Melbourne-based New Laboratories, cosmetics contract manufacturer, says aluminium tubes are an increasingly popular packaging choice for cosmetics, due to their sustainability credentials and strong visual impact.
New Laboratories says driving this trend is aluminium tubes’ sustainability credentials, along with the increased positive brand perception and perceived high quality of this packaging format due to its association with traditional pharmacy brands and products.
“A big reason for the recent uptake of aluminium tubes goes back to that sustainable and circular aspect of it, irrespective of the fact that plastics have come a long way in terms of recyclability and post-consumer materials,” Rohan Widdison, CEO of New Laboratories, tells PKN.
“We have invested heavily into the aluminium space and we are positioning ourselves to be a brand that not only can adapt to the sustainable issues of today, but also to look at it from a value-add perspective.
“Aluminium looks great and a brand’s product shouts quality in an aluminium tube due to its connection with pharmaceutical products and products of a higher quality. This is why many brands who are looking to jump into the circular economy space, while also delivering a premium looking product, are opting for aluminium tubes.
“The ethos is about not just delivering a great product, but something that has a sustainable value associated with it. Young brands coming through are thinking in these terms.”
Widdison notes that, unfortunately, in the beauty manufacturing sector, there aren’t a lot of manufacturers that have dedicated equipment and knowledge of aluminium tubes. This in turn creates a barrier for beauty brands that are looking to go down this path, he says.
“You have to know what you are doing in terms of formulating and manufacturing, because what you have to formulate for plastic is very different for what’s needed with aluminium,” Widdison adds.
“Aluminium tubes don’t have that suck-back of air that plastic tubes do. With a plastic tube you can actually squeeze the product in and out, whereas aluminium provides an airtight barrier.
“So, if you have a product that is of a high quality and is going to be sensitive to oxidisation from the air, aluminium is a great way to preserve the integrity of the product.”
Widdison says for cosmetics brands that have high quality and sustainability values attached to them, aluminium is a recommended material.
“If our clients ask for a packaging solution that is very effective and of a high quality, as well as a solution that won’t break their budgets and tick all those sustainability boxes, then we pivot them towards using aluminium,” concludes Widdison.
