Plastic islands, production impact and recycling rates are skeletons of a heavy past. At Studio Concept, we believe in sustainable cosmetics, starting with still life.
Indice
The importance of eco-packaging in the cosmetics sector: an environmental and social imperative
Impressive are the numbers revolving around packaging, the estimate for 2025 speaks of a value that could go beyond 900 trillion dollars. Packaging in cosmetics thus confirms itself as one of the main challenges in the beauty industry worldwide.
Macroplastic pollution is a problem that is there for all to see, while microplastic pollution is a silent killer that is literally eroding marine ecosystems. Despite more than 40 years of combating plastics, the figures describing the problem still do not seem comforting.
While Europe achieves only 40% in packaging recycling, the USA stops at a paltry 28%. The percentages are not encouraging when you consider that they come from the biggest users in the beauty market. The health of the environment and future generations demand it, cosmetics is being called to a green revolution for real. Here is the deeper meaning in the decision to turn to eco-packaging.
Guide to eco-packaging materials and symbols: understanding and choosing responsibly
The ideal packaging must guarantee perfect preservation in terms of humidity and temperature, this is the real challenge that eco-packaging has to overcome. Today’s technologies have opened up previously unimaginable avenues, both new materials and design innovations produce interesting but above all competitive solutions.
Bioplastics are a viable alternative to polyvinyl chloride derivatives, these are obtained from plant materials such as sugar cane. They are not biodegradable compounds but are open to perfect regeneration.
Sulpac, on the other hand, is the biodegradable alternative; this material is made from wood processing waste and is gaining particular popularity. Glass is decidedly older but guarantees 100% recyclability, its preservation qualities are also very high.
Recyclable paper has a very good return rate in the production cycle. It is not the ideal solution for liquid products, but it is fostering a return to solid cosmetics. Projects on recycled paper can guarantee interesting prospects.
Understanding materials means knowing how to interpret and dispose of them in the most appropriate way, hence the importance of symbols. The classic three arrows, arranged in a triangle, indicate that the packaging is recyclable. Added to this are the FSC symbol, certifying wood and paper from sustainable supply chains, and the Ecolabel, certifying low environmental impact throughout the production chain.
Requirements and innovations for sustainable cosmetic packaging: towards the future
The packaging of the future must guarantee:
- safety towards the environment from the beginning to the end of its life cycle;
- use of recyclable raw materials;
- “clean” production and distribution through the use of renewable energy;
- competitive and cost-effective design.
The mono-material solution is one of the most current perspectives, the choice can streamline the impact of packaging on the environment. The future aims at making packaging lighter, here graphic design is also called upon to face a challenge that is anything but symbolic.
Paper is the other protagonist in packaging in the making, attention is being paid to it that exceeds usual expectations. Although traditionally reserved for secondary packaging, paper is increasingly entering the composition of primary containers. The revolution is beginning.
Contact us for more information on our services
Examples of Sustainable Cosmetic Packaging Design
Designing in a green key is not limited to the use of the most natural colours, even the graphic realisation is called upon to give the usefulness of packaging the space it deserves. This results in clearly defined guidelines for environmentally friendly design.
Packaging design VITAMINICS
The project engaged Studio Concept in the launch of the new line for the large-scale retail trade. The challenge involved both the primary and secondary packaging, the detail also allowed for a more environmentally friendly design. In addition to the packaging, the entire visual instrument panel at the point of sale was also added.
The careful choice of materials and the cleanliness of the graphics aimed to tell the story of the product by entrusting it to packaging that is both functional and effective. The preference of colours with white reinforces the communication and gives the right space to the information.
Still Life Photographs for Cosmoproject Aqua Concept
Eliminating excess is as fundamental in packaging as it is in cosmetics still life, here Studio Concept has removed all the superfluous precisely to give the product the space it deserves. Minimising environmental impact means reducing the concept to the essentials.
The project revolves around water, a fundamental element for life. Despite its simplicity, the result proves capable of arousing a good deal of interest. Rendering, reconstruction and post-production have found in the white background the most communicative stylistic feature. In addition to the materials, the packaging becomes ecological in its concepts.
In an era where environmental awareness is more necessary than ever, the cosmetics industry’s impact on the planet requires deep reflection and a concrete commitment to more sustainable practices. Studio Concept emerges as a pioneer in this field, embracing a future where cosmetics not only enhance outer beauty but actively contribute to the health of our environment.
