Debuting a skincare pack made of Limex for its Ole Henriksen brand, French luxury goods group LVMH is continuing to explore the use of more sustainable materials in its beauty packaging.
Swedish skincare brand Ole Henriksen (LVMH) opted for packaging made from Limex for its Banana Bright CC stick in what is said to be a market first for the material. Developed and distributed by Japanese supplier TBM, Limex is a limestone-based alternative to ABS or PP that contains at least 50% calcium carbonate. According to TBM, Limex offers a “luxurious matte texture and a substantial feel”. The CC stick is made from Limex Pellet, an injection molding grade.
Ole Henriksen, part of LVMH’s Kendo incubator, is aiming to use what it qualifies as more sustainable materials for its primary packaging such as glass and bio resins, and integrating PCR content. FSC-certified cardboard is used for its secondary packaging.
New packaging materials focus
The brand is the latest in the French luxury-goods group’s portfolio to opt for novel sustainable packaging materials. Earlier this year, LVMH Beauty announced that it had partnered with Dow, which will supply the group with its bio-based and circular Surlyn. Circular Surlyn is the result of chemically recycled “hard to recycle” plastics, while bio-based Surlyn is made from generation two waste, such as used cooking oil. The first product, a cap for Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire fragrance, will launch later this year.
And in 2021, Parfums Christian Dior adopted Eastman’s Cristal Renew co-polyester for its Dior Addict Lip Maximizer pack, with Eastman and LVMH set to collaborate on packaging across the luxury group’s brand portfolio.
In 2022, LVMH Beauty signed an agreement with US-based Origin Materials to secure the supply of carbon-negative PET for use in its perfume and cosmetics packaging. Origin Materials’ patented technology platform creates a bio-based PET from carbon negative CMF (chloromethylfurfural) produced from sustainable wood residues.
LVMH Beauty is also part of the PEFerence consortium spearheaded by Netherlands-based renewable chemistry company Avantium, which aims to industrialize PEF (polyethylene furanoate) for use as a sustainable packaging material. PEF is a plant-based, “highly recyclable” plastic. Similar to PET, but with superior barrier properties, the material is said to open up a wide range of possibilities in packaging, such as lightweighting and increasing product shelf life.
LVMH’s LIFE 360 strategy is targeting zero plastic from virgin fossil feedstock by 2026. Read our interview with LVMH Group Environmental Deputy Director Alexandre Capelli to find out more.
