Whenever Molpack starts a new partnership or project, brands often lead with the same question: What are today's most important trends in packaging for the perfumery and cosmetic sectors?

Well, truth be told, innovation and sustainability are the two main drivers shaping the market across all industries, including Beauty. If there is one clear trend in packaging for perfumery and cosmetics, it is undoubtedly the pursuit of sustainable packaging solutions. The thing is, it entails far more than most people assume:

SUSTAINABILITY

There is no doubt that shopping and consumption habits have changed significantly in recent years. Today’s consumers are more informed than ever and increasingly opt for responsible alternatives. Consequently, more people are seeking and valuing environmentally friendly beauty products. In this context, packaging plays a fundamental role.

Sustainability goes beyond eco-design; it involves using recyclable and recycled materials, natural and biodegradable materials, 100% renewable energy, and reducing resource usage throughout all manufacturing, decoration, and handling processes of each packaging component. Reducing the carbon footprint of the final package is essential. The conceptualization, design, prototyping, and development of a new solution must be carried out in an eco-responsible manner. Eco-design, reducing components, waste, and necessary processes for packaging industrialization are crucial. Additionally, inks for packaging decoration should be less polluting. Secondary packaging is also becoming lighter and more reduced, with some brands eliminating it entirely to decrease waste.

TECHNOLOGY

This is the second major factor to highlight. Beyond incorporating technology in packaging security systems, the use of labels and QR codes with detailed product information—from origin to expiration date—is gaining prominence. Augmented reality will be integrated into packaging to offer consumers interactive experiences. Technology will ultimately allow greater transparency of information to the consumer, aligning with another trend: TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION from beauty brands and suppliers.

THE RETURN OF MINIMALISM

In packaging design, especially decoration, there is a clear trend towards clean and sober designs. Solutions that reduce the use of inks and materials reflect a return to rejecting excess in every sense.

PERSONALIZATION

Brands seek differentiation and opt for personalized packaging, even with standard containers. Consumers also crave personalization and want to feel unique. Therefore, this is another significant trend in packaging.

With trends covered, the next step is figuring out where is innovation in packaging for perfumery/cosmetics headed?
Innovation is focused on finding new materials that provide high-quality finishes. Working with PCR materials in packaging is challenging, and ensuring finishes comparable to virgin materials is even more so. Achieving beauty-grade finishes with sustainable materials is one of the main innovation challenges in packaging.

So, what materials are most in demand by perfumery/cosmetic companies for packaging design?
Recyclable materials are a must in perfumery and cosmetics, with recycled materials also being highly sought after.

And how does the trend towards sustainability influence packaging design?
It influences every stage from the product’s conception through development to manufacturing. In fact, it affects the entire value chain. Sustainable development in packaging must also be industrializable, airtight, safe, precise, and functional. The quest for sustainability must coexist with these requirements throughout the packaging development process.

Meet Molpack's Most Sustainable Solutions

At Molpack, we are committed to innovation, making significant investments in new developments. These are carried out internally by our technical department to meet market needs and those of each client. With a customer-centric strategy, all our products—and certainly our new releases—are fully customizable.

Sustainability and innovation are the two pillars on which the market is built today, and Molpack is also building on these for our mid- to long-term future. All our new products, besides being functional, airtight, safe, easy to use, and customizable, must be eco-friendly. We are making a significant effort to develop new materials and recyclable, recycled, and often refillable solutions.

M3R MONOMATERIAL AIRLESS

"M" stands for monomaterial, and "3R" stands for Recyclable, Recycled, and Refillable. This is an Airless pump and bottle available in PP and glass. The PP version, in 50 and 100ml capacities, is 100% mono-material and fully recyclable and recycled, as it is also available in PCR materials in any percentage the client desires, up to 100%.

Aiming to reduce the number of components and the carbon footprint of the final package, this range has been developed with only six components, whereas typical airless packages on the market have between eight and ten components. The glass range, also available in 50 and 100ml capacities, was launched in May 2024. It is a recycled and recyclable range, with the bottle made of glass, an ideal material for packaging delicate formulations like cosmetics due to its transparency and quality. This new range will also include an internal refill system, making it refillable as well.

ERGONOMIC OVAL TOTTLES

This is a new range of oval ergonomic Tottles that are more environmentally friendly—fully recyclable, and can be manufactured with up to 100% PCR materials. This new Oval Tottle range, besides being recyclable and recycled, has been designed to improve delivery by reducing secondary packaging and optimizing the filling process. This optimization eliminates a step and thus reduces the carbon footprint of the final package.

MONO-MATERIAL DROPPERS

The mono-material droppers comprise three references, with all components—bulb, collar, and pipette—manufactured solely with PP, making them 100% recyclable. The entire dropper can be disposed of in the recyclable plastic container, as all components are recycled together. As an additional benefit, they can be produced with PCR materials—the bulb, the collar, and the pipette—in the percentage that each brand desires, up to 100% of each component, making them 100% recycled.

The range of droppers is available for 20/415, 18/415, and 13/415 necks, fitting perfectly with Molpack bottles and matching numerous models available on the market.

M3R JAR

An elegant and sustainable solution composed of 3 fully customizable pieces:

1. Glass jar with high transparency and weight at its base, enhancing the premium feel of the final set.
2. PP cap on the inside and PP or R-PP PCR on the outside.
3. Refill pod made of PP, available in PCR materials, and customizable up to 100% according to the client's preferences.

This easily refillable pack features a tab that makes the inner pod effortless to remove once the product is consumed, allowing for simple replacement.  The refill pod is completely airtight until its moment of use, making it ideal for containing a wide variety of cosmetic formulas with varying viscosities.

Want to learn more? Get in touch now and find the best sustainable solution for your brand needs.