Plastic contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, plastics produced 1.9 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (3.5% of total global emissions), with 90% of this emission coming from plastic production, conversion from fossil fuels, and natural resource exploitation.
Carbon emissions have caused havoc in recent years. However, there is potential to conserve the ecosystem by using sustainable materials without sacrificing product quality. Because packaging accounts for ~35% of total plastic consumption, it is critical to developing a fully sustainable product.
This percentage is primarily made up of single-use plastics. The main issue here is disposal, so reducing waste generation is the best solution. This is precisely where the concept of reusable and refillable packaging emerges.
Metal and glass packaging solutions are becoming more popular, but they come with their own set of challenges (cost and logistics).
Bioplastics offer an alternative. Still a niche area, there are nevertheless numerous bio-based plastic materials that have been in the development or pilot phase for the past ten years that are expected to enter mass production in a few years.
Major bio-based plastics suppliers and cosmetics companies have begun to sign contracts and material off-take agreements. Because of the risks associated with the potential price volatility of fossil fuels, the contract is an extremely important component for the ease of the transition from fossil to bio.
Successful single-use plastic alternatives include:
PEF (Poly Ethylene Furanoate)
PEF is a 100% bio-based drop-in replacement for petrochemical PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) packaging materials. PEF, like PET, can be used to make plastic bottles, films, and other packaging materials that are widely used in the personal care industry.
In the industry, PEF is referred to as the next-generation polyester because it has better mechanical and barrier properties than polyester (PET) and is 100% bio-based.
Plastic contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, plastics produced 1.9 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (3.5% of total global emissions), with 90% of this emission coming from plastic production, conversion from fossil fuels, and natural resource exploitation.
Carbon emissions have caused havoc in recent years. However, there is potential to conserve the ecosystem by using sustainable materials without sacrificing product quality. Because packaging accounts for ~35% of total plastic consumption, it is critical to developing a fully sustainable product.
This percentage is primarily made up of single-use plastics. The main issue here is disposal, so reducing waste generation is the best solution. This is precisely where the concept of reusable and refillable packaging emerges.
Metal and glass packaging solutions are becoming more popular, but they come with their own set of challenges (cost and logistics).
Bioplastics offer an alternative. Still a niche area, there are nevertheless numerous bio-based plastic materials that have been in the development or pilot phase for the past ten years that are expected to enter mass production in a few years.
Major bio-based plastics suppliers and cosmetics companies have begun to sign contracts and material off-take agreements. Because of the risks associated with the potential price volatility of fossil fuels, the contract is an extremely important component for the ease of the transition from fossil to bio.
Successful single-use plastic alternatives include:
PEF (Poly Ethylene Furanoate)
PEF is a 100% bio-based drop-in replacement for petrochemical PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) packaging materials. PEF, like PET, can be used to make plastic bottles, films, and other packaging materials that are widely used in the personal care industry.
In the industry, PEF is referred to as the next-generation polyester because it has better mechanical and barrier properties than polyester (PET) and is 100% bio-based.
