Packaging innovations spotted at Cosmetic 360

Biodegradable sachets, a monomaterial dropper and digital sealing of doypacks were some of the packaging developments presented at Cosmetic 360, which opened its doors in Paris this morning.

Cosmetic 360, the trade show dedicated to innovations throughout the beauty supply chain, kicked off in the French capital on October 13. Discover our selection of what exhibitors were highlighting in the packaging realm.

Bioplastics specialist NaturePlast was showcasing its industrial by-products that can be used in the production of cosmetics packaging. On show was an eye-shadow pot made of a blend of PLA and strawberry by-products.

Start-up Sealester, a “spin-off” from Delta Neo, presented flexible pouches with custom shapes. Sealester’s digital sealing technology is said to offer more creativity in terms of shapes and finishes compared to traditional flexible pouches. Notched and triangular packs were on display, and the packs themselves can be mono-material plastic or paper – kraft, transparent, varnished or integrating 15% apple fibers. Despite the interior plastic barrier, the pouches are said to be recyclable in standard streams. They can be decorated using UV, flexographic or digital printing.

On show at the Tech Corner was Touchy Finger, an “augmented and connected human finger” developed by French research laboratory LTDS. As well as assessing skin and hair feel, Touchy Finger can be used to bring objectivity to the perception of packaging. A ring equipped with sensors slips over the user’s index finger. When a surface is touched, the friction triggers vibrations that are interpreted into the sensory quality of the surface.

Innov & Sens presented packaging made from a combination of ocean plastic waste and fabric. The company can produce flat sheets or undulated shapes thanks to its patented, thermoforming technology. The ocean plastic (PP, ABS or polystyrene) is sourced from around the Mediterranean basin, while the fabric can be composed of recycled or virgin fibers. In luxury, the material can be used for cosmetics, fragrance or jewelry packaging. Innov & Sens scooped the Jury Prize for "Sustainable Hedonism" at the show awards.

Tapping into the mono-material trend, Eurovetrocap showcased its PP dropper. Produced using a pilot mold, the company hopes to refine the design of the patented concept slightly before offering it to the market early next year. The Italian packaging specialist has also carried out tests on the two-piece injected dropper using post-consumer recycled PP, with “very good” results. Eurovetrocap says the dropper was designed with millennials and Gen Z in mind thanks to its novel, push-button application gesture, and is principally destined for make-up and haircare products. Eurovetrocap's dropper won the Packaging Award at the show's Cosmetic Awards this year.

Scent diffusion specialist Scentys highlighted Hubble, a contactless fragrance diffuser destined for retail. A motion-activated sensor triggers the release of scent – Scentys’ dry diffusion technology uses polymer beads of perfume concentrate inside a cartridge that is inserted into a diffuser. The company also presented its connected home fragrance diffuser. Leveraging AI, the associated app enables the user to regulate the intensity of the fragrance. Also on display was a prototype of a fashion accessory containing fragrance beads that can be clipped to a face mask or onto a lapel.

On the finished product front, Korean vegan cosmetics brand DearDot, launched this May, was presenting its product line up. This includes the Yuja Cleansing Seal, a small, sheet-type product that transforms into a cleanser upon contact with water. The Yuja Cleansing Seal comes in a biodegradable paper sachet.

At the Business France Pavilion dedicated to export, MadebyMe presented its plastic-free palettes of solid perfumes that are designed to be combined and layered. The colored, cream-textured formulas are applied like make-up, with the color disappearing after application. Le Rouge Français highlighted its refillable lipsticks whose cases are made from castor oil, along with a glass lip oil roll-on and a glass mascara with 360° brush that launched last month.