Eastman unveils Cristal One recyclable resins for thick-walled, luxury cosmetics packaging

23 Jun 2021 --- US chemical company Eastman is unveiling Cristal One, a portfolio of Resin Identification Code 1 (RIC1) resins engineered to meet the demands of thick-walled packaging for luxury cosmetics, which can be easily recycled.

“Until now brands with a need for thick-walled packaging that also wanted recyclability were at a loss for a suitable material,” Tara Cary, market development manager for Eastman cosmetics and personal care, tells PackagingInsights.

“Cristal One allows industry to create packaging that is recyclable through traditional municipal streams and meets the high-end aesthetics that luxury packaging requires.” 

These resin products are the first RIC1 materials that enable production of transparent jars up to 12 mm in thickness, the company notes.

The Cristal One portfolio includes Cristal One, Cristal One Pro, and Cristal EN and the corresponding Renew materials. The selection gives brands the options to address a large variety of application needs for skin care and color cosmetics.

Working with Aptar’s FusionPKG
Aptar Beauty + Home’s subsidiary company FusionPKG is introducing several new products using Cristal One as well as other sustainable resins from Eastman’s Cristal Renew portfolio with high levels of certified recycled content.

“The recycled content is achieved by allocating the recycled waste plastic to Eastman Renew resins using a mass balance process certified by ISCC,” the company explains.

The Space Max collection features an airless bottle, a modern ampule dropper, an atmospheric bottle, and a doe-foot bottle in Cristal Renew.Cristal One will also be available as Cristal One Renew with up to 50 percent certified recycled content produced by Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies. 

These products provide both certified recycled content and RIC1 recyclability while affording brands freedom of design.

“With Cristal One recyclable resins and the broad portfolio of Eastman Renew materials, FusionPKG now can offer a more sustainable solution without compromise across our extensive portfolio,” says Daniel Campbell, senior sustainability and packaging engineer at FusionPKG. 

“What really stands out with these resins is how they allow us to create the crystal clear, high-end packaging we are known for, while still supporting key sustainability initiatives from our brands.”

Space Max cosmetics packaging range
FusionPKG is launching five of its distinctive, custom packaging creations in Eastman’s new Cristal portfolio.

The launch includes the Max Out series within its merchandising-friendly and much-lauded Space Max collection. 

The Space Max collection features an airless bottle, a modern ampule dropper, an atmospheric bottle, and a doe-foot bottle in Cristal Renew, and a skin care jar in Cristal One.

Through FusionPKG BeautyLab, the turnkey division of FusionPKG, the company can create innovative formulations to provide a total solutions approach.

FusionPKG also plans to work with brands to develop custom packaging using the full range of Cristal Renew with certified recycled content and Cristal One.

“FusionPKG’s sleek design sensibility was just what we were looking for to bring an entirely new product to market,” notes Cary.

“With the Cristal One portfolio, we are able to bring together the best of both worlds, recycled and recyclable, and still provide the performance that brands and design houses like FusionPKG demand for their packaging today.”

Certified recyclable
Cristal One meets the California/ASTM guidelines for RIC1 designation and additional recognitions are under review and coming soon, the company notes.

“Additionally, it has received the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recognition for meeting their Critical Guidance for compatibility with the PET stream. The Cristal One series is also available with certified recycled content, for a resin with a robust beginning-of-life and end-of-life story,” Cary explains.

“Cristal One is the latest breakthrough our scientists are bringing to the market. Beauty is always evolving and Eastman is well-positioned to continue to drive the market forward to meet emerging needs,” she concludes.

By Kristiana Lalou