Munich-based packaging specialist Corpack has developed a sustainable, refillable lipstick made of porcelain. The so-called “Refillable Porcelain Lipstick” combines a porcelain cap and base with a polypropylene container and an aluminium ring, reports Corpack. It is 75 millimetres tall and has a diameter of 23 millimetres. The porcelain itself comes from Germany. Until now, refillable packaging has primarily been a sustainability issue. With the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), refillability is becoming a compliance issue as well, the company emphasises. The material of the casing, which consumers keep, must therefore do more than just look high-quality – it must last for a long time.

An object of desire

According to the company, the new combination of materials forms a refill system designed for durability and compliant with the new European packaging regulations. Thirty years of developing cosmetic packaging have taught the company’s management that refill systems only work if the casing is worth keeping. Porcelain meets this requirement. It feels substantial in the hand, is cool to the touch, does not scratch or yellow, and does not absorb skin oils or other scents. “A porcelain lipstick on the dressing table looks like an object, not packaging, and is therefore more likely to be refilled than bought new,” says the company.

Higher quality than ceramics

Unlike pottery, porcelain is of a higher quality: it is made from kaolin, a finer raw material than clay, fired at a much higher temperature than pottery, vitrified, and absorbs less water. It is also harder, denser, more break-resistant and has a more premium appearance than typical ceramics. The European regulation, which comes into force on 12 August, requires that almost all packaging placed on the market in the EU be recyclable from 2030 onwards. Materials such as porcelain, aluminium and monomaterials are taking centre stage in this regard. Furthermore, EU member states must support reusable and refill systems for selected product categories or meet reusable quotas. Corpack is exhibiting at CosmeticBusiness in Hall 3 at Stand D02.

Source: Corpack