Issue 02/2019

Plastics, made by nature, for cosmetics packaging
10 Years ago
10
Years ago
Cosmetics Pen made of Bio-Flex F 6510
Beautiful Plastics Made by Nature
Just a few cosmetics can be found in pure powder form. A lot of
cosmetics are a mixture of chemical substances held in aqueous
solutions or alcohol-based solvents. So, resistance and a high barrier
against water and alcohol are often basic requirements for any plastics
used in cosmetics packaging.
Polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate (CA) are often chosen as
raw biopolymers for bioplastics. PLA and CA are described as resistant
to fats, water and alcohol [2], but both exhibit only a poor barrier against
moisture vapour and alcohol. Furthermore, CA is described as resistant
to weak acids.
Beauty & Healthcare
Jar 3 made of Bio-Flex V 1410
Published in
bioplastics
MAGAZINE
FKuR´s trade name Bio-Flex ® covers copolyester blends based on
PLA which – depending on the respective grade – are composed of
almost 100% natural resources. Bio-Flex does not contain any starch
or starch derivatives. Bioplastics mostly replace conventional materials,
i.e. polyethylene of low density (LDPE) and of high density (HDPE) as well
as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate
(PET).
Biograde ® is based on cellulose, a product of the paper industry,
and has been specially designed for injection moulding applications.
Biograde is predominantly obtained from natural resources (European
soft wood from sustainable forestry). It does not contain starch or starch
derivatives, and has an excellent heat resistance up to 122 °C. It can be
transparent – depending on the grade – and is food contact approved.
Under the brand name Fibrolon ® , FKuR develops natural fibre reinforced
compounds (Wood/Plastic Composites: WPC), which, unlike many other
WPCs, can be injection moulded without problems. Fibrolon compounds
are characterised by high strengths and stiffness comparable to wood.
Fibrolon F 8530 is a biodegradable compound on the basis of polylactic
acid (PLA) and other compostable biopolymers. The content of natural
resources is almost 100%.
Bottle 2 made of Bio-Flex F 6510
(J. Sieben)
Beauty & Healthcare
Little dish made of Fibrolon F 8530
The applications described emphasise that Bio-Flex, Biograde
and Fibrolon can be easily processed on standard injection moulding,
blow moulding or extrusion machines. Biograde´s resistance, even to
aggressive isododecane (a hydrocarbon ingredient used as a solvent in a
number of cosmetic products) opens the wide field of colour cosmetics
applications, however the barrier properties of all bioplastics really need
to be improved.
Eyeliner Pencil made of Biograde C 7500 CL
[1] Cosmoprof study in co-operation with Formes
de Luxe (2005)
[2] Endres, H.-J., Siebert-Raths, A., Technische
Biopolymere. Hanser Publishers (2009)
www.fkur.com
Beautiful Plastics Made by Nature
bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/09] Vol. 4 11
Article contributed by
Dr. Christian Bonten
Director of Technology and Marketing
FKuR Kunststoff gmbH
Willich germany
Pad bag made of
Bio-Flex F 1130
Cosmetic Pens made of Fibrolon F 8530
B
eauty, and our constant efforts to achieve it, are an expression of
luxury. And this expression is reflected not only in the contents
but also in the packaging. Cosmetics and bodycare are a broad
field of applications and a systematic approach is necessary. Let us divide
the field of cosmetics applications into the following groups:
• Hair Care (hairspray, shampoo, hair colorants, conditioner, curling
aids)
• Colour Cosmetics (lipsticks, eye cosmetics, nail cosmetics, make-up)
• Bath and Shower (bath and shower soaps and syndets)
• Deodorants and anti-perspirants,
• Men´s grooming (razors and shavers, shaving foam and gel, aftershave)
• Oral hygiene (toothpaste, tooth brushes, mouth wash, products for
dentures)
• Fragrances (perfumes, EDTs)
• Skin Care (facial care, body lotion and powder, sun protection, hand
and nail creme, depilatories)
There are a number of major trends in the cosmetics industry [1].
The population in the developed countries of the world is getting older.
This will drive the demand for skin care and premium colour cosmetics.
Furthermore, young girls (8-12 years) increasingly use cosmetics and
their parents help choose them together with the girls. This will lead
to more colourful and striking packaging with more unusual shapes.
Another trend is that teenagers have their own money to buy cosmetics,
but their limited budgets mean that they have to buy mass market
products in retail stores. The fourth trend is that men increasingly use
cosmetics, so premium men‘s cosmetics will grow more strongly.
It is obvious that, in all of the above-mentioned groups of applications,
the requirements placed on plastics are very different. But if plastics are
used as packaging, the requirements become clear and manageable.
Cosmetics packaging producers often ask for availability, processability on
standard machines (extrusion or injection moulding, printing, assembly),
chemical resistance to the cosmetic product, a barrier against the carrier
solution (often water or alcohol), mechanical properties (tensile strength
and impact strength, stiffness), aesthetic appearance (surface quality,
printability etc.).
tinyurl.com/2009cosmetic
48 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/19] Vol. 14
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/09] Vol. 4