Origins to use SABIC’s Trucircle in a tube pack format

SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.), headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with U.S. headquarters in Houston, is collaborating with prestige beauty brand The Estée Lauder Cos. (ELC) and its global skincare brand Origins Natural Resources Inc. as well as with beauty packaging manufacturer Albéa to debut a beauty tube pack for Origins made using certified circular polyolefins from SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio. The tube will be used to package Origin’s Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.

Origins will use tubes made from certified circular polyolefins manufactured by SABIC. The cap of the new packaging will be made from certified circular polypropylene (PP), while the tube structure is made from certified circular polyethylene (PE) produced through chemical recycling. The polymers are part of SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio, which includes design-for-recyclability services, mechanically recycled materials, certified circular products made using chemical recycling and certified renewable polymers from biobased feedstock, the company says.

Sushil Iyer, vice president of global packaging at ELC, says, “At The Estée Lauder Cos., we approach sustainable design options for our prestige and luxury packaging with a spirit of collaboration. To further our focus on reducing the potential environmental impacts of a package across its life cycle, we are proud to partner with SABIC and Albéa on Origins’ industry-first sustainable packaging innovation.”

Iyer adds that postconsumer resins are a “resource to drive our sustainable packaging goals, and we are excited to bring a more advanced recycled PCR solution to market.”

In line with ELC’s sustainable packaging goals, which include increasing the amount of PCR used in its packaging, the strategic partnership will further Origins’ commitment to convert at least 80 percent of its packaging by weight to recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable material by 2023. Its long-term goal is to convert all of its current mask tube packs to include recycled plastic by 2023.

“Respect for our planet is ingrained into our brand’s DNA,” says Francesca Damato, Origins vice president for global marketing and product development. “It guides all that we do and is reflected in our Origins offerings, which is why we’re excited to partner with SABIC and Albéa and provide our consumers with a safe, high-quality and sustainable packaging solution that reduces our impact on the environment. Together, we have an exciting opportunity to define how the prestige beauty industry can create attractive as well as responsible packaging that pleases both consumers and the planet. This is a significant first step in the transition towards a circular economy, helping to close the loop on plastic waste.”

Mark Vester, circular economy leader at SABIC, adds, “The new Origins packaging is the result of true collaboration and innovation and another step forward to closing the loop on used plastics. We are committed to collaborating with partners across the value chain in working towards a more sustainable, circular future.”

Stéphane Barlet, vice president of sales, Albéa Americas, says the company was the first beauty packaging producer to commit to making totally circular products by 2025. “This breakthrough with Origins, The Estée Lauder Companies and SABIC is an industry-first, paving the way for the use of advanced recycled, postconsumer waste into prestige beauty packaging thanks to an innovative source of high-quality resins,”

Barlet adds, “This co-development also highlights the importance of partnership and audacity across the value chain, which is crucial for accelerating the transition to recyclable and reusable packaging.”