Refinverse, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, and Japan Polypropylene are working with Albion to recycle its polypropylene cosmetics containers into new packaging in a closed-loop system.
Cosmetic containers delivered to Albion by manufacturers are generally protected from damage using plastic packaging, and from dust contamination using plastic bags. Previously, these components would undergo thermal recycling; this meant they were incinerated, with the resultant heat used to generate power, provide for district heating systems, heat swimming pools, and supply hot water.
Now Albion will sort its waste container plastics for Refinverse to recover from domestic locations and process to meet quality standards. At this point, the materials will be recycled into raw materials for further use.
The recovered plastics will be chemically recycled into oil at Mitsubishi Chemical’s new chemical recycling facility at its Ibaraki plant, taking a mass balance approach. This will be processed into polypropylene resin, which Japan Polypropylene will use to manufacture recycled cosmetics containers.
Refinverse’s Circular Economy Platform Concept is expected to help companies pursue carbon neutrality via circular economy solutions. It hopes to bring circularity to the cosmetics industry and reduce packaging waste, with plans to advance waste recycling and sustainability initiatives through collaboration with external partners.
In another recycling project, Refinverse, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Japan Polypropylene, Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, and Kasumi Co. are helping Kewpie Corporation pilot recycled salad dressing caps in the city of Kashima. Caps and inner plugs are being collected from public elementary schools and converted into raw material for the production of new caps and plugs, available in a limited run at Kasumi’s Kashima Stadium Store this summer.
Other recycled plastic solutions came to light for cosmetics last summer; beauty and personal care products from Berry’s B Circular range were made available with its CleanStream recycled plastic packaging, while Quadpack unveiled recyclable and post-consumer recycled additions to its on-the-go skincare and makeup tottle range.
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