SABIC and Beiersdorf unveil cosmetic packaging with certified renewable polypropylene
15 Dec 2020 --- SABIC is collaborating with Beiersdorf to help the latter develop environmentally sustainable packaging solutions for its cosmetics, using certified renewable polypropylene (PP) from SABIC’s TruCircle portfolio.
The new packaging will be introduced to the market in 2021 and replace fossil-based virgin PP for Beiersdorf cosmetics packaging.
“From sourcing the raw feedstock to producing the polymers, each ton of SABIC’s bio-based PP and polyethylene (PE) resin reduces CO2 emissions by an average of 4 kg as compared to fossil-based virgin alternatives, while at the same time cutting fossil depletion by up to 80 percent,” a SABIC spokesperson tells PackagingInsights.
The figures are based on a SABIC study carried out according to ISO 14040, which has also been validated in a critical third-party review, the spokesperson confirms.
“The use of renewable raw materials in our product packaging represents a major lever for us to reduce our carbon emissions and improve our ecological footprint,” says Michael Becker, who heads Beiersdorf’s Global Packaging Development.
Second generation materials
SABIC’s certified renewable polymers, including various PP and PE materials, are derived from animal-free and palm oil-free “second generation” renewable feedstock. This includes tall oil waste from the wood pulping process in the paper industry, not in direct competition with human food and animal feed production sources.
“We are the first in our mass-market segment to use PP made from renewable, plant-based raw materials as a packaging material for our cosmetic products. Together with SABIC, we take an important next step toward achieving our ambitious sustainability targets,” Becker notes.
SABIC and Beiersdorf are developing sustainable packaging solutions for cosmetics, using certified renewable PP. The new packaging will be introduced in 2021 and replace fossil-based virgin PP in Beiersdorf’s cosmetic packaging.As part of its Care Beyond Skin sustainability agenda involving ambitious 2025 targets, Beiersdorf wants to make its packaging 100 percent refillable, reusable or recyclable, increase the share of recycled material in plastic packaging to 30 percent and reduce the use of fossil-based virgin plastic by 50 percent (compared to 2019).
“We welcome Beiersdorf on our journey toward transforming the plastics industry into a circular and sustainable economy,” comments Sergi Monros, vice president of Performance Polymers & Industry Solutions for Petrochemicals at SABIC.
“Innovative cosmetics packaging using our certified renewable PP and PE polyolefins can make a significant contribution to reducing fossil depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. The plant-based materials provide easy drop-in solutions to existing fossil-based plastic conversion processes and applications without compromising on purity, quality, safety or convenience. SABIC is determined to help support its partners in benefiting from this potential.”
A mass balance approach
SABIC’s certified renewable polymers are based on a mass balance approach in compliance with the widely recognized International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) scheme.
The mass balance is determined to allocate the renewable content used in the production and conversion of the plastic material to the ultimate application. This allows brand owners to highlight and quantify the sustainable choice consumers can make by purchasing end products packaged in renewable plastics.
The ISCC Plus accreditation verifies that the mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. In addition, the certification also provides traceability throughout the partners’ entire supply chain from the feedstock to the final product.
SABIC’s complete TruCircle offering comprises design for recyclability services, mechanically recycled materials, certified circular products from chemical recycling of used plastics and certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock.
Commenting on the move to sustainable plastic solutions, the SABIC spokesperson says plastic has enabled and continues to enable the well-being and development of society over the past 50 years, but has also led to a series of new challenges such as climate change and plastic misuse.
“SABIC is committed to working with partners across the value chain to drive a circular economy for plastics, one in which products and raw materials are not wasted, or lost to the environment or incineration, but are used to create new, valuable products and keep materials moving,” they add.
By Kristiana Lalou
