Lumene partners with UPM and SABIC on large-scale bio-based cosmetic jar rollout

01 Jun 2023 --- Nordic beauty company Lumene is replacing all 50 mL moisturizer jars in its core product ranges with a bio-based jar made from side streams of the Finnish forest industry. In cooperation with UPM Biofuels and SABIC, Lumene is “the first” to launch a bio-based packaging application with both jar and label made of wood-based residue.

“At Lumene, we constantly invest in novelty technologies to improve the sustainability of our packaging. This new 97% bio-based jar is one option to reduce the use of fossil-based plastic,” says Essi Arola, head of R&D, packaging and sustainability at Lumene.

“By 2025, we aim to have 80% of our plastic packaging made of recycled or renewable raw materials.” 

Lumene’s new jar and the self-adhesive label originate from renewable UPM BioVerno naphtha, produced by UPM Biofuels in Finland. The naphtha raw material is processed into certified renewable PP by SABIC and converted into commonly recyclable cosmetics containers and product labels printed on UPM Raflatac Forest Film label material.

“We are committed to replacing fossil-based feedstocks with renewable ones. This collaboration with Lumene, SABIC and UPM Raflatac is an excellent example of a future beyond fossils, a key driver for UPM going forward,” states Juha Rainio, sales and marketing director at UPM Biofuels.

Upcycling wood pulp residue
The companies detail that tall oil, a side stream material of pulp manufacturing, is used to produce wood-based feedstock to replace fossil raw materials. 

Lumene will replace over 1.5 million pieces of 50 mL jars annually, with bio-based packaging.According to the partners, their certified renewable solutions are not directly competing with the food chain and can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, no additional forest logging is required since the jar is made of side stream material.

“At Lumene, the packaging forms a large part of the product’s carbon footprint. The 50 mL jar is our most used packaging with 1.5 million pieces annually. That is why it has an important role in our sustainability roadmap,” Arola says.

“With the new jar, Lumene reduces the use of fossil plastic by 64 metric tons annually. For consumers, the change is not evident. The bio-based jar has the same appearance and properties as the current fossil-based plastic jar. However, it is a more sustainable option for a conscious consumer and one possibility to make a better choice.”

The new jar, lid and label are bio-based, but the soft plastic in the liner inside the lid consists of fossil-based plastic, representing 3% of the total weight. The liner is used to make the pack airtight and is not yet available with a bio-based option, says the skin care and makeup manufacturer.

“Lumene took a holistic view of the package – using renewable fossil-free feedstocks in the primary plastic as well as the label. Both are critical to the brand experience and integral to the circularity and climate performance of packaging,” adds Eliisa Laurikainen, business development manager at UPM Raflatac.

Toward 2025 goal
Lumene recently chose Eastman Cristal One E Renew for the packaging of its skin care product Nordic Hydra Birch Dew Jelly. The bottle contains recyclable resin with molecularly recycled content designed for extrusion blow molding. 

The brand worked with Germany-based plastic packaging provider Rebhan to bring the first Cristal One E Renew packaging to the market. 

Furthermore, it introduced a new set of water-based skincare products using Sulapac bio-based packaging jars. The outer part of the jar is made of wood-containing Sulapac material, while the inner lining of the jar is made of the Sulapac barrier material that offers protective properties needed to maintain the quality of sensitive skincare emulsion. 

By Radhika Sikaria

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