Finnish company Lumene and material innovation start-up Sulapac have announced a collaboration on a pilot project to package two of Lumene’s most popular skincare products: Nordic-C Glow Reveal moisturiser and Nordic Hydra Intense Hydration 24H moisturiser.
Resulting from years of scientific development and testing, Lumene’s consumers will now be able to enjoy their favourite moisturisers packaged in an innovative jar made of industrially compostable material that does not harm the environment and is manufactured sustainably.
“Up until now, the main challenge of using a biobased material in jars has been the fast evaporation of moisture, which is why it hasn’t been deemed a workable solution for water-based cosmetics. Through this pilot, we are making an investment towards the future of innovation in the cosmetics industry”, says Essi Arola, Head of Research and Development, Packaging at Lumene.
Committed to a circular economy, Lumene aims to have 80% of its packaging made from recycled plastics or renewable raw materials by the year 2025.
“The primary function of packaging is to protect the product. As a result of an extensive product development, we can now guarantee a 9-month shelf life of the face cream in this biobased jar. This can be considered a significant milestone in packaging development”, elaborates Arola.
Sulapac’s biobased jar is made from upcycled Nordic FSC®-certified (FSC® C158142) wood chips from industrial side streams, biobased and biodegradable biopolymers, and naturally occurring clay minerals.
“With the pilot, we have been able to study the suitability of various packaging materials in our own products. At the same time, we also get valuable insight on consumers’ attitudes towards such innovations”, says Tiina Isohanni, VP R&D and Sustainability at Lumene.
According to Sulapac’s CEO and Co-founder, Suvi Haimi, “collaborations such as the one with Lumene will also lead to larger changes as powerful brands can put pressure on decision-makers to invest in laws and regulations, which support the widespread development and adoption of sustainable solutions to replace conventional plastics”
The products will be available internationally on Lumene’s online store and in selected stores in Finland.
