Kent firm develops sustainable cosmetic packaging

A new sustainable alternative to plastic packing for cosmetic products has been created by paper manufacturer Arjowiggins. Sylvicta is a translucent, functional barrier paper that has been proven to preserve the quality of cosmetics just as well as conventional plastics, whilst ensuring limited impact on the environment. 

Sylvicta is fully recyclable, compostable, marine degradable and made from renewable raw materials without any harmful chemicals. It has a very high barrier to oxygen and aroma meaning it can help brands reduce the degradation of cosmetic products by prolonging shelf life during the transportation, retail and consumer phases of the value chain.

This plastic alternative can be foil-stamped, glued, embossed, printed in offset, gravure, and flexography, laminated to carboards, metallised, or coated with heat or cold-sealable materials. In addition, a bio-waxed coating can be applied to obtain wet-strength properties and increased translucency.

Commenting on the development of Sylvicta, Christophe Jordan, Managing Director of the Translucent Papers division at Arjowiggins, says:

“Despite the ongoing movement towards more sustainable packaging, in the cosmetics sector plastics still remain a popular choice, largely for practical reasons. Until now, most of the existing offer, mainly in single-use packaging, use unrecyclable, multi-layered laminates incorporating plastics or aluminium foil.

“The good news is cosmetics brands looking for a fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable paper packaging need look no further than Sylvicta – the product is simply revolutionary. It can help to create the circular economy society we all desire.”