While there are over 300 types of plastics, only 10 are commonly used in plastic cosmetic packaging: PET, PETG, PE, PP, PMMA, AS, PS, ABS, MS, and PCR.
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Each type of plastic has unique chemical and physical properties, influencing its use in cosmetic packaging. Although there’s a general correlation between a plastic’s properties and its application, various plastics can often be used interchangeably for the same packaging component.
Today, we’ll delve into these 10 common cosmetic packaging plastics, exploring their characteristics, applications, and pros and cons to help you choose the best material for your product packaging.
Although plastics come in different types and have various properties, they offer the following advantages in cosmetic packaging:
Next, we will classify different types of plastics in cosmetic packaging to understand their unique properties.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a thermoplastic polymer known for its excellent mechanical strength, good toughness, and glossy surface.
Due to these properties, ABS plastic is widely used in cosmetic packaging, such as high-end eyeshadow cases, lipstick casing, and compact cases, providing durable and attractive outer shells. The advantages of using ABS for plastic cosmetic packaging include:
There is no denying that ABS is a highly valuable plastic material, as few plastics can simultaneously possess good toughness, gloss, and mechanical strength like ABS. However, when using ABS as plastic cosmetic packaging, there are also certain limitations.
Insufficient chemical resistance:
Although ABS is not affected by water, inorganic salts, alkalis, and various acids, it can dissolve in ketones, aldehydes, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Exposure to acetic acid, vegetable oils, and other substances can cause stress cracking. It is generally not recommended for ABS plastic to come into direct contact with cosmetics and food.
Poor weather resistance:
Under the influence of ultraviolet light, degradation can occur easily, causing a decrease in impact strength by half after outdoor exposure for six months.
Higher cost:
Compared to some other plastics, the production cost of ABS is relatively high.
AS plastic, due to its excellent transparency, also finds its place in cosmetic packaging. Common applications of AS in plastic cosmetic packaging include vacuum bottles, lipstick tube casings, and bottle caps.
Although some plastics such as PMMA, and PC also have excellent transparency, AS has its own unique advantages compared to these plastics.
Another noticeable characteristic of AS plastic is its brittleness, making it prone to cracking, which also imposes certain limitations on its application in cosmetic packaging:
Poor flexibility:
AS plastic is relatively brittle, making it difficult to produce packaging with complex shapes.
Higher cost:
Generally, the price of AS plastic may be slightly higher than ABS, as AS possesses material advantages such as higher heat resistance, chemical resistance, and transparency.
Due to its unique molecular structure, PE plastic is often classified according to its density into two main types: LDPE and HDPE.
LDPE is more flexible and has higher transparency, making it ideal for shrink-wrap packaging, films, and squeezable bottles.
HDPE is relatively harder and is commonly used to make shampoo or body wash bottles. Its production cost is usually lower than that of PET bottles.
The advantages of PE in cosmetic packaging are mainly reflected in the following properties:
PE is commonly used for making tubes. However, manufacturing tubes requires blending different densities of PE materials to achieve a balance between softness and hardness. Single-density PE is not only difficult to form but also challenging to process for surface treatments after forming.
In addition, as a cosmetic packaging material, PE plastic also has the following limitations:
Low transparency:
Compared to PET, PE has lower transparency and is not suitable for packaging that requires high clarity.
High oxygen permeability:
PE has higher oxygen permeability, which can lead to the contents being more easily affected by oxidation.
Poor heat resistance:
PE has a relatively low melting point. For example, LDPE melts at around 105°C to 115°C, making PE packaging unsuitable for prolonged exposure to temperatures of 100°C or higher for sterilization.
Susceptibility to light:
PE is prone to degradation under UV light, which can cause the packaging to yellow over time.
PP is the lightest thermoplastic material, in all synthetic resins, and its density is the smallest, which means, with the same weight of raw materials, PP can produce more of the same volume of products.
The application of PP plastic in cosmetic packaging is very extensive. It can be used not only for making pump heads but also for skin care tubes, lotion bottles, and cream jars. In addition, PP plastic is also the preferred inner liner material for many acrylic bottles.
Here are the advantages of PP plastic in cosmetic packaging:
Despite the many advantages of PP plastic in cosmetic packaging, it also has some limitations.
Low Transparency:
PP material is semi-transparent with an ivory-white color. Compared to PET, PP plastic has lower transparency, making it unsuitable for clear packaging.
