Pigment challenges bioplastic cosmetic packaging

10 September 2008 18:59  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--The use of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic in cosmetic packaging was being hampered by several limitations, the chief one being difficulties with pigments, an industry executive said on Wednesday.

“Dyes bleed like a stuck pig in PLA,” said Wylie Royce, senior vice president of East Rutherford, New Jersey-based dyes and specialty chemicals firm Royce International.

The pigment problem means the colour effects - an important aspect in cosmetic packaging - were limited in PLA plastics, said Royce, who spoke at the HBA Global Exposition & Educational Conference in New York.

Temperatures were another issue.

“Some of the plastic’s physical properties, such as its very low melting and softening point, also limit the packaging’s shelf-life, especially during hot weather,” he said.

Royce noted that PLA packaging producers that he knew have two pricing structures: one for winter and another for summer, when they need to use a cooling system to deliver the PLA-based materials.

Another concern was that colorants and additives used in PLA-based packaging must meet compostable specifications, said Royce.

Compostable plastic products only degrade in composting facilities, which were currently limited, he added.

“Among bioplastic materials, PLA is the one that has received the most press. It is from a bio-renewable source and it is compostable. However, it is not necessarily biodegradable,” Royce said.

Another limitation, Royce said, was that PLA plastics are also not usually compatible with other resins, so they have low recycling potential.

“If you assume three to four recycle turns on a traditional resin, it may in fact draw less on the environment than a bio-based resin,” he said. “Many of the traditional polymers and designs are in fact very sustainable now, so no or little change will be needed.”

Still, Royce emphasised that the drive towards sustainable packaging was ultimately good, not only for the environment but as a marketing tool for cosmetic manufacturers.

“Many of the categories that are used to determine sustainability are fuzzy so they are open to innovation,” he said. “Regulations governing cosmetic and personal care are also typically not overly burdensome, so you will have good leeway with your product choices.”

The three-day cosmetic show ends on Thursday.

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