Jamie Matusow, Editor-in-Chief05.01.20
With sustainable packaging in the Beauty industry a long-ago trend, and now an expected way of doing business, Beauty Packaging asked numerous suppliers and industry experts:
“How do you think the move/demand toward sustainable packaging will evolve?”
Here are a few responses. For a full account of replies, see the feature article in Beauty Packaging’s April/May issue: On Becoming Sustainable ASAP
Thomas Chun, project engineer, HCT Group
“The evolution of sustainable packaging is very exciting. There is a lot of news everyday regarding new more sustainable bio-materials, and new recycling processes that can create very high-quality PCR materials. We expect ourselves, as well as other suppliers, to continue to innovate and create new solutions to meet the requirements of brands.”
David Luttenberger, global packaging director, Mintel
“Consider the roles we have asked packaging to undertake during the past 120 years or longer—safety, preservation/efficacy, and distribution. We are now asking it to continue those roles, but to also be a good environmental player. Consider that the leap from the Wright Brothers’ first flight to Neil Armstrong standing on the moon was a decades-long process and an evolution of aerodynamics and propulsion."
"We, as a consumer-packaged goods and packaging industry, must continue to research, develop and commercialize the next-generation of packaging—environmentally responsible packaging—in a rinse, lather, repeat process. It will be evolutionary over time rather than revolutionary overnight.”
Jay Bolus, president of MBDC
“As the demand for environmentally responsible packaging advances, brands will strive to have a positive impact on the planet and meet the standards of Cradle to Cradle Design—achieving excellence and progress in material health, circularity, renewable energy, water stewardship and social fairness. Good design allows us to not limit growth, but to grow in ways that replenish, restore and nourish the world.”
Maurizio Ficcadenti, global R&D manager, Baralan Group
“The industry will continue to move towards environmentally responsible packaging so it is important to be aligned with the needs of the market and with social issues. Our aim is to continue innovating in sustainability while guaranteeing the quality and functionality of products in all our three market axes: Skincare, Makeup and Fragrance.”.
Eleanor Bunting, marketing manager, ICS
“To reduce the environmental impact packaging has on our planet, packaging suppliers, brands and consumers are seeking more sustainable packaging material alternatives. As a result, the demand for environmentally responsible packaging will evolve to see increased use of Bio-resins, Paper and Biodegradable materials for zero waste packaging solutions."
"These alternative sustainable materials can be obtained from renewable resources like plant-based materials or sugarcane, yielding consumers' demand for natural, organic packaging. The phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle will also become a much more prominent mantra within the cosmetics industry as use of refillable, recycled and recyclable packaging will continue to grow and draw consumers and brands closer to the goal of achieving minimal waste.”
Brandon Frank, president of Pacific Packaging Components
“In the near future, the use of PCR will become the standard for plastic packaging and will be highlighted by retailers in stores and online. Long-term, I believe that refillable and reusable packaging will continue to grow and become wildly popular.”
Melanie Gaudun, business development manager, Viva
“The goal is to incorporate as much PCR as possible, up to 100%. Use resins diverted from oceans, and develop materials that give a beautiful presentation, have efficacy and are easily biodegradable. There will be a shift to more mono-material designs with fewer metallic finishes.”
John Ulibarri, sr account executive, JSN
“It will continue to evolve into heavy based materials. And, recently we’ve received requests for biodegradable additives to plastics.”
Sean Kavanaugh, sr account executive, JSN
“PCR will get better, and sugarcane resin will drop in price as more of it comes on line.”
Kristen Duncan, sustainability manager, Neenah
“We are seeing many brands jump on the anti-plastic mega trend, pushing many to think that paper is the solution. We wholly believe that paper is the solution. Still, we also firmly believe it is essential when a brand specifies paper or packaging, they specify a paper that has been responsibly sourced."
"Packaging continues to evolve, and right now, brands have an opportunity to show customers their environmental commitment by opting for paper-based alternatives to plastics. Not only are consumers willing to pay a bit more for sustainable packaging, but brands are starting to recognize higher return on investment if they are acknowledged on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.”
Jason Sullivan, associate vice president, sales & marketing, Golden Arrow
“We think sustainable packaging is the future, and once the major brands have adapted to this significant practice on a massive scale, it will become a mainstream practice that everyone will follow.”
Syeira Simon, product development/formula innovation manager, Cosmopak
“The industry will have to keep innovating to meet up with consumer demand.”
Sarah Carson, vice president of marketing, Rohrer
“Brands are trying a variety of solutions, from new designs to new materials. Marketers will make comparisons against their existing packaging style. Operations teams want to limit any changes that could hamper their supply chain or production speeds. In order to make ‘green’ solutions stick, sustainable packaging solutions have to produce the same quality and marketing power as the brand’s existing packaging without disrupting the manufacturing processes.”
Renaud Baker, general manager, Hana Innovations America, Inc
“The approach of sustainable packaging is not a short-term, ‘fly-by-night’ trend. More and more consumers are demanding sensible, sustainable packaging from their cosmetics providers. PCR will play an increasingly important role.However, capacity limitations in PCR material mean that use of PCR content will be a ‘phase-in’ process and not an immediate and sudden transition. Bio-materials are being evaluated and tested."
"The big hurdle for the cosmetics industry (in the wide use of bio-materials) has revolved around compatibility and aesthetics (the maintaining of brand image). However, the pace in identifying viable bio-materials is increasing exponentially. In light of this, the use of bio-materials will be on the rise over the next five years.”
Robert Bulla, director of engineering & packaging, APC Packaging
“The move or demand will stall eventually if we do not get our local and federal governments involved as well. This is a group effort and all parties from individuals to corporations and governments must all be working together to protect the resources we depend on every day.”
Gary Myer, AVP, global packaging engineer, WWP
“We have seen the request for sustainability many times in the past, and I believe this push is here to stay. Brands and customers are finally taking a serious look at how their products are packaged and what impact it is having on our surroundings. Customers are very aware they need to take a role in the packaging, not only by making responsible purchasing decisions, but by also taking a role in the proper refilling /recycling /disposal of their packages.”
Patrick McGee, vice president of marketing, HLP Klearfold
“Currently, only a modest percentage of plastic packaging is being collected for recycling. Consumers are frustrated that often the plastic packages that they place in their curbside collection containers are not recycled at all. Specifying packaging that contains PCR, especially 100% PCR, drives the demand for these materials and therefore the efforts to collect these materials for recycling.”