Susceptibility to Aging:
PP plastic tends to age when exposed to sunlight and UV radiation for extended periods, leading to discoloration and brittleness of the packaging.
Poor Solvent Resistance:
PP plastic has limited resistance to chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Poor Adhesion Properties:
The surface of PP material is quite smooth, making it difficult to perform surface treatments like spraying or direct printing. To achieve these processes, additional treatments such as corona or plasma treatment are required to improve surface adhesion, which also increases the packaging’s processing cost and complexity.
PET is one of the most widely used materials in cosmetic packaging. It is a non-toxic, BPA-free material that meets food-grade packaging standards.
When pure PET is burned, it does not produce harmful gases and emits a pleasant, aromatic smell. (If burning PET results in a pungent odor, it likely contains other mixed components.)
Compared to PP or PE, PET is not as extensively used in cosmetic packaging. It is mainly used for bottles and jars for skincare and haircare products but not for pumps or caps. This is due to the following characteristics:
Low Heat Resistance:
The heat distortion temperature of PET is generally between 80°C and 90°C. High temperatures can cause PET to deform or soften. For sterilization, it is recommended to use low-temperature methods like UV or ozone sterilization to maintain the integrity of the material.
Limited Chemical Resistance:
PET has poor resistance to certain cosmetic ingredients such as high-concentration alcohol, essential oils, and some active chemicals, making it unsuitable for high pH products.
Hard Texture:
PET has a higher hardness and a relatively hard texture, which may not feel as comfortable in the hand as softer plastics like PE or LDPE.
PETG is a modified version of PET plastic, often considered an upgraded variant of PET. While both are highly transparent materials, PETG is more cost-effective than PMMA and can be in direct contact with cosmetic products.
An increasing number of people are choosing PETG for cosmetic packaging due to its numerous advantages:
Despite its numerous advantages, PETG does have some limitations when compared to other plastics used in cosmetic packaging:
Lower Hardness
PETG has lower hardness than PET, making it more susceptible to scratches. Extra care is needed to protect its appearance during transportation.
Limited Chemical Resistance:
While PETG has good chemical resistance, it may not be as robust as PE in this regard. It can react with certain cosmetic ingredients, so compatibility testing between the packaging and the product is essential.
Lower Heat Resistance:
Although PETG is an upgraded version of PET, its heat resistance is slightly lower. It may soften or deform in high-temperature environments, which is a consideration when designing packaging that requires high-temperature sterilization.
Both PETG and PET have some degree of UV resistance, but PETG’s resistance to UV degradation is slightly lower. Prolonged exposure to UV light can lead to degradation and yellowing.
Higher Cost:
Undoubtedly, the production cost of PETG is significantly higher than that of PET. However, sustainability is a costly endeavor, requiring a balance between material costs and recycling processing costs.
PS is a non-toxic, odorless, and transparent thermoplastic material. Like PP, it is commonly used in food packaging. However, it is less heat-resistant than PP and should not be heated in a microwave, as it may release harmful chemicals.
Its wide application in cosmetic packaging is due to several unique advantages:
However, PS plastics also have limitations in cosmetic packaging:
Poor chemical resistance:
While PS has better chemical resistance than PMMA, it still may react with liquids like emulsions and makeup removers, leading to product deterioration. Packing strong acids and alkalis with PS plastic will also make PS easy to differentiate into toxic substances and cause human cancer
Low heat resistance:
PS has lower heat resistance and cannot withstand boiling heat sterilization, making it unsuitable for cosmetic packaging that requires high-temperature sterilization. If the product uses PS packaging, you need to ensure that the temperature is best not to exceed 60 ° C.
Brittleness:
PS has low impact strength and is prone to stress cracking.
In high-end cosmetic packaging, PMMA is a commonly used plastic material in addition to glass. PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), often known as acrylic, is a transparent thermoplastic. Its excellent optical properties, high transparency, and good weather resistance make it highly favored in premium packaging and display applications.
Here are some advantages of using PMMA in cosmetic packaging:
While PMMA offers a level of high transparency and light transmittance that is difficult for other plastics to achieve, it also has its limitations when used in cosmetic packaging:
Chemical Instability:
PMMA can easily react with cosmetic formulations, leading to discoloration of the packaging or degradation of the product. Therefore, it is generally not suitable for direct contact with cosmetics.
