducing waste on design techniques. Minimalist design incorporates using neutral colors and eco-friendly materials to make it easier for consumers to recycle packaging. It also helps to eliminate the issue of mixed materials making recycling problematic and confusing for the user. Another focus is using less ink, as any designs with a lot of color can create processes that impact earth's air quality.
Some idea's that have been generated from minimalist designs.
Pump re-design - pumps are harder to recycle because it contains a metal spring. People are looking for ways to simplify designs to make it easier to recycle. Based on this, designs have been coming out where the metal spring is replaced by PCR plastic or similar recycled material, such as our all plastic pump options.
Minimalizing Ink- This is becoming a popular trend, where brands are reducing their ink usage. Look at to the right and you can see how McDonald's is reducing their ink usage for their logo. Every little bit helps. Then they use this story to print news/blogs to tell their loyal customers how they are helping with the green movement.
Locate and use suppliers that follow the green movement.
Often buyers will use their primary supplier or agent for most needs. However with the green movement, you should seek out suppliers who have knowledge in these area's. Experience is a key to developing a sustainable and successful packaging campaign. The wrong raw materials, lack of understanding how replacing raw plastics with eco-friendly alternatives may have dramatic negative effects to function or design of your product. You should explore and understand if your current supplier has knowledge in this area before you start this journey.
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