A Word on Upcycling

William Hitchon of Bormioli Rocco shares his comments from the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, held in Paris at the end of October. (For more on the conférence, please see our Online Exclusive)

Written by William Hitchon

About the author: William Hitchon is sales director at Bormioli Rocco Plastic BU cosmetic market, based in Paris.

Upcycling, another term for PCR, provides clients with high quality, reliable packaging material—while protecting the environment with cleaner air, less energy consumption and reduced solid waste disposal.

The European Union started a sustainability initiative in packaging many years ago, pushing the idea of collecting and recycling primary plastic containers. For instance, the use of 1 ton of PCR PET reduces by 1.5 tons the emissions of CO2. Cradle to Cradle’s goal is optimizing, providing quality eco-effectiveness. Sustainable packaging will be helping to reach the 2020 target for greenhouse gas emission reduction in the EU-27 countries.

Bormioli Rocco Plastic’s R&D team started a qualification program a few years ago involving European providers of PET recycled materials. The company’s presentation at the 2010 Sustainable Cosmetics Summit in Paris highlighted some of its customer packaging launches.

In France, L’Occitane en Provence has launched a new Verdon range of care products for men, based on the name of the famous river, with 100% PCR PET 150ml containers and PCR polypropylene caps. Aromachologie adopted 100% PCR PET containers for its 300- and 500ml containers, manufactured in injection stretch blow molding.

In Italy, PCR PET has been introduced successfully for Landoll, Natyr and Bjobj brands.

Today’s technology makes it possible to sort different types of packaging material at a very effective rate. A PCR PET material is becoming closer and closer in clearness as to a virgin resin, and therefore its usage should increase for cosmetic primary packaging. Physical and mechanical characteristics are similar to virgin material.

In Europe, packaging sustainability has become an asset of the brand equity. Because upcycling is good for climate protection, as it’s CO2 positive, and for energy effectiveness, more and more brands are introducing sustainable packaging.