Recyclates enter mainstream: High-quality cosmetic products packaged in recycled plastic

A milestone for sustainable cosmetic packaging: For its oxidising agent bottles used in hairdressing, premium cosmetics manufacturer La Biosthétique will in future rely on post-consumer recyclate (PCR). “Sustainable packaging is, alongside mobility, digital training concepts and product use, one of the four key levers for achieving our climate targets,” says Dr Christian Ader, COO of Laboratoire Biosthétique Kosmetik GmbH & Co. KG. By 2030, the company aims to reduce its CO² emissions by 20 per cent compared with 2019 – continuing to align itself with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C climate goal.

Packaging optimisation with ‘Made for Recycling’
To make its extensive product portfolio more sustainable, the cosmetics manufacturer has already had all packaging categories assessed in line with the Interzero “Made for Recycling” standard. As part of a strategic partnership, La Biosthétique and Interzero are now also driving forward the use of recyclates:
“So far we have used recycled plastics of industrial origin – Interzero now enables us to process PCR, i.e. material from end consumers. For us, this is the next logical step towards a genuine circular economy,” says Dr Ader.

Including CosPaTox certification
A clear advantage of the cooperation: Interzero accompanies sustainable packaging innovations from start to finish, ensuring access to the required recyclates as well as to the expertise of its internationally renowned in-house laboratory. In the current project, one challenge lay in the fact that hydrogen peroxide in the packaging can lead to gas formation and pressure build-up.
“We had to ensure that the recyclate bottle was stable enough and met all the requirements of the CosPaTox industry consortium for cosmetic packaging,” explains Dr Ader. “The CosPaTox certification, carried out in the Interzero laboratory, confirms the product safety and suitability of the packaging for cosmetic use. This clears the way for series production.”