Parfums Christian Dior is the first of LVMH's major historic Houses to introduce Eastman Cristal^™ Renew copolyester, with 30% certified recycled content,* for its Dior Addict Lip Maximizer packaging that hits shelves this summer. Eastman and LVMH will continue to work together on sustainable packaging solutions across LVMH's family of distinguished brands, with additional adoption expected over the next several months.

"Our collaboration with Eastman marks a critical milestone towards progressively eliminating fossil-fuel-based plastics from our packaging. With our recently published LIFE 360 program, we made the decision that our packaging will contain zero plastic from virgin fossil resources in the years ahead," said Hélène Valade, LVMH environmental development director.

"Eastman's innovative molecular recycling technologies are playing a crucial role in helping LVMH achieve our sustainability targets," said Valade. "We are at the very beginning of our journey to meet our targets. With our first deadline in 2023, we need solutions that are available now and at a global scale, ensuring our customers experience these benefits immediately."

Introduced in late 2020, Eastman's portfolio of sustainable resins for cosmetic packaging builds on its long history of innovation and knowledge of the cosmetics industry.

Eastman's groundbreaking Advanced Circular Recycling technologies produce resins from mixed waste plastic rather than fossil-based feedstocks. These innovative molecular recycling technologies divert waste plastic from landfills, give waste plastic new life, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions relative to traditional production.

With Eastman's technologies, brands can meet their ambitious targets for recycled content right now and maintain the premier aesthetics and function that luxury consumers expect.

"LVMH is staking out a leadership position among luxury brand houses by taking bold action to achieve environmental excellence," said Scott Ballard, vice president and general manager, specialty plastics, Eastman. "We are proud to be working with LVMH and to provide the technology and products that will help them deliver on their circular economy goals."

US-based cough drop brand Halls has partnered with TerraCycle to launch a recycling programme for cough and sore throat drop packaging in the US.

The programme covers packaging for all Halls products as well as cough and sore throat drops from all other brands.

To participate in the programme, consumers must create a TerraCycle account. They can then start collecting cough drop packaging in any box they have.

Once a box is full, consumers can log into their TerraCycle account to download and print a shipping label.

The box must then be sealed, affixed with the label and sent to TerraCycle via United Parcel Service (UPS).

Halls senior brand manager Danielle Freid said: “The Halls brand is excited to partner with TerraCycle to ensure any brand of cough and sore throat drop packaging can be recycled in the US. This is an important first step towards sustainable solutions for our brand.”

The collected plastic waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic, which can be remoulded to make recycled products, including park benches and picnic tables.

Collectors can also earn points based on the weight of each shipment of packaging they send to TerraCycle. Consumers can donate the points to a non-profit, school or charitable organisation of their choice.

TerraCycle CEO and founder Tom Szaky said: “The occasional cough or sore throat is something we all share. But by participating in the Halls Recycling Program, you can be rewarded for doing the right thing.”

Last week, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare partnered with TerraCycle to make its product packaging and aerosol containers recyclable.

The companies will introduce two programmes to allow customers to recycle empty Gold Bond, Cortizone-10 and Selsun Blue packaging.

Rick Michelman, chief technology officer & EVP, Americas, and printing and packaging, said, “We want to help transition the industry into more sustainable packaging. Our barrier coatings help improve fibre-based packaging’s functionality and performance while managing its end-of-life.”

The company has been opening new markets for paper and film packaging ever since creating its first repulpable water-based coating over 50 years ago. Their current barrier and functional coatings for paper and film make it possible to develop recyclable, repulpable, and industrially compostable packaging.

Michelman added, “Because IMFA’s members include manufacturers of moulded fibre products, industry suppliers and service providers, Michelman has surrounded itself with like-minded organisations that will help accelerate the pace of product innovations for moulded fibre applications.” 

Like moulded fibre, Michelman’s water-based coatings offer opportunities to increase sustainable practices, reduce waste, and deliver product performance using fewer raw materials, with repulpable, recyclable, compostable, and renewably-sourced options.

The two companies have agreed to develop specific projects for the optimised management of compostable products and packaging, to be recycled and recovered together with the organic fraction of solid municipal waste in Iren’s treatment plants.

Iren operates in the sectors of electricity, gas, thermal energy for district heating, management of integrated water services, environmental services and technological services.

Under the agreement, dedicated flows (some of which experimental) will be organised for organic waste fractions containing disposable compostable products coming from markets, catering businesses and large events.

Renato Boero, Iren chairman, said: “Innovation and attention to the circular economy are two distinctive aspects of our vision and this collaboration with Novamont, through research and experimentation on the ground, further enhances Iren’s role as a strategic player in the Green Economy.”

Catia Bastioli, Novamont chief executive, added: “The partnership with Iren will be strategic not only to improve waste management, but above all to close the carbon cycle, regenerate soil and decarbonise the atmosphere, while experimenting new solutions in a logic of learning by doing”.

According to a news release from Kraft Heinz, the project installed roofing made from postconsumer flexible plastic into two Kraft Heinz manufacturing plants in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and Holland, Michigan. The recycled roofing materials were installed late in 2020. Kraft Heinz says the materials included 4-foot-by-8-foot boards, and 94 percent of each board was made of postconsumer recycled plastic and fiber. Kraft Heinz says it’s using flexible plastic packaging in materials across its product portfolio.

The company says the pilot project will be monitored for performance versus standard building materials. If the recycled materials perform as well as or better than standard building materials, Kraft Heinz says it will “strongly consider standardizing the use of this recycled material in the future.” The company plans to report on its use of recycled content to the Association of Plastic Recyclers Demand Champion program, having joined late last year.

