Material innovation startup Sulapac has unveiled a biobased material fit for perfume bottle caps to meet rising beauty industry demand for greener packaging. 

The Sulapac Luxe and Sulapac Luxe Flex can replace hard plastics without compromising high-end luxury feel, function and aesthetics, the start-up claims. 

Sulapac Luxe is made of sustainably sourced biodegradable biopolymers and wood flour and ideal for fragrance bottle caps, lids and cosmetic jars,” Sulapac CEO and co-founder Dr. Suvi Haimi told PackagingInsights.

“Meanwhile, Sulapac Luxe Flex comes without the wood component. As the name indicates, it is a bit more flexible and more ductile edition – ideal not only for caps and lids but also for compact powder boxes.”

Sulapac Luxe and Luxe Flex possess a ceramic-like texture and a glossy, smooth surface. Boasting a high-density structure and characteristics that render them temperature-resistant, the materials are toured as recyclable and can be made with recyclable content.

“One major challenge beauty brands face in replacing conventional plastics is the strict performance criteria of the chosen materials,” said Colin Strobant, international sales director at Sulapac. 

“With Sulapac Luxe, we have shown that conventional plastics can be easily replaced without compromising quality. We have listened to our customer’s challenges and the material has been through an extensive development process to ensure it stands up to the highest demands for luxury performance.”

The start-up noted that unrecyclable materials will soon become subject to new EU regulations. 

The upcoming revision to the European Commission’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and the implementation of country-specific restrictions on materials such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer. The EU aims to make all packaging recyclable by 2030 in order to reduce the need for primary raw materials and diminish import dependence. The PPWR imposes on producers and Member States the responsibility to promote recycling and reuse of resources.

Image credit: Sulapac