The PET compact is made using BESST Transform injection to preserve the color stability
© Chanel
Chanel has unveiled a revamped version of its refillable Le Blanc pressed powder foundation. Produced by Texen, this new launch emphasizes the beauty brand's aim to boost the sustainability index of its packaging.
After Les Beiges compact, Sublimage La Crème and Chance fragrance, luxury giant Chanel has reworked the packaging of its iconic Le Blanc pressed powder foundation in favor of a more sustainable version. This marks the latest initiative in Chanel’s sustainable packaging development strategy in line with its aim to lessen its carbon footprint by 50% and decrease emissions from the value chain by 40% by 2030, as well as shifting to 100% renewable electricity use by 2025.
Chanel Le Blanc features two compartments: a removable product pan and a slot for a cosmetic sponge ©Chanel
For the Le Blanc foundation, the maison chose PET –with the exception of the stainless steel pin and mirror– in replacement of the previous version in ABS, a plastic with a low sustainability quotient given its inability to be recycled in household recycling streams. In light of the pale color of the compact, Chanel opted for PET rather than the rPET used for Les Beiges compact in order to ensure color stability. Indeed, Chanel confirms that rPET currently doesn't offer the level of whiteness required. The inside of the compact includes two compartments – the product pan and a slot for a cosmetic sponge, with the product pan clipped into its slot, allowing the consumer to replace it with a refill.
An injection challenge for the supplier
Chanel tapped French primary packaging specialist Texen for the execution of Le Blanc’s revamp. The injection of PET, as well as the precise color injection for the lid’s top and sides in different shades were particularly complex. "Mastering the injection of an unconventional material to obtain a case that meets luxury's aesthetic and functional requirements was the main challenge. We had to adapt the compact's design by thinking outside the box, to enable us to inject and assemble a full PET case," Anthony Guittard, Texen's Technical Product Line Manager tells Formes de Luxe.
For an optimal injection, the supplier used BESST Transform, a technique based on Roctool engineering, which allows for thin component production without surface defects and a high gloss finish. Each component is then decorated in-line with a high-solid varnish on the Picoligne production line at Texen’s CMSI site. The brand’s logo is hot stamped on the lid.
Retailing at €65, Chanel Le Blanc is a brightening pressed powder with pearlescent pigments and niacinamide, and is enriched with gardenia-infused oil.
CompactTexen
