From September 2024, the first standardised returnable PET bottle for cosmetics and care products will be introduced in Germany. The innovative packaging concept was developed by Sea Me GmbH in collaboration with packaging and recycling specialist Alpla.
The Sea Me GmbH and Alpla have a Standardised returnable PET bottle developed, which is the first of its kind for Cosmetic products is used. The bottle has a volume of 300 millilitres and will initially be introduced in Germany for various branded products such as shampoo, shower gel, washing-up liquid and dental care. Austria will follow a month later.
According to the companies, the returnable PET bottle, which is available in clear, milky white and brown, was specially developed for the Developed for multiple use and is fully recyclable. A 2D data matrix code on each bottle provides information about the contents and the number of rounds. This labelling enables companies to Track the life cycle of the bottles and thus further promote sustainability.
The introduction of a returnable PET bottle represents a significant innovation for the cosmetics industry, as up to now Reusable systems mainly limited to glass bottles were. The PET version offers a shatterproof and lighter alternative, which is particularly advantageous for care products in the bathroom. The new system is designed to Strengthening the plastics cycle and contribute to the reduction of CO2-footprint.
The bottle was developed jointly by Alpla and Sea Me GmbH at Alpla's in-house design centre. The developers placed particular emphasis on the longevity and recyclability of the bottle. „With ‚Design for Recycling‘, we are setting the course early on for optimal recycling and the longest possible service life,“ explained Alexander Tränkle, Industrial Designer at Alpla. This should help to minimise the Reduce material consumption and protect the environment at the same time.
A special aspect of the new bottles is the Innovative serialisation code, which is not only used for traceability, but also supports quality assurance. This labelling can also be extended by combining it with the information from the label to provide additional data on the product.
The reusable system will initially be introduced in Germany from September, followed by a launch in Austria in October. The first brands to use the new PET bottles include Sea Me's own brand as well as sodasan, i+m Naturkosmetik, Speick, denttabs, 4 people who care and Aveo from Müller. The bottles can be returned after use in exchange for a Deposit of 0.50 euros at the collection points the trading partner.
With this development, Sea Me GmbH aims to provide a sustainable solution for the cosmetics industry that benefits both consumers and the environment. The company hopes that the new reusable system will contribute to Reduction of single-use plastic will provide.
Source: Alpla