“It was a privilege being part of MRFF, which not only helped identify ways to curbside collect and recycle flexible packaging but also identified end markets that we could leverage within our facilities,” says Erik Groner, senior principal packaging engineer at Kraft Heinz. “Our test project highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging and the priority it places on its environmental, social and governance commitments. Kraft Heinz continues to search for ways to make our packaging recyclable and to incorporate recycled content within our supply chain.”

Susan Graff, vice president of Michigan-based Resource Recycling Systems and a MRFF research director, adds, “This Kraft Heinz project is a powerful example of environmental stewardship, reducing use of virgin materials by choosing roofing material made of recycled flexible plastic packaging.” Working with recyclers, they’ve provided a model for addressing expectations for full life cycle management of plastic while using an efficient, low-cost package for consumer product protection.”

Rick Michelman, chief technology officer & EVP, Americas, and printing and packaging, said, “We want to help transition the industry into more sustainable packaging. Our barrier coatings help improve fibre-based packaging’s functionality and performance while managing its end-of-life.”

The company has been opening new markets for paper and film packaging ever since creating its first repulpable water-based coating over 50 years ago. Their current barrier and functional coatings for paper and film make it possible to develop recyclable, repulpable, and industrially compostable packaging.

Michelman added, “Because IMFA’s members include manufacturers of moulded fibre products, industry suppliers and service providers, Michelman has surrounded itself with like-minded organisations that will help accelerate the pace of product innovations for moulded fibre applications.” 

Like moulded fibre, Michelman’s water-based coatings offer opportunities to increase sustainable practices, reduce waste, and deliver product performance using fewer raw materials, with repulpable, recyclable, compostable, and renewably-sourced options.

The supplier has cut Hula Hoop packaging by 23%, equal to 11 tonnes of plastic, while Popchips and Tyrrells packaging are both down by 14%, equivalent to 23 and 43 tonnes respectively.

KP is also investing in new equipment to package its products in a more efficient way, which means it can cut 142 tonnes of packaging across Nik Naks, Space Raiders, and Skips.

Meanwhile, it intends to save a further 144 tonnes of plastic due to packaging reductions in Popchips sharing bags, Hula hoops six-packs, Butterkist, and Hula Hoops Puft.

The packaging reductions are a part of the company’s Taste for Good responsible business programme. KP is committed to reducing its total waste by at least 5% every year.

Mark Duffy, manufacturing director at KP Snacks, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to reduce our impact on the environment, and sustainability is one of the four key pillars of our Taste for Good programme.

“In addition to reducing the amount of packaging we use, we’ve also introduced a partnership with TerraCycle, so that all of our snack packs can be recycled at any of 500 drop-off locations across the UK.

“Our ultimate aim is to make all of our plastic film packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and we’re well on our way to achieving this.”

To support its initiatives, KP has appointed Nicola Robinson in the newly created role of head of sustainability.

Customers across the United States can now shop online at Loop Beauty By Ulta for beauty and personal care products in durable, sustainable packaging which will be refilled and reused. 
 
“Rethinking packaging provides the industry with the opportunity to develop new, luxurious designs that are also sustainable,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, Loop and TerraCycle. “Consumers are increasingly asking for more environmentally responsible options in this category and this collaboration provides them with a solution that is simple and convenient.”

How It Works
 
When placing an order, Loop shoppers pay a deposit on each package which is fully refundable upon return. After use, consumers simply place empty packages back into the exclusively designed tote and schedule a free pickup online. 
 
“As the nation’s leading beauty retailer, we have a responsibility to continuously improve and bring innovative solutions forward for the industry,” commented Dave Kimbell, president, Ulta Beauty. "This first-of-its-kind partnership with the pioneers at Loop is an exciting step on our journey. We look forward to seeing our guests embrace Loop by Ulta Beauty as we all work together to create a lasting legacy for our world.”
 
At launch, participating brands include Burt’s Bees, Plaine Products and Mad Hippie, among others. Oneka Elements, Dermalogica and L’ANZA will be coming to the platform soon.
 
Ulta Beauty announced its partnership with Loop within its Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty launch, a holistic initiative focused on delivering transparency, education and choice. Together the companies will work to help minimize the more than 120 billion packaging units produced globally annually within the cosmetics industry and fuel actionable improvements for the industry and the world.

The 200ml refill bottle is made of HDPE, PP, or PET. Due to their shape, the refill bottles make it easy for consumers to squeeze out their contents in consistent doses – plus, they can be provided with an attractive label. In addition, the non-removable, hinged snap-on lid is fitted with a safety lock. They also have a large surface area that can be designed or decorated attractively.

Greiner Packaging is committed to advancing a sustainable circular economy that, in addition to recycling, also delivers reductions in plastic material use.

Consumers can get as much out of a single new refill bottle as they otherwise could from four separate plastic spray bottles, including trigger sprayers – over its lifecycle, original 500ml spray bottles and trigger sprayers can produce 10,000 individual 1ml sprays, ensuring that they can be used to its maximum potential.

Tõnu Kundla, International Business Development Manager at Greiner Packaging, said: “It goes without saying that we were primarily aiming to reduce material use when we developed the new spray bottle multidose refill. The amount saved increases exponentially throughout the intelligent refill cycle – ultimately yielding a reduction of up to 85 per cent. Each year, this could save up to 1,000 metric tonnes of plastic, if we assume that there are 20 million standard spray bottles a year. In order to be sustainable, reuse of a spray bottle and its refills must become a new normal.”

Outer packaging is no longer strictly necessary here, which further reduces material use while underscoring sustainability. Furthermore, the option of producing the entire bottle from PCR plastic adds more sustainability.