Novel sustainable plastic-free cosmetic packaging and product
539
Presented by: Begoña Bosch
Introduction
The appearance of polymeric materials has represented a great advancement in the scientific community due to their unlimited tuning capacity to achieve the desired properties. These polymeric materials have generally been used as packaging systems, either as primary or secondary packaging. Several properties have been tackled in order to have depute mechanical properties, texture or colors. Nevertheless, their ability to degrade after its use or even to reuse the packaging for another purpose has never been thought of. This is essential to reduce the use of plastics in the cosmetics sector and to promote a more sustainable ecosystem. In order to achieve an easily degradable packaging that can even be reused, it is essential to develop a cosmetic product that is waterless but can be easily dissolve after mixing it with water.
Aim
The aim of this work is to develop a novel cosmetic product that contains no water in order to allow an external primary packing that can be water soluble. The overall aim is to find a solution of the excessive plastic single use packaging systems and to even allow a subsequent use of the packaging system.
Methods
In order to produce the designed materials, alginate-based systems were used. Briefly, alginate was dissolved in water at a concentration of 2.5 wt.%. Once the solution was fully dissolved, it was casted in cylindrical molds having a diameter of 15 mm. The solutions were frozen overnight at -20ºC. Frozen solutions were afterwards placed in a freeze-drier for 48 hours, obtaining a sponge-like cosmetic. The initial alginate solution would be mixed with several bioactive molecules to induce positive effects on the skin, such as vitamin C. In order to prepare the blister or first packaging, the same alginate solution was used. For this purpose, the solution was diluted to 1 wt%. and placed on a Teflon mold. The solution was left overnight inside the turbulent flux to allow obtaining a thin film. Once the film was obtained, the freeze-dried sample previously obtained was placed in contact with the film, allowing wrapping up the sample with the film. The film incorporating the freeze-dried samples was sealed with an alginate solution and left overnight for drying. The newly developed samples and degradable blister was applied on the skin after hydrant the skin.
Results
In order to use the newly developed material as a cosmetic, the blister was removed allowing the use of the sponge-like material. In order to use the product, the skin was humidified and the product was rubbed against the skin, allowing its instant dissolution. The removed primary packaging was as well applied on the skin, allowing complete dissolution of the primary packaging. Overall, both materials were complete dissolved, not remaining any residue. The incorporation of vitamin C was stable for over months. High concentrations of vitamin C could be incorporated.
Discussion
The present work aimed at providing alternative solutions to plastic use in the cosmetic field. By using polymers from natural origin and by allowing its manipulation under specific manners, were able to produce a water soluble material that was provided in the absence of water. These allowed the production of waterless product that presented a unique strategy, having the primary packaging as cosmetic itself as well. The reduction of plastic waste is reduced in 100%. Furthermore, the incorporation of active ingredients, such as vitamin C, was shown to be possible in higher concentrations compared to traditional systems in cosmetics. Combined with this higher concentration, the formula presented only very few ingredients in its compositions, avoiding the use of preservative agents in its structure due to the absence of water.
Conclusion
The current work shows the possibility of reducing the use of single-use plastics that may aim at reducing the overall plastic consumption in the plastic industry which is endangering the survival of several species. This project can have a significant impact on cosmetic field, not only due to the reduction of plastic consumption, but also due to the enhanced efficiency and preservation, the reduction in water consumption during fabrication as well as the reduction in the weight for cosmetic transportation due to the absence of water.
The appearance of polymeric materials has represented a great advancement in the scientific community due to their unlimited tuning capacity to achieve the desired properties. These polymeric materials have generally been used as packaging systems, either as primary or secondary packaging. Several properties have been tackled in order to have depute mechanical properties, texture or colors. Nevertheless, their ability to degrade after its use or even to reuse the packaging for another purpose has never been thought of. This is essential to reduce the use of plastics in the cosmetics sector and to promote a more sustainable ecosystem. In order to achieve an easily degradable packaging that can even be reused, it is essential to develop a cosmetic product that is waterless but can be easily dissolve after mixing it with water.
Aim
The aim of this work is to develop a novel cosmetic product that contains no water in order to allow an external primary packing that can be water soluble. The overall aim is to find a solution of the excessive plastic single use packaging systems and to even allow a subsequent use of the packaging system.
Methods
In order to produce the designed materials, alginate-based systems were used. Briefly, alginate was dissolved in water at a concentration of 2.5 wt.%. Once the solution was fully dissolved, it was casted in cylindrical molds having a diameter of 15 mm. The solutions were frozen overnight at -20ºC. Frozen solutions were afterwards placed in a freeze-drier for 48 hours, obtaining a sponge-like cosmetic. The initial alginate solution would be mixed with several bioactive molecules to induce positive effects on the skin, such as vitamin C. In order to prepare the blister or first packaging, the same alginate solution was used. For this purpose, the solution was diluted to 1 wt%. and placed on a Teflon mold. The solution was left overnight inside the turbulent flux to allow obtaining a thin film. Once the film was obtained, the freeze-dried sample previously obtained was placed in contact with the film, allowing wrapping up the sample with the film. The film incorporating the freeze-dried samples was sealed with an alginate solution and left overnight for drying. The newly developed samples and degradable blister was applied on the skin after hydrant the skin.
Results
In order to use the newly developed material as a cosmetic, the blister was removed allowing the use of the sponge-like material. In order to use the product, the skin was humidified and the product was rubbed against the skin, allowing its instant dissolution. The removed primary packaging was as well applied on the skin, allowing complete dissolution of the primary packaging. Overall, both materials were complete dissolved, not remaining any residue. The incorporation of vitamin C was stable for over months. High concentrations of vitamin C could be incorporated.
Discussion
The present work aimed at providing alternative solutions to plastic use in the cosmetic field. By using polymers from natural origin and by allowing its manipulation under specific manners, were able to produce a water soluble material that was provided in the absence of water. These allowed the production of waterless product that presented a unique strategy, having the primary packaging as cosmetic itself as well. The reduction of plastic waste is reduced in 100%. Furthermore, the incorporation of active ingredients, such as vitamin C, was shown to be possible in higher concentrations compared to traditional systems in cosmetics. Combined with this higher concentration, the formula presented only very few ingredients in its compositions, avoiding the use of preservative agents in its structure due to the absence of water.
Conclusion
The current work shows the possibility of reducing the use of single-use plastics that may aim at reducing the overall plastic consumption in the plastic industry which is endangering the survival of several species. This project can have a significant impact on cosmetic field, not only due to the reduction of plastic consumption, but also due to the enhanced efficiency and preservation, the reduction in water consumption during fabrication as well as the reduction in the weight for cosmetic transportation due to the absence of water.