Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging / Other Environmental policy issues such as climate change, CO2 neutrality, sustainability, environmental protection, waste avoidance and recycling have increasingly become the focus of public interest and politics in recent years. They are taken into account by the EU as an important part of the Green Deal. In particular, the topic of packaging for cosmetics, its quality and the requirements for safe use has increasingly come to the fore of environmental awareness among consumers and politicians in recent years. This applies in particular to so-called PCR and PIR packaging (post-consumer recycling and post-industrial recycling packaging). The regulatory requirements from the European cosmetic product regulation have not changed in recent years. However, since the specifications of the cosmetic product regulation were not described very precisely, the specifications for food packaging have always been used. However, these requirements from food law, which result from the (EU) Regulation 1935/2004 for “food contact materials”, are difficult for PCR packaging to meet, so that the packaging manufacturers and ultimately also the cosmetics manufacturers are faced with a dilemma. Because PCR packaging often comes from open circuits. The different material qualities, possible contamination through external use and residues of the products themselves pose major challenges in terms of processing, compliance with regulatory requirements and safe, non-hazardous use. A PCR packaging material is therefore like a black box, a heterogeneous mixture of different substances. Due to public pressure to use sustainable materials, the cosmetics industry is being asked to use more PCR materials for cosmetic packaging. In order to increase the safety of PCR materials, both a risk-based chemical analysis for possible contaminants and a corresponding assessment are essential. We provide an overview of the regulatory background, show pitfalls in the documentation of packaging, explain the risk-based approach to chemical analysis and provide solutions for an economic approach.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging Per- and polyfluorinated (PFAS) substances are of increasing concern as these substances are nearly non-dgradable in the environment and enrich in biological compartments including the human body. OECD assumes that around 5000 substances belong to PFAS. Several US states have banned the use of PFAS in packaging materials in the last 2 years. In Europe ECHA has published a proposal to ban PFAS in almost all applications by the REACH regulation. Some derogations and transitional periods are foreseen but the overall goal of ECHA is to ban the use of PFAS generally in Europe. This presentation aims to explain what PFAS is, where they are used and which impact can be expected from the ECHA proposal. Furthermore an insight into the challenges of analysing such a heterogenous group of substances will be provided.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging Although the use of non-food compliant recyclates is possible under certain circumstances, in the leave-on sector, for example, many post-consumer recyclates (PCR) have so far not achieved the necessary purity to ensure safe use. Food-grade PCR packaging for cosmetic products would be the solution here. However, the production of high-quality polyethylene recyclates from flexible packaging faces various challenges, such as the purity of the waste stream, the change in material properties or the development of odors. In order to claim food compliance, recycled materials must comply with EFSA-assessed food safety regulations. They can currently only be used if their origin is known and defined, and if they are integrated behind a functional barrier that prevents any migration into the packaged bulk. These challenges are being addressed in the EU Horizon 2020 project CIRCULAR FoodPack, launched in 2021. Fraunhofer IVV scientist Nelly Freitag is working with an interdisciplinary team to develop novel monomaterial packaging that meets design-for-recycling guidelines and is focused on solving multiple challenges along the value chain. The results of the project would greatly facilitate the use of PCR materials in the cosmetics and detergent industries as well.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging The EU's new packaging regulation presents a significant challenge for companies in the cosmetics and detergents industry. However, it also offers opportunities for sustainability and innovation. The goal of this presentation is to provide an overview of the requirements of the regulation, highlight the challenges and opportunities it presents, and offer recommendations for companies in the industry. The presentation will first examine the key requirements of the regulation. It will then explore the challenges and opportunities it presents for the cosmetics industry, including the need to develop sustainable packaging strategies, the potential for innovation in packaging materials and design, and the opportunity to communicate sustainability initiatives to consumers. The presentation will conclude with practical recommendations for companies in the industry and lay out timelines based on latest regulation draft. These recommendations will include a step-by-step approach to developing sustainable packaging strategies, including the identification of optimization opportunities, the development of innovative, sustainable packaging concepts and materials, and the implementation of sustainable supply chains. The goal of this presentation is to provide companies in the cosmetics industry with a roadmap for meeting the requirements of the new packaging regulation while also seizing the opportunities it presents for sustainability and innovation. By adopting sustainable packaging strategies and materials, companies can reduce their environmental impact and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability to consumers. Moreover, by leveraging the potential for innovation in packaging design and materials, companies can differentiate themselves in the marketplace and drive growth in their businesses.

Spoken Language: English Category: Sustainable Packaging In recent years, sustainability has become a growing concern. Consumers are demanding more transparency and businesses are recognizing the importance of reducing their environmental footprint. The upcoming environmental scores will create more pressure on manufacturers. Ecodesign is a powerful tool that can help companies achieve their sustainability goals while also improving their bottom line. We will discuss the key success factors for ecodesign and how to use it as a performance lever in your decision making. Ecodesign is a process that involves designing products considering their environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle. The key success factors for ecodesign in the beauty industry include: 1. Choosing the right materials: The first step is selecting the right materials. Companies should choose materials that are renewable, recyclable, and have a minimal impact on the environment. 2. Reducing packaging waste: Packaging waste is a significant environmental concern in the cosmetics industry. Companies should aim to reduce packaging waste by using lightweight materials and minimizing the amount of packaging used. They can also consider using reusable or refillable packaging. 3. Using energy-efficient processes: Energy consumption is another significant environmental concern in the cosmetics and personal care industry. Companies should use energy-efficient processes to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 4. Implementing sustainable practices: Sustainable practices like recycling, waste reduction, and water conservation can help companies reduce their environmental impact. Companies should implement these practices throughout their entire supply chain, from sourcing materials to manufacturing and distribution. 5. Develop solutions that enable consumer to adopt more sustainable behavior Companies can use ecodesign as a performance lever in their decision making by setting measurable goals, engaging with suppliers, educating employees, and measuring and reporting progress. By implementing ecodesign practices, companies can not only reduce their environmental impact but also improve their brand reputation.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging Plastic materials offer unique combinations of properties and are irreplaceable for all areas of our lives such as packaging. However, the annually increasing production volumes combined with the high durability of the materials also cause problems. On the one hand, there is the dependence on fossil raw materials. On the other hand, there are disposal problems and the unavoidable entry of macro- and microplastics into all areas of the environment. A promising class of plastics, the so-called bioplastics, is currently beginning to establish itself on the plastics market to an increasing extent. They have processing properties that are comparable to those of classic petroleum-based plastics, and they are suitable for a large number of different uses, often items for everyday use. The most important bioplastic types are polylactid acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). PLA is already established on the market, however for many applications in packaging and technical areas more flexible materials such as PBS are needed. The presentation will cover current developments of a value chain of PBS from plant residues, solutions for the hurdles of a market entry for bioplastics and the qualification of PBS for additional demanding fields of application. Within a large eastern and central German consortium, solutions are being developed for building the value chain and for increasing the multiplicity of both properties and types of PBS materials. All individual process steps are coordinated with each other. Special focus will be placed on increasing the variety of types of PBS, as well as on qualifying the material for additional processing techniques and end-product applications that are not accessible today. Therefore, the market needs for different applications will be discussed as well as solutions for technical challenges with respect to the material properties of PBS.

Spoken Language: English Category: Sustainable Packaging The coming “green revolution”, driven both from the consumer side and via legislation, such as the EU Green Deal, presents companies in the packaging sector with a significant push to develop more sustainable solutions. Recently, Integration of recycled materials and switching to mono-material designs have become popular trends in the industry, however, from the perspective of inks, coatings, adhesives etc., such innovations often come with complications in terms of wettability and coating performance, which in turn can lead to increased production issues and product failures. In this talk we outline a process for assessing substrate/coating matching and consider some common issues that often arise as a consequence of poor system compatibility. Finally, we will introduce a new production/QC optimised testing system for assessing coatability and printability of substrates.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging / Recycling, Nachhaltigkeit, Sicherheit The safety of cosmetic plastic packaging is traditionally tested based on food contact regulations. This approach, however, is not possible for recycled plastics, as the use of recycled plastic in food contact is very strictly regulated and currently practically impossible for the most commonly used plastic types in cosmetic packaging, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Therefore, new approaches for safety assessment are necessary. Recycled plastic can potentially contain thousands of different contaminants. However, in general the exposure of consumers to these contaminants is very low in cosmetics, especially for rinse-off products. This study, therefore, focused specifically on substances that could already be a health risk in this low concentration range according to EFSA and WHO: DNA-reactive mutagens. DNA-reactive mutagens cover a broad range of different chemicals, that have only one thing in common: they cause mutations on the DNA, which could potentially trigger cancer formation. In-vitro bioassays, that can specifically detect mutagenic substances are a valuable tool for the detection of DNA-reactive mutagens, as they also respond to currently unknown or unsuspected mutagenic contaminations. More than 100 different types of recycled plastics were analysed for DNA-reactive contaminants. The results confirmed that food grade recycled PET plastic does not show signs for mutagenic activity. However, DNA-reactive contaminants could be detected in some non-food grade recycled plastic materials. These contaminations could be observed in several batches of the same recycled material, while other materials were free of mutagenic activity. Degradation products from some printing inks could be identified as one major risk factor for these critical contaminations. The results from this study can therefore help to distinguish between safe and potentially critical recycled plastics for cosmetic packaging.

Spoken Language: German Category: Sustainable Packaging / Design and Trends Digital printing achieves several goals at once. In terms of sustainability, only the required quantities are produced on demand on recyclable materials, minimizing overproduction and material destruction. A significantly lower environmental impact, compared to conventional production, occurs in the printing process, where no printing plates are used, increasing flexibility for introducing many product variants in smaller quantities. With links from the individualized packaging to the digital world, effective campaigns can be set up to raise awareness of the supplier's sustainability goals in e.g. social media channels. Individual designs, up to edition 1, for a wide range of value propositions, increase the customer's incentive to buy, such as for new product launches, campaigns or re-designs for discontinued products. Changes in the market that require a quick response for text content or design can be implemented in a few days.

Spoken Language: English Category: Sustainable Packaging Aerosols have always offered the consumer a convenient product delivery that best fits their needs. A bad aura however continues to sway along with the term - aerosol. Having long corrected the mistaken choice of chlorofluorocarbon propellants more than a half a century ago, it is about time to review the merits of the packaging in the context of sustainability. Learn about the aerosol basics. Pressurized containers that are air-tight, have long shelf-lives, no period after opening and hence create less waste. Pressure in most aerosols is achieved using liquefied gases, which also act as solvents. Quite green solvents when considering modern aspects of green chemistry. For example, if we dissolve a sticky hair fixating polymer paste in a liquified gas or ethanol and consider its VOC impact, the results may surprise you. The simple answer - density. Liquefied gases can even add to the circular economy by using currently non-recyclable waste. With a CO2 footprint (cradle-to-gate) of 0.7-1.0 kg CO2/kg DME the product performs slightly better than bioethanol. If VOCs are out of question, compressed gases with almost zero environmental impact perform well using new packaging developments. Still not convinced? Consider the advantages of metal packaging. A prime example of circular economy; recycles forever, scores the highest in material circularity in Europe,. 75% ever produced is still in circulation and energy consumption is lowered in can production with post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminum. In total, 6.5 tons of CO2 can be saved per ton aluminum produced. Overall, wrong formulations and design can make aerosols inherently unsustainable. But with the right choice of raw materials and packaging components, aerosols should not be disregarded as a sustainable packaging choice, just because of an outdated bad image. We think it is time to forgive and develop your new sustainable aerosol.