Month: July 2023

Solid.O Original focuses Albogroup’s ongoing commitment to sustainable cosmetics; its hotel product line sets the pace in the fight against water waste. Condensing innovation and tradition means developing a product that takes its cue from the past to revolutionise the near future. Here are some aspects of it.

Water Saving Formulas for Green Cosmetics

The cosmetics industry needs concrete action, capable of revolutionising points of view to look in the direction of an epochal turning point. Forecasts from the Compounded Average Growth Rate announce figures that speak for themselves: the planet needs a new resource protection policy, and the cosmetics industry is committed to implementing it. Water is the number one problem, climate change now sees a new geography of water resources: long periods of drought alternate with rainfall that is too abundant to draw adequate reserves.

Nature takes its course, man can only adapt and reduce the impact of his lifestyle. This is precisely where the concept of green cosmetics comes in. Products evolve to reduce the impact of industry on common reserves. Reusing water in industrial cooling processes, redesigning cosmetic formulas to reduce rinsing steps, developing solid formulations are just some of the moves the cosmetics industry has made and is making. This is not just about engaging in forest replanting or sponsoring campaigns to protect endangered animal species, cosmetics is changing the way we interpret our daily routines.

What are the characteristics of solid cosmetics?

History is cyclical, books have always told it and experiences are tangible evidence of this. However, the return to solids takes place in a technological key, the innovative formulations are a far cry from those at the turn of the century. Solid cosmetics look towards a reduced impact in terms of wastage of water resources but also point in the direction of respect in composition. Impact on the environment but also concern for the health of the customer, this is the reason behind completely INCI-proof formulations.

Almost completely water-free, solid cosmetics are products redesigned to ensure the natural retention of surfactants and emulsifying agents but without the need for water. Their composition is essential, the choice of ingredients tends to veer in the direction of vegetable fats and natural waxes. The principle is to exploit the mechanisms that work in nature to preserve their properties intact. The absence of petrolatum, silicones and paraffins are just some of the features of solid cosmetics; the result is more health-friendly. There is one thing, however, the choice of a solid cosmetic must rely on the evaluation of the skin type: more sensitive skin needs more suitable solid products.

How do you use a solid shampoo?

Before getting to the heart of the advice, it should be mentioned that 250 grams of solid product allows even more than 80 washes. This makes the explanation of its use all the more valuable. As with any shampoo, the product must be applied to wet skin and hair. Just gently rub in the solid product and apply it from the scalp; the massage must then start at the roots and work its way up to the ends. It then needs to be rinsed as with traditional liquid shampoo.

Storage requires a little care; the dry product can be stored in a box with an airtight seal. This type of product is particularly afraid of humidity; storing it in a dry place is therefore the most effective approach to ensure its stability over time. Contrary to what one might expect, the formulations of solid shampoos embrace several types of needs. This is far from the Spartan idea of one product for all. Cosmetic technology provides natural products to meet the needs of dry or coloured hair, excess sebum and various other needs.

Solid cosmetics for hotels Solid.O Original line

The line is designed to interpret the concept of environmental sustainability in hospitality commodities. The large realities of the sector are increasingly looking for products that are elegant but also have a low impact on consumption. The line of solid detergents makes it possible to focus on quality from a green perspective precisely because it is sustainable.

Moisturising, fortifying and ultra-delicate shampoos are the products designed for hair care. There are also cleansers for intimate hygiene and energising and revitalising solutions for the shower. The solid bar is Albogroup’s proposal to optimise consumption and respect the environment: easily split down the middle, one 15-gram bar can be used for two showers. The solution respects the environment but also reduces consumption, and the quality reception thus becomes more sustainable.

More than 40 years of experience and an active commitment to quality cosmetics lead one to reflect on the impacts and perspectives of packaging. Where plastic is too often demonised, some considerations can be useful to look at its impact on the environment from a different point of view. Production and regeneration are things to consider; cosmetics can also change perspective.

Albogroup has designed and created the Solid.O Original line, a collection of solid hotel cosmetics. This line makes the transition from liquid to solid easier by eliminating the need for airtight containers and encouraging the use of recyclable packaging.

Plastic: Enemy or Ally of Sustainability?

It is a bit like the Odi et amo of materials in the postmodern era, plastic is the useful thing that everyone criticises but no one could do without. Images of plastic islands in the oceans, but also plastic waste high up on Everest are inputs that do not help the material’s notoriety at all. There is one thing of substantial value, however: a plastic container does not pollute if man is not there to abandon it where it should not. Seeing plastic as an enemy may not fully frame the problem; the benefits are not to be overlooked.

Waterproofness, resistance to reuse and chemical stability are some of the prerogatives attributed to the material. Plastic has been part of everyday life for more than 150 years, and even packaging in cosmetics has always made extensive use of it. Considerations in terms of environmental impact would come naturally, but reality may, however, exonerate – at least in part – polymeric materials.

There is a small consideration to be made: a bottle of shower gel, even when the detergent has run out, can be just as useful as a container for liquids. A jar of face cream could become a jewellery box, that’s how small gestures are allies of sustainability: is this more to do with plastic or man?

