LyondellBasell, Albéa Tubes and L’OCCITANE en Provence have recently launched groundbreaking cosmetic tubes and caps for L’OCCITANE en Provence’s “almond” range, supporting the circular economy. The packaging is made by Albéa Tubes with CirculenRevive polymers from LyondellBasell.

The protection of biodiversity and the reduction of waste are at the heart of the international beauty brand L’OCCITANE en Provence. Therefore, when re-designing two tubes of its “almond” product range, L’OCCITANE was seeking a resource-friendly solution and teamed up with cosmetic tubes specialist Albéa and polymer supplier LyondellBasell.

LyondellBasell and Plastic Energy

“We are excited to work with Albéa Tubes and L’OCCITANE en Provence on this project and to contribute to circular cosmetic packaging solutions”, says Richard Roudeix, LyondellBasell Senior Vice President of Olefins and Polyolefins for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.

“Our CirculenRevive products, which are part of our Circulen product range of sustainable solutions, