Eastman and its Project Partners Present <<Bb>>, a New Innovative Packaging Concept!

The thick-walled EBM bottles are the result of Rebhan’s extensive developments in EBM manufacturing to create a new plastic-based alternative for high-class cosmetics bottles.

27/10/06 Eastman Chemical Company and its four partners on the «Bb» project unveil an exciting evolution in luxury packaging for the cosmetics and personal care markets with a new, sensory-stimulating concept illustrated from the world of babies but designed for adults.

Launched at LUXEPACK 2006, «Bb» highlights the potential for packaging differentiation that can be achieved with Eastman’s pioneering material - The Glass Polymer EB062 - thanks to new techniques in extrusion blow moulding (EBM) technology. It combines innovative developments from Eastman and its four partners on this project, Rebhan, Eurofragance, VALOIS and Pfeiffer.

Centred around Rebhan’s Extrusion Blow Moulding expertise, the concept surfs on the latest packaging trends and opens a new way in the world of water-based fragrances. Both the water-based perfume and lotion are fragranced with a unique scent formulated by Eurofragance that renews the classical citric lavender scheme with fruity-gourmand, mouth-watering notes inspired from soft pineapple flavoured sweets that bring back memories of childhood.

The thick-walled EBM bottles are the result of Rebhan’s extensive developments in EBM manufacturing to create a new plastic-based alternative for high-class cosmetics bottles.
 
With this step forward, Rebhan becomes the first packaging provider to offer EBM THICK WALL technology to the cosmetics and personal care markets. Available in standard square, oval, round, and customised shapes, the bottles deliver extensive potential for producing high-quality, differentiated bottles for skin care creams, lotions, gels, water-based fragrances and many other cosmetic products. They offer high transparency, a glass-like appearance with an extra thick walled area in the base, a low risk of breakage, the possibility for tailored finishings, for example using colour or texture, and with an ultra-violet blocking additive the bottles can be protected from yellowing.

Valérie Bouvignies, cosmetics and personal care marketing Europe, Eastman Chemical Company, and Co-ordinator of the «Bb» concept, comments: “The strength of «Bb» lies in the various innovations, successfully drawn together to highlight the vast potential for new, luxury packaging for the cosmetics and personal care markets. Rebhan’s success in adapting the EBM process to suit The Glass Polymer EB062 will open new doors for these markets to achieve cost-effective, differentiated packaging.”

The scent

Eurofragance, a Spanish company specialising in the design and manufacture of fragrances, perfumes and flavours, developed a 100% water-based, 100% allergen-free scent for both the perfume and the lotion. A fresh, tropical fragrance of pineapple and sweet sugar, mingled with orange flower notes and white musk undertones was selected.

Delphine Hitier, Export Area manager, explains: “We worked closely with Eastman to illustrate Rebhan’s innovative use of The Glass Polymer EB062 with a creative scented solution. We were looking to reflect the purity of babies in a scent that would also appeal to adults by evoking their sweetest childhood memories – a novel idea for the cosmetics and personal care industries. To that end we opted for a unique fragrance that would also meet new European regulations for 100% allergen-free, non-alcohol based products.”

Perfume dispenser

For the «Bb» perfume bottle, VALOIS, the leading developer of fragrance dispensing systems, chose its premium, best-selling VP4 pump containing a brand new ‘Aqua’ feature. Due to be launched to the market at the end of 2006, the ‘Aqua’ insert creates a gentle, fine mist which improves ease of spraying. The plastics-based pump was finished in aluminium to reflect the high-quality aesthetics of the EBM bottles.
 
“When Eastman asked us to become involved in the «Bb» concept, we were delighted to be able to partner our own innovation – Aqua – with this highly innovative development,” comments Patrick Bousquel, Marketing Manager BU Dispensing System, VALOIS Perfumery & Cosmetics.

The lotion

Eastman was able to draw on an exciting new innovation from within the Company when developing the baby lotion. NutriLayer is a premium, natural ingredient for topical skin and face creams, sun screens and lip care. It is derived from non-genetically modified rice bran oil and provides moisturising, antioxidant and soothing benefits in cosmetics and personal care products.

James McCaulley, Eastman’s global market development manager, Personal Care, comments: “The «Bb» concept provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate not only the versatility of Nutrilayer as an ingredient for lotions as well as creams, but also to highlight how Eastman works across its areas of expertise to deliver innovations to its customers. Eastman is becoming a supplier that can handle both packaging and ingredients for cosmetics and personal care products; an innovative and exciting step forward for both industries.”

Lotion dispenser

Adding to the list of innovations, Pfeiffer, the leading manufacturer of innovative dispensing systems, contributed a newly-designed dispenser for the lotion. Intended for lotions and gels, the Cremosa pump, designed by Dieter Bakic, is available in different volume and closure sizes. Regarded as “la crème de la crème of design”, it offers a comfortable finger mould for smooth handling and a three-point locking mechanism to give strong protection against unintended actuation.
 
“In the «Bb» concept we saw a good opportunity to present our new cosmetic pump-design CREMOSA with other innovative partners. This design fits perfectly to a broad variety of bottle shapes and sizes and gives a luxury look to the complete packaging, “explains Stephan Scheytt, Marketing & Product Management, Pfeiffer.