Energy Comparison of Plastic and Glass Production

The common perception regarding the impact on the environment is particularly curious. Just by comparing plastic with glass, the belief is often that glass has a more ecological aura. Approximately 1,600°C are required for the melting process that is indispensable for the production of glass artefacts and containers, while just 230°C is the temperature at the tip of an extruder in the plastic production process. It is enough to start from this figure to draw initial conclusions.

What is the energy cost of glass production? Definitely high and mostly from gas and other fossil fuels; here the energy impact of the material is further tested by the carbon footprint of the production process. Then there is the production of carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, produced in the glassmaking process. Soda ash and silica sand are the other necessary ingredients. The result is an increase in land exploitation and the impact of mining. Plastic is a polymer, the monomers carbon and methane are the building blocks; however, its production requires less energy, which cannot necessarily be obtained by burning fossil fuels.

More sustainable future

The purpose of this in-depth study is certainly not to demonise other materials in order to praise the virtues of plastic. The past teaches us that the non-reuse of plastics has been the cause of real environmental disasters; one only has to analyse the waters of the seas to realise how plastic polymers have now become part of their “unnatural” composition. However, the future draws cues from the past and points straight towards innovation. Today’s technologies enable the regeneration of plastics, triggering a true virtuous cycle.

Steam and high temperatures break down the molecules of plastic to obtain the hydrocarbon bricks; the result returns the fossil fuels from which it started. Plastic once again proves itself ready to take on the shape that – even cosmetic packaging – wants to give it. What might appear to be enemy number one actually turns into the ally of a more sustainable future. More than 40 years of experience also in cosmetic packaging teach us: solving plastic pollution is possible, but the future lies in responsible cooperation by all.

Albogroup, contract manufacturing of solid cosmetics

Plastic is not the real evil of the world, all that is needed is the will to truly save our planet from its plight. Concrete gestures are needed, classic greenwashing campaigns can only doom our common future in the name of fictitious environmental causes. The past has produced too many plastics. It is therefore time to reuse those already in the environment.

The Solid.O Original line is Albogroup’s answer even in the most prestigious hospitality establishments. Moving from liquid to solid no longer requires the use of airtight containers, so paper and recyclable materials reinterpret the packaging. From intimate cleansers to shampoos, the solid formulation is the concrete alternative towards optimising resources. Cosmetics, plastics and sustainability can meet in the name of the common good.

Contact Albogroup if you want to contract produce your own line of solid cosmetics.

Knowledge of materials and full respect for the qualities of the product to be contained, these are the prerequisites for the creation of packaging that satisfies. The flexible formula is proving to be one of the most popular solutions, especially in cosmetics, and the advantages and possible shapes are convincing more and more customers. Albogroup responds to these needs with its customised courtesy lines for hotels, a series of products specially designed to balance flexibility and security.

Here are some insights into this.

What is flexible packaging in cosmetics?

Our experience would lead us to introduce the topic from a technical point of view, the one for which we specialise in the field of packaging in cosmetics. Here we prefer instead to focus on the end of the dynamic packaging typology in order to follow a path backwards towards the main characteristics and uses of flexible packaging in cosmetics. Shapes and sizes vary, the idea of brand identity that the right packaging guarantees remains.

The format is generally under 100 mL but flexible packaging can also cover larger product volumes. Creams, soaps, bubble baths and cosmetic products are the ideal types for this type of packaging. The solutions optimise the use of plastics but above all guarantee transport-proof efficiency. It is no coincidence that products with flexible packaging are among the most popular with consumers.

What are the advantages of flexible packaging?

Although the classic rigid packaging may convey the idea of greater strength, the customer has become increasingly aware of the virtues of flexible packaging. People tend to prefer to evaluate the product before buying a larger quantity, flexible packaging offers the opportunity to test its characteristics. In reality, the meanings behind the choice may be much deeper.

Material

As much as it is a common belief that flexible packaging also uses plastics intensively, one only has to open the classic hotel commodity to appreciate the product in quite different materials. Paper but also thin films of aluminium and even organic fibres can certainly be part of flexible packaging. These materials are selected but above all tested to ensure full safety from a hygienic and practical point of view.

Combinations are particularly successful. The aluminium in a thin layer has the function of protecting the product from light, a light plastic film enhances its waterproof insulation properties. The effect is packaging that is recyclable and, also for this reason, has a lower impact on production and disposal costs after use.

Hermetic Seal

If one considers the classic plastic bottle, this requires a larger volume but, above all, a larger amount of material to ensure its closure by means of the classic cap. Its shape is certainly efficient, but it is wasteful when it is intended for single use. The flexible packaging solution circumvents this obstacle with a simpler stratagem.

Although one thinks of the classic tear-off pack, flexible packaging allows for different sealing solutions. There may be the application of a cap, which is ideal in larger volume packages, but there may also be the use of rubber sealing. Much depends on the characteristics of the cosmetic product, each package being specially designed.

