So far, there is a high
uncertainty in the cosmetics market, both among manufacturers and recycling
companies, about the use of so-called post-consumer recyclates (PCR) in cosmetics
packaging. Generally, the Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 on cosmetic products
stipulates that manufacturers should of course only put safe products into
circulation. It does not define under which conditions recycled material may be
used – hence, the uncertainty as to whether and in what form recycled material does
meet the safety criteria.
Werner
& Mertz had been driving the development of HDPE treatment processes in a
long-term project with partners and demonstrated that the safe use of recycled
HDPE is possible for so-called rinse-off products – products used for body
cleansing.
As the market leader
in skin care with the well-known NIVEA and Eucerin brands, Beiersdorf recently set
ambitious targets for the recyclability of its packaging within the company’s new
Sustainability Agenda CARE BEYOND SKIN. The first products with bottles made
from recycled plastic have been launched to market. “In our efforts to further increase the proportion of recycled material in
our plastic packaging, we as a manufacturer face the challenge that suppliers
are insufficiently prepared for our material requirements. It quickly became
clear that we had to provide support in the development of high-quality
recyclates, especially in defining quality requirements. Werner & Mertz had
already done excellent preparatory work in this area. Together we developed the
idea further and set the basis for a cosmetics standard,” explains Michael
Becker, Head of Global Packaging Development, Beiersdorf AG.