High Cost:
The processing of PMMA is more challenging compared to other plastics, and its production costs are relatively high.
Fragility:
While PMMA is more impact-resistant than glass, it is still less durable compared to plastics like PET, PP, and PE. PMMA is more prone to breaking upon impact.
MS might be unfamiliar to most people, but it is a copolymer synthesized from PMMA and PS, essentially a modified version of PMMA. Its properties fall between those of PMMA and PS.
In cosmetic packaging, MS is often used as a substitute for PMMA primarily due to cost considerations. The material cost of MS is lower than that of pure PMMA. Additionally, MS offers several performance improvements over PMMA:
Even though MS material is cheaper and easier to process than PMMA, it shares some of PMMA’s limitations in cosmetic packaging, and in certain aspects, it may perform slightly worse than PMMA.
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Explore more:Lower Transparency:
MS is not as pure as PMMA, resulting in slightly lower transparency and gloss. However, it still offers higher clarity compared to many other plastics.
Lower Heat Resistance:
MS may deform or lose its performance at high temperatures. This makes it less suitable for cosmetic packaging that requires high-temperature sterilization or use in high-temperature environments. The heat deflection temperature of MS typically ranges from 70°C to 100°C. Nonetheless, MS is generally more heat-resistant than PE, with HDPE’s heat deflection temperature being around 60°C to 80°C.
PCR stands for Post-Consumer Recycled plastic, referring to plastic that is collected for recycling after consumer use. In response to the demands of environmental protection and sustainable development, an increasing number of brands are focusing on and utilizing PCR materials to reduce their reliance on virgin plastic and to lower the carbon footprint generated during plastic cosmetic packaging production.
It is said that recycling 1 ton of plastic waste is equivalent to saving 6 tons of petroleum resources, reducing 3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and producing 800 kilograms of recycled plastic.
There are many types of PCR plastics, typically categorized based on the original materials, such as rPET, rHDPE, rPP, and so on. They are widely used in cosmetic packaging. However, due to cost and performance considerations, PCR is often blended with a certain amount of virgin plastic in its use, to control production costs and ensure the necessary physical properties of the packaging.
Despite the many environmental advantages of using PCR plastic for cosmetic packaging, there are still some limitations in its application.
Lower Performance:
Currently, it is challenging to make tubes and bottles entirely from PCR materials. Compared to virgin plastic, PCR plastic has reduced strength and toughness, which can affect the molding and protective performance of the packaging.
Higher Costs:
Most plastics can be recycled into PCR materials under appropriate conditions. For example, recycled PET is known as rPET. However, the recycling process to produce rPET is complex and the production costs are relatively high.
The recycling process of plastic cosmetic packaging involves multiple steps and participants, including consumers, recycling centers, processing plants, and more. The recycling process includes complex stages such as sorting and collection, cleaning and treatment, shredding and processing, reprocessing, and production. Therefore, recycling and reusing plastics is not an easy task.
According to data from the University of Connecticut, the beauty industry uses around 120 billion plastic packaging items each year. A recent report from Greenpeace found that the global plastic recycling rate is below 10%, meaning that even plastics placed in recycling bins are unlikely to be truly recycled and transformed into new packaging through mechanical or chemical methods.
The low recycling rate is largely due to consumer behavior and current technological limitations. Pursuits of packaging functionality, design aesthetics, and attractiveness render the use of recycled plastic for secondary production unfeasible. Plastic materials lose their structural integrity during recycling and quickly deteriorate in quality, making them unsuitable for repeat use.
While plastic packaging recycling currently presents challenges and limitations, it is not an unattainable goal. As cosmetic brand companies embark on plastic packaging recycling, they can prepare and plan by:
We recommend that companies prioritize plastics with higher recyclability, such as PET, HDPE, and PP, and avoid using plastic materials that are difficult to recycle, such as PVC, PS, multi-layer composites, and engineering plastics.
We suggest cosmetic companies design minimalistic packaging, reducing unnecessary attachments on the packaging to lower material usage and recycling complexity. For instance, plastics with additives like electroplating and color coating might pose challenges for recycling.
Adding easily recognizable recycling symbols and information on the packaging can guide consumers in properly recycling plastic packaging.
