At its anniversary show last week, LUXE PACK New York reported visitor numbers up by 36% over last year, breaking records according to organizer Infopro Digital. Luxe Packaging Insight was on the show floor to bring a curated round-up of the innovations presented at the Exploratorium space and the winners of the 2023 LUXE PACK in green awards.
While the US market is trailing behind its European counterparts when it comes to sustainability regulations, exhibitors at LUXE PACK New York looked to highlight their green credentials at the 20th anniversary show. Supplier launches on the exhibition floor showed that a key focus was on monomaterial solutions, novel materials and refillable formats. As to market performance, exhibitors noted that business in North America was beginning to emerge from a relatively flat period, partially a result of brands having overstocked in the wake of the health pandemic. But as optimism is the name of the game in the US, suppliers are banking on growth picking up in the coming months, most notably in the fragrance and make-up segments.
Refill formats
Airless was a focus for APC Packaging, which showed its ARS Airless Refillable System. The pack is comprised of an inner bottle (the refill) in PP, with the option of up to 100% PCR PP, that snaps into an outer case in PP coated with NX Ultra Clear in a bid to “challenge the traditional clarity of glass”. Both the actuator and the outer cartridge are meant to be kept, and the refill replaced.
APR Beauty Group Inc presented its Refillable Bamboo Jar with PP Inner. The supplier explained that bamboo has the “potential to become cost neutral with single use plastic” if the refill is used beyond the initial purchase.
SGD Pharma Beauty Division’s Eclipse refillable glass jar is comprised of an outer glass jar that comes in two shapes, but which share an identical neck size allowing it to be paired with the same sized refill pods, caps, and protective discs. SGD’s Twist & Lock system allows the inner and outer components to fit together. Eclipse comes in a 50ml format.
SR Packaging’s EBM Airless bottle range is a range of extrusion blow molded monomaterial PP packs. Suited to all formula viscosities, the two-layer format integrates an airless PP pouch and comes in 30-250ml bottles. The range is also available in PCR grade.
Materials
Seacliff Beauty showcased a bottle and pump cap made of its #Tide Ocean Material. The material, made entirely of ocean-bound plastic and the fruit of its partnership with #tide, is made of mechanically recycled PET, PP, HDPE or LDPE. The material is sourced from with 50 kilometers of coastlines and recoups plastic waste where waste management is lacking.
Promotional items were a focus at Coepto Group, with its “vegan leather” and cotton bag. The dual-material pouch is made of washed kraft paper, giving it a smooth and soft texture, organic cotton and a cotton drawstring.
French textile specialist Seram brought a shot of color inspired by traditional Nigerian fabric Aso Oke with its accessories decorating a bottle of Havana Club rum. The limited-edition Havana Club x Burna Boy bottle featured a multi-colored jacquard adhesive label made with eight-thread recycled polyester shot through with gold lurex. The knit fabric cap cover and pompoms are made of cotton.
Avient Corporation showed its ColorForward 2024 guide. Targeting brand marketers and designers in the plastics industry, the forecasting tool presents some 20 colors and effects that are trending in the business through the prism of four societal trends. Summing up the color mood, Avient notes that color palettes will be “harmonious with a splash of exuberance” in the coming year.
Paper/Cardboard
Natpak went all-paper with its FSC hinged cosmetics compact. Printed with soy inks, the folding pack features a formed effect on the surface. With production in China and Cambodia, the Hong Kong-based supplier’s core business is in packaging for eyewear, jewelry, and watches.
Golden Arrow highlighted its monomaterial know-how with a “maze kit” designed to house chocolates. Made of 100% stacked corrugated board, the outer layer is in textured kraft paper.
Parcome’s paper hinge box for cosmetics brand Muri Lelu combines uncoated paper and a rigid board insert. The logo is obtained via deep embossing, while the inside of the box is UV color printed.
Dapy presented an advent calendar produced for the brand Venus et Fleur in partnership with La Maison du Chocolat. The FSC recycled board was embellished with gold hot stamping and satin ribbon and encloses six engraved brass ornaments.
Ecoform, Knoll Packaging’s molded pulp solutions, were a focus at the show. At the Exploratorium, the US-based supplier featured cosmetics compacts made of bamboo and bagasse fiber-based pulp. Knoll also announced that its wholly owned factory in the Philippines is now operational. Along with its facility in Serbia and Chinese industrial footprint, Knoll is looking to ramp up its localized production.
Decoration
Digital print provider Scodix highlighted its SHD (Smart High Definition) digital embellishment at the show. The technology works in tandem with its Ultra Series 6000 press to produce what it describes as highly detailed lines and texts that can replace hot stamping.
K Laser Technology, a specialist in films, foils, and security solutions, showed Viridian eco-paperboard, its patented holographic paperboard free of plastic lamination. The supplier claims that this makes its solution recyclable.
LUXE PACK in green in New York
Hosted by Diana Verde Nieto, Positive Luxury Co-founder and CEO, the show’s awards celebrating sustainable products and initiatives presented the Best Sustainable Packaging Solution to UK company BodyPak for its Refillable Roll-on. The monomaterial PP 50ml pack comes with a monomaterial refill pouch that is said to reduce consumers’ plastic consumption by more than 90% over a two-year period.
Avient Corporation took home the Best Initiative prize for its targets to reduce Scope 1-2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The competing products were showcased in a dedicated area, the “in green” House.
