Plastic is going down the tubes – literally. Over the last few years, the company has been diligently reducing the plastic content in their caps and developing a new generation of paper-based tubes.
When embarking on the challenging journey towards achieving a net-zero circular economy, eco-considerations should be made at the design stage. However, the big question is, from concept to end-of-life, how can the environmental impact of plastic be overcome, or at least minimised? In practice, when considering these objectives, the main focus must be on using the least fossil-based resources possible, whilst prioritising the use of renewable resources and scrupulously respecting renewal rates.
55% Weight Reduction
Albea told SPN: “For Albéa Tubes, reducing plastic content through weight reduction is a top priority, and is firmly built into our company’s ‘Responsible Product Roadmap’ plans. We took the first important step in 2017 with the development of a specially, eco-designed, range of lightweight plastic caps. The second step came early in 2022, through our dedicated technical innovations. These resulted in our company’s unique, EcoFusion Top. This is a two-in-one “head + cap” specifically designed to make it possible to “visualise” the clear material savings. The fusion of the tube and head together reduces the weight of the tube by as much as 55%1 compared to a standard plastic tube. In addition, there is an equivalent benefit achieved due to the carbon emissions savings. This latest unique, eco-friendly product is made from HDPE, in order to guarantee mono-materiality and optimal recyclability. Furthermore, our two-in-one system is available with various eco-friendly sleeve options for both laminate and our extruded tubes”.
Replacing plastic with paper
In 2019, Albéa started working on a new concept, which was the replacement of plastic with paper. This resulted in the launch of the company’s first paper tube which heralded an impressive reduction from 30% paper content at launch to its 50% paper content today when combined with EcoFusion Top solution. Moving forward, Albea is taking things one step further.
At this year’s LuxePack expo held in Monaco, the company created another new milestone with its product development of the world’s very first squeezable paper-based bottle currently at the proof-of-concept stage.
This ground-breaking innovative composition by Albea, contains a minimum of 50% FSC-certified paper, excluding cap or pump. In addition, its unique, paper-based web structure reduces plastic content whilst lowering the carbon footprint of its packaging yet further, thus significantly reducing its environmental impact. For Albea, the journey is far from over. The company is already engaged in the development of even lighter and more-sustainable tubes. Albea’s determination to contribute to a net-zero circular economy sets a fine example to all those who are striving to achieve similar such welcome objectives!