Where it was once a novelty, sustainability has become a staple characteristic of packaging, and beauty product packaging is no exception in helping push the focus on environmental impact into the mainstream.

Packaging that engages consumers aesthetically and enhances modern lifestyles while minimizing the environmental footprint of products and packaging is at the forefront of advances in packaging design, according to a group of recognized industry experts who gathered in Wilmington, Delaware to judge the 28th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.

“A key theme that [was] reflected in the entries is a sense of responsibility,” said judge Ramon Agustines, Flexible Packaging Division General Manager of Philippines-based Universal Robina Corp. With consumers positioned squarely at the heart of innovation, cutting-edge personal care packaging stands to make consumer lives easier, more convenient, safer and better, while benefiting society as a whole through reduced environmental impact.

Reducing product waste is central to achieving sustainability goals, and offers costs savings and enhances the consumer experience. A perfect example of packaging improvement is Never Miss a Spot Technology, the winning design from PHD Skincare, (shown above) a 2016 Gold Award recipient for consumer-forward packaging design. (shown above)

The sunscreen sprayer provides a uniform fine mist to aid in full coverage of the product, even in those hard to reach places. It also has an easy-to-use lock that prevents inadvertent discharge during transport and storage.  This innovative design allows consumers to use the sunscreen more effectively.

Photos above: PHD Skincare’s innovative package; the Transparent DuPont Surlyn Tube, marketed by Coty Brasil (and described below); the author, Dale Outhous, vice president, DuPont Ethylene Copolymers.  

More Highlights From Recent Years

AmorePacific’s mascara tube eliminates consumer frustrations with inconsistent delivery and dried out product. The cosmetic line received a Gold Award in 2015 for their innovative squeezable mascara tube that helps to dramatically reduce the amount of unusable mascara remaining in the tube and extend the useful life of the mascara, while providing a unique tactile sensation.

Grupo Boticario earned a Silver Award in 2015 for developing a new way to test lipstick that provides a simple, engaging, and sanitary experience for customers. Grupo Boticario developed a single dose of lipstick “printed” on coated cardboard through a process similar to graphic printing. The shared sampling pots in stores may become a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that can cause minor to serious skin problems or infections. It also costs retailers and producers money to replace the contaminated sample cosmetics. 

New technologies help with energy sustainability as well. The Transparent DuPont Surlyn Tube (also shown in the slideshow above), developed by COTY Brasil, is a significant advancement in packaging for the Latin America market that earned a 2016 Silver Award.

COTY Brasil used DuPont Surlyn to replace PET, providing a better tactile experience as well as outstanding clarity. Surlyn has process temperature lower than polyethylene, PET and glass, which reduces the amount of energy needed to transform the raw material in packaging.

Sustainable solutions have long been a major factor in the DuPont Awards. In 2011, The Procter & Gamble Company and Be Green Packaging were named Diamond Winners for their package that included a formable pulp tray made of renewable bamboo and bulrush fiber-based material. The innovative package pushed the boundaries of pulp trays, reducing both cost and material weight. In 2008, Cargo Cosmetics and NatureWorks LLC won for their PlantLove Lipstick, which enabled easier recycling with the added benefit of using a renewable polymer (PLA). The carton also provided outstanding consumer education on responsible disposal.

Life-cycle sustainability has been integrated into packaging design across industries, because consumers are demanding not only that the products they purchase be sustainable, but that their packaging should be as well. 2016 Judge Jeff Schuetz, staff vice president, Global Technology Consumer Packaging, Sonoco, commented: “A theme that I’ve noticed is that packaging sustainability and environmental impact is still alive and well. We don’t talk about it so much, but it’s become much more
mainstream in terms of how people are designing packaging with environmental impact in mind.”

A Long-Running Celebration of Innovation

The DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is the industry’s longest running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain and is recognized globally as the leading packaging awards program. The international competition honors innovations in packaging design, materials, technology and processes.

Judges choose Diamond, Diamond Finalist, Gold and Silver awards based on “excellence” in one, two or all three categories: technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience. 

In the 28th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, the panel of packaging experts evaluated nearly 200 entries from more than 25 countries, selecting a total of 22 winners, which address needs in the food, beverage, consumer goods, personal care, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, industrial and technology industries.

See More: The 2017 DuPont Packaging Awards.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dale Outhous is vice president, DuPont Ethylene Copolymers.