Organic Monitor: Cosmetic companies making slow progress to reduce packaging footprints
Cosmetic companies are making slow progress in reducing their packaging footprints, a study done by Organic Monitor finds out. Most developments are occurring in ecodesign, with many brands reducing packaging materials by changing design structures.
Although the cosmetics industry has become preoccupied with green initiatives, few steps have been made to tackle the environmental impact of packaging, according to the research institute which specializes in organic & related product industries.
Most changes in packaging design are only leading to an incremental decrease in packaging materials. In some cases, any ecological benefits from less packaging material are offset by higher unit sales. More radical solutions involving materials are necessary to make significant changes to the packaging impact of cosmetic products, notes Organic Monitor.
Relatively few developments are occurring in packaging materials. Although some cosmetic brands are experimenting with sustainable materials like bamboo and wood, plastic packaging still prevails. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), packaging comprises over half of all household waste in developed countries, with plastics having most effect in landfill.
Plant-based plastics, once hailed because of their biodegradable nature, have yet to make headway in cosmetic applications, the study says. Some companies like Procter & Gamble are using hybrid polymers to overcome the limitations of bioplastics. Its Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion packaging is mainly made from biopolymers sourced from sugar cane.
The Brazilian company Natura Brasil is a frontrunner in sustainable design. Its recent launch of its mass market SOU brand epitomizes the packaging trend. SOU skin care products are housed in flexible packaging that have 70% less plastic than rigid plastic containers of the same volume.
Unilever is one of the few companies considering a packaging overhaul to address its environmental footprint. The Anglo-Dutch multinational introduced a new "compressed" can for a number of its deodorant brands earlier this year. The deodorant cans are about a third smaller, reducing packaging material costs as well as transportation costs. However, few companies have managed to innovate with green packaging. One exception is HCP’s Stila refill compact which is powered by solar energy.
There are calls for the cosmetics industry to take some responsibility for waste management since plastic packaging is often not recycled and sits in landfill. In Brazil, the cosmetics association ABIHPEC is working with municipal agencies to collect and recycle packaging waste.
In the US, Tom's of Maine has partnered with Teracycle to collect its packaging waste and use it in new product applications. A closed loop system whereby waste is used as raw materials is considered the way forward for many cosmetic brands taking the green road.
Organic Monitor is going to organize the Sustainable Cosmetic Summit Latin American edition in S?o Paulo, Brazil from September 18-20. The European version will be held in Paris, France from October 21-23.
