NEWS EXTRA: Perfumes and cosmetics

Green awards presented at Luxe Pack

At the 24th edition of Luxe Pack Monaco, which took place from 19-21 October, the Eastman Natura Chronos product won the 2011 Luxe Pack in Green award.

This Glass Polymer cosmetic jar comprises 45% renewable organic material. It is said to dry 25% faster than traditional copolyesters and process at 20% lower temperatures, resulting in less energy usage and faster production times.

The Glass Polymer has ‘brilliant clarity, dimensional stability and a luxurious tactile feel’, which Natura wanted for its reusable Chronos container. Like its predecessor in the Chronos line, the Passiflora creams are offered in refill packs that easily snap into the Chronos bottomless pot. The solid click of The Glass Polymer ensures the refill cup is firmly embedded, reinforcing the quality image of the Natura brand.

The refill system reduces the amount of resin used and the packaging material required, while also reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. Additionally, The Glass Polymer, a recyclable material, appeals to Natura’s ever growing eco-conscious customer base.

Fashion inspired

Following Unilever’s acquisition of the Toni&Guy trade mark for consumer hair products in 2010, M&H Plastics has worked with Unilever to develop a range of fashion inspired haircare and styling products.

The new packaging features a high build varnish printed onto the text to give a high gloss premium embossed effect, contrasting with the co-ex matt finish of the HDPE bottles. All caps are colour co-ordinated and the caps on the 250ml tubular bottles are tampo-printed with a crest on the top giving an extra touch of luxury.

The collection includes: 250ml HDPE tubular bottles with double-wall X-press cap; 200ml, 150ml and 75ml HDPE tubular bottles plus spray/lotion pump; 50ml HDPE tubular bottles with double-wall screw cap; and 40mm diameter polyethylene tubes.

Bridget O’Lone of Unilever says: “Given Toni&Guy’s distinct British heritage and eclectic sense of style, there was no better time to launch the collection than during London Fashion Week.”

Recycled and reused

The Luxe Pack in Green jury also awarded a special mention to the Lumson Tag (Techno Airless Glass) system.

This cosmetic packaging, created by Lumson for the Ringana brand, combines the technical and functional advantages of an airless system, but also enables recycling thanks to Lumson’s Eco-Lock system – a multi-functional component.

After use, the consumer simply unscrews the pump to separate all the plastics components from the glass bottle. Once the glass has been separated from the plastics components, the final user can send the bottle, already clean because it was never in touch with the product, back to Ringama, which sends it back to Lumson for reuse in the manufacture of a new airless pack.

Complex caps

Albéa has created a complex multi-assembly packaging concept for a Cartier fragrance for women: Baiser Volé. This sleek design actually masks a complex manufacturing process.

The moulded cap is like a small jewel box and is made up of four parts in gold-plated ABS. It contains a counterweight for a heavy, precious metal feel. A magnet is located in the right-hand edge of the cap for easy closing. The ring, engraved with the Cartier signature brand name, is made of a single piece of POM and includes a second magnet, reminiscent of the clasps found on jewel boxes. The gold pushbutton was designed to elegantly dissimulate the spraypump valve. And the subtle engraving of Baiser Volé across the top of the pushbutton echoes the elegant spirit of the fragrance with each application.

Albéa also produced the crystalline cap for Nicci Ricci L’Air parfum. Made from crystal ionomer resin, it has no apparent seam markings.

Both caps were developed at Albéa’s production plant in Parigné l’Evêque, France.