Launch plastic packaging recycling initiatives tailored to the brand, such as providing recycling instructions and collection points on the packaging, encouraging consumer participation, or allowing consumers to mail packaging to designated recycling centers.
Develop suitable recycling collaboration mechanisms for the brand, such as setting clear recycling goals, selecting suppliers of recycled plastics, partnering with eligible recycling centers and environmental organizations, and jointly creating recycling channels, possibly offering recycling incentives.
It is suggested that companies use post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics or recyclable plastic material as packaging materials to reduce demand for new plastics. PP, PS, HDPE, and PETG are the most used plastic materials in cosmetic packaging and they are 100% recyclable plastic materials.
Consider exploring novel packaging materials like bio-based plastics (sugarcane plastic, straw plastic), seed packaging (paper packaging with embedded seeds), and biodegradable packaging.
We encourage beauty companies to establish tracking and reporting mechanisms, regularly disclose packaging recycling and reuse data, showcase sustainable achievements and progress, and engage and motivate more consumers to participate in this environmental initiative.
There are several activities involved in creating and managing a cosmetic line, including creating formulas, investigating the materials, and testing the final product. The key element in the process is selecting the packaging of the product. It’s a procedure that needs to be handled as soon as possible with many things in mind. Product packaging encompasses the exterior design and the choice of material, graphics, colors, and font size. These minor details increase the worth of the actual product.
Packaging a product catches customers’ eyes first and leaves a lasting impression.
The type of materials you use for your packaging is also pertinent. The attractiveness of the packaging is not the matter here, but the sensitivity of the material to the product should be kept in mind. For instance, the packaging material must not react with the products inside.
Analyzing the longevity or durability of the serums, and other beauty products is important.
Both main and secondary packaging is referred to as cosmetic packaging. The cosmetic component is kept in its primary packaging, commonly known as cosmetic containers. It would be close to the cosmetic item. The outside covering of a single or more cosmetic containers is known as secondary packaging. All information required to define the product’s safety must be on the principal package that distinguishes primary packaging from secondary packaging. In the absence of it, most of the necessary information may be available mostly on the secondary packaging.
The identity of the distributors, the contents, the limit of storage, the apparent content, the standard (such as the registration or batch numbers), the warnings, and the application instructions also must be displayed on the cosmetic container. The distributor’s address and details on the cosmetic’s mechanism of action must also be included on the secondary packaging. There is no requirement for a product identification note on the supplementary packaging. This receptacle should always include all information when a cosmetic item is only packaged in one container.
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Importance of packaging in cosmetics
There are various reasons why cosmetic containers must be handled with care. They should preserve the goods and make retailers and consumers as comfortable as possible.
The primary function of a cosmetic package is to shield the product while it is being stored or shipped. Consequently, the container needs to be a well-considered arrangement that guards the product against degradation and helps to maintain its excellence. Secondly, the container must be professional to promote a makeup line product effectively.
Because of its use by people, it must endure even longer. The container’s condition may also deteriorate over duration due to repeated opening and shutting. Ultimately, the substance must be sufficiently safe for human use for the container to be effective. The container should shield the product from pollution, debris, and pathogens. The container’s condition may also deteriorate over duration due to repeated openings and shutting. Ultimately, the substance must be sufficiently safe for human use for the container to be effective. The container should shield the product from pollution, debris, and pathogens.
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Since cosmetic products are primarily sold on the strength of their brand, the appearance of the container is thought to be of utmost importance. Cosmetics are not drugs; their marketing mainly relies on connecting corporate recognition to sentiments. Cosmetics are regularly renamed and relaunched as a consequence to acquire more exposure to the market.
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Below are some materials that can be used for cosmetic packaging
Metal
Metal cans are becoming increasingly popular in certain makeup and cosmetic industries for their goods, including exfoliants, liquid tints, eyebrows beauty products, and glosses. Your products seem lovely and vintage when made of metal. However, metal packaging must have a special coating to prevent rusting when used with items containing essential oils, so use caution. This also holds for metal lids. Most collapsible tubes are made of aluminum, but tin and lead also play important roles in cosmetic packaging.
Metals serve as unbreakable packaging for the best possible product protection. They can also protect products from moisture and high temperatures. In addition, metals are highly recyclable, which is advantageous for businesses seeking to project an environmentally friendly image.
Glass
Due to its biocompatibility and inertness, this substance is used in cosmetic products. Some reactive acids and essential oils should be packed in glass material. The glass’s strong composition also protects it from corrosion, which is common in plastic packaging that reacts with the contents.
Using glass receptacles has the benefit of being beautiful. Glass packaging makes your product appear refined and upscale. Furthermore recyclable, they have a significantly smaller carbon imprint.
Jars, bottles, vials, or rollerball applicators based on your products can be selected for glass packaging. It can be clear, colored, or frosted. Labels on glass packaging can be a sticker on the exterior or printed right on it.
The production and shipping costs are the major drawbacks of using glass containers. Roetell.com delivers acknowledgment on the same.
PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene Terephthalate containers are transparent plastic bottles primarily used for beverages and cosmetics because they copy the clear appearance of glass. Over the years, due to its lightweight, low cost, and shatter rigidity, it has become very well-liked. Due to its ability to act as a shield between plastic and cosmetics, PET creates a superior cosmetics holder. This stops the product’s chemicals from oxidizing plastic due to their reaction to the polymer. PET might be a great fit for you if your product contains alcohol, oleoresins, and other solvents. View More
Polypropylene Plastic (PP)
Propylene plastic, also widely recognized as PP, is used for packaging in cosmetic line manufacturers. PP is opaque and sturdier than previously mentioned plastic. For example, polypropylene Plastic is used in tubes of lotions and perfume packaging.
In addition to its flexibility and advantages for packing, polypropylene is waterproof and exceptionally resistant to moisture absorption. Due to its high flexural strength and semi-crystalline structure, it is also resistant to general wear and tear, making it perfect for products that must withstand greater amounts of physical stress. Additionally, it is resistant to germs, rot, and mildew. View More
HDPE or High-density Polyethylene
High-density Polyethylene is the most trusted packaging material used. It does have a rigid structure. It is Hypoallergenic, and is less inclined to leak contaminants into the ultimate article. Furthermore, it is highly biodegradable. View More
The market research also requires understanding how big your packages will indeed be. For example, lotions cannot be sold in large containers or barrels. Likewise, if you package your lips balms in incredibly compact containers, your clientele won’t be thrilled.
The size of the packaging should always differ according to the product usage. Proper package sizing and proportion eliminates waste and extra material in manufacturing. Moreover, it decreases the quantity the shipment requires in transportation, minimizing the impact on the environment.
It all depends on how your product is packaged. There are numerous container styles and specifications for cosmetic products. Your packaging provider will thus propose a large range of alternatives. You can, nonetheless, have packing materials that are specifically constructed if your commodities are exceptional.
Labels inform consumers about the product, including how to use it and where it came from. The contact information of the entity responsible for putting the product on the market must be included on the label. The label must be easy to read, especially for customers viewing the product. Certain compositions, such as perfumes, can have multiple ingredients. The most critical information must be displayed on the primary and secondary packaging, especially if the product is prone to misuse.
If you’re looking for packaging design inspiration, there’s no better place to look than at the latest cosmetics packaging trends. You can create packaging that caters to what’s important to your customers and speaks to them correctly once you know what’s currently trending.
Pre-made packing lacks the soul of your product. Thus, packaging design is a terrific substitute. Caps, toppers, dimensions, substances, textures, and coloring might easily be customized. You, therefore, have total creative freedom over how your things appear.
Exaggerating the goods on the label is another strategy that functions as authentication. This labeling enables the customer to distinguish the goods from others on the market’s shelves.
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When developing product packaging, many cosmetic product brands don’t consider issues such as climate change. Nevertheless, the most biodegradable materials that work with your items should be considered.
Regulations impose some requirements for eco-responsible packaging, while individual products are liable for others. In addition, buyers, executives, workers, and owners may all affect organizational actions and laws.
The more containers that can be reused and recycled, the more environmentally friendly and economically efficient it will be. The response of the product substance to use, chemical constitution, and bio all impact container endurance. In contrast, the container needs to be chemical and fungal resistant. High temperature or cold-resistant materials must be used to manufacture the container. The product must therefore be shielded from UV light, which might affect it. The container should not absorb the product’s components.
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Your makeup products might benefit greatly from choosing the appropriate packaging. Its layout and logo exude the individuality of your brand. It preserves the quality of your goods and guards against harm. It is crucial to do your study to determine which material is best for your items.
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