The magical packaging is here

Aesthetics and sensory appeal (visual and tactile) have traditionally been the main considerations for beauty, cosmetic and luxury packaging. Beauty brands invest significant time, money and resources in developing packaging that communicates the quality, luxury and value of their products. Often, brands do not consider the sustainability and environmental impact of their packaging, and what to do with it after use.

However, over the past five years or so, the cosmetics industry has undergone major changes in packaging, with sustainability taking center stage while aesthetics and visual appeal (sometimes a priority) take a backseat. There are several reasons for this shift, some of which are:

Global concern over packaging waste and plastic waste (land and sea)

Increased global regulation (e.g. plastic bans, charges, taxes)

Sustainable development commitments of major beauty brands

Increased consumer demand for sustainable packaging

Global concern over climate change and greenhouse gases

In response to these concerns and issues, most brands and packaging companies have begun to pay attention to and practice their own sustainable development commitments.

Fully recyclable packaging; this can be achieved by reducing the number of components in the packaging and using mono-material packaging (where possible). There are guidelines in the US, Europe and other parts of the world to design packaging for easy recycling;

Biodegradable/compostable packaging: this type of packaging can often be composted in industrial composting facilities;

Bio-based or renewable plastics that reduce greenhouse gases: Bio-based or "green polyethylene" derived from sugar cane is an example.

Although many companies have begun to recycle products after use, many recycling systems are still imperfect, and many small parts of cosmetic packaging still end up in landfills. Currently, compostable or plantable material options are the safest options if we want to ensure that packaging materials do not end up in landfill or in the ocean. If every country had an optimal recycling process and consumers were more educated, the ultimate goal of sustainable cosmetic packaging would include the use of recycled plastics.

In the long run, sustainable packaging is expected to be a major opportunity for the beauty industry. Investing in this area is not only good for the environment, companies can also improve their global image through such behaviors, increase customer loyalty to enhance corporate value, and ultimately increase market share to achieve profitability.