For companies across the globe, it is becoming increasingly important to operate in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. One of the most efficient ways for a company to operate more sustainably is through a reduction of waste and through the use of environmentally friendly packaging materials. Especially the latter has become an important focus throughout the past years. This is no surprise, considering that a major part of the waste produced every year comes from disposable non-sustainable packaging materials.
When companies move towards using sustainable packaging materials that can be recycled or, in some cases, be reused, it can make a major difference. Luckily, more and more companies are making a move towards green packaging already. Instead of using the traditional packaging materials that were often made from harmful plastics, they choose a greener alternative such as glass or aluminum. By doing so, their ecological footprint reduces dramatically.
Throughout this article, we’ll have a look at what small cosmetic companies can do to operate more sustainably in terms of green packaging options. We have listed down three unique packaging materials that are worth considering for any type of cosmetic or beauty brand. Each of these three packagings comes with its own benefits, which we’ll have a closer look at below. Hopefully, this article will help you in selecting a suitable wrapping for your cosmetic goods.
Airless Bottles
Although the airless bottle has been around for a while, their popularity has only risen recently. Airless bottles are unique in the way that they no longer use the traditional dip-tube pump mechanism but, instead, feature a non-pressurized airless design. Every time you press the pump of an airless bottle, the a disc located at the bottom of the bottle slightly moves up. By doing so, the disc pushes up the product simultaneously, causing it to dispense through the pump. Due to its unique design, airless bottles feature a vacuum internal environment in which the product inside of the bottle never gets into contact with air. As a result, the shelf life of the product increases significantly. The vacuum design furthermore empties a bottle completely without leaving behind any leftover goods inside of the bottle, significantly reducing product waste compared to regular pump bottles.
Because airless pump bottles no longer require a bulky pump lid nor the internal dip tube mechanism, far less materials are used to produce them. They often feature a minimalistic yet durable design which is designed with reusage in mind. Unlike traditional lotion pumps, airless bottles can be easily cleaned after use. This makes them suitable to be refilled and reused over and over again. I think that we can all agree that, the best way to prevent packaging waste is by not creating any waste at all! Through the reusage of your airless bottles, you’ll be able to cut down your company’s packaging waste production significantly.
Aluminum Tins
Aluminum tin containers are another example of a sustainable packaging material whose popularity has increased significantly over the past couple of years. Aluminum packaging is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly options available today. Because aluminum is a 100% natural material, this packaging can be produced in a very clean and natural way. The material is furthermore food-safe on itself, which means that aluminum packaging does not require any chemical coatings to make it suitable for the storage of cosmetics or food. Aluminum packaging is considered to be among the safest on the market, which is why it’s often used in the cosmetic, food, and medical industries.
A major benefit of aluminum for cosmetic brands is that the material is 100% corrosion resistant. Thanks to this, aluminum packaging never rusts, not even when it’s used in a humid environment such as the bathroom. Aluminum is furthermore one of the only materials that can be fully recycled time after time without losing any of its original quality. Because aluminum is a lightweight material, it is furthermore cheap and clean to transport. Thanks to the affordable price tag of aluminum packaging along with all the environmental benefits it has to offer, aluminum tins and bottles have become a popular choice of packaging among small and large companies alike.
Glass Cosmetic Jars
Glass packaging has been around for centuries and is still popular today. Glass jars and bottles have always been considered as an environmentally friendly packaging solution for cosmetics, food products, and medicine. Just like aluminum, glass is a natural material that is 100% recyclable. Glass is furthermore UV-resistant, which makes it suitable for storing light-sensitive products such as serums and essential oils. Because glass is a natural material, glass jars and bottles are free from harmful chemicals and, just like aluminum, glass hardly corrodes. All these benefits make glass jars a perfect packaging option for cosmetic lotions and creams.
When it comes to sustainability, glass packaging features all the benefits you expect a sustainable packaging to have. On top of that, glass brings along the added benefit of having a premium appearance. Afterall, it’s not without reason that many high-end brands use premium glass bottles and jars to store their best-selling goods. The only downside of glass packaging is that it’s relatively expensive, fragile and, compared to other packaging materials, very heavy. Especially its heavy weight brings along complications as it makes glass packaging less environmentally friendly and more expensive to transport. All-in-all, however, glass still offers a sustainable and premium packaging solution for anybody who wishes to add a high-end touch to their product line.