Space-efficient

The virtue of liquids lies in the fact that they adapt and take the shape of the container that holds them; this can be an artistically shaped bottle as well as flexible packaging. The latter thus offers the opportunity to adapt the transported liquid to space requirements. In a bag as well as inside a packaging box, the flexible formula allows the product’s transport density to be increased.

There is also a factor that goes straight to customer sensitivity: the flexible packaging allows the entire product to be used without leaving any residue inside the container. Just take the example of the classic toothpaste, its packaging allows you to squeeze it all the way through. Optimising use and reducing waste contributes to increasing brand reputation: the product proves to be closer to the customer’s needs already from the impact on consumption.

Single-dose sachets and Sachets for contract cosmetics

The typology is the one most commonly found in upscale hotel reception, the guest likes the products to be packaged perfectly when used. Maximum hygiene as well as a profound respect for the clientele are the messages that rely on this type.

Then there are the free product tests, these are the best calling card especially when launching a new cosmetic line on the market. Here it is the heat-sealing that makes the difference; quality standards must rely on ISO 9001:2016 specifications. For us at Albogroup this is the practice; quality is the secret of packaging that works.

Albogroup is a valuable partner for the production of single-dose sachets, either by customising its own lines for hotels or by directly producing products for samples and cosmetic preparations in general.

Contact us for more information on our products and services.

The commitment is the concrete one of those who put 40 years of experience at the service of others, innovation in cosmetics also passes through the packaging revolution. This is the point of view according to us at Albogroup, manufacturers of hotel toiletries.

Biodegradable bottles and containers for cosmetics, what are they?

Preferring recyclable plastics is only the first step towards real respect for the environment. Greenwashing is finally being put aside, the cosmetics industry is actively engaged with policies of profound product renewal starting with packaging strategies. Here, technologies are meeting nature, allowing new uses of biodegradable materials. The green revolution has just begun.

After textiles, the chemical and cosmetics industries were among the most impactful on the environment in terms of packaging and packaging. The current landscape is actively working on different solutions, all starting with a radical change in outlook. Where detergents of the past were in liquid form, the solution lies in the shift to solid detergents. Here the plastic of bottles and containers can be transformed into recyclable or even better recycled cardboard packaging.

Ecological materials and bioplastics

The war on oil derivatives also passes through the reuse of natural raw materials. Here, research and innovations in the sector make an important contribution. The past of packaging in cosmetics involved the production of plastic containers with the associated CO2 pollution and environmental impact. Plant fibres provide the solution: in addition to replacing the carbon chains in plastic, their production from plants helps reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the air.

Green polyethylene is the link between plastic and its natural production, this is mostly obtained from the cultivation of sugar cane. It is therefore a by-product from other industrial supply chains. The effect is a recyclable product that requires no further resources other than the reuse of the waste material. Industry gets closer to nature and does so in a truly green way.

Ecological solutions to reduce waste

Everyone has a role to play in the active commitment to the environment, the change has to be radical and can only start with daily habits. The use of more sustainable packaging is necessary but not the only move. Therefore, ecology goes through six key steps: refill, reuse, returnable packaging, solid cosmetics, reduce disposable, ecological design.

Used bottles can be reused for the purchase of products on tap, that is what refills are all about. The alternative lies in reusing plastic containers for a variety of purposes. The returnable vacuum is a practice that draws on the past, very reminiscent of the old custom of selling milk door-to-door. The future, in this case, can only take its cue from the virtues of the past. Solid cosmetics are profoundly changed products from the old soap bars, their use paving the way for a new era of sustainable packaging. Reducing disposables means lowering the volume of waste, marine ecosystems can only thank you. Reducing unused volumes, that is what ecodesign is all about in sustainable design.

A law to stop microplastics

There has been a marked change of pace since January 2020; since then, in many parts of the world banned the marketing of products containing microplastics. Although they are apparently harmless elements, the microgranules contained in several products still cause pollution of the seas. PE, PMMA, Nylon, PET and PP are some of the acronyms of substances with a major impact on the marine ecosystem.

The passage of legislation constituted a turning point for the entire cosmetics chain, the use of natural and biodegradable fibres allowed the replacement of harmful polymers with substances more easily sustainable by the environment. Even packaging had to adapt, becoming biodegradable and recyclable, to guarantee performance, but respecting the law and nature.

Cosmetic products without plastic packaging

Solid.O Original represents innovation in bathroom commodities; it is a clean breakthrough in functional quality. Albogroup believed and still believes in products in solid form to reduce the impact of production but also to optimise the use of packaging. The innovative cosmetic bars offer practically transportable solutions; hence the need for plastic for transport is lost as this can be replaced by simple recyclable paper.

The advantages already start with practicality. Using it does not require any special care, but transporting it is much more practical than classic liquid products. One example is in the freedom to carry it in hand luggage even when travelling by plane. Shampoos and shower lines for multiple needs, intimate cleansers, make-up removers and various other products are offered in the solid formula. This is how Albogroup has revolutionised the concept of low-impact packaging.

Discover Albogroup’s line of solid hotel cosmetics and contract manufacturing services for hotels, large-scale distribution and selective retail.

Contact us for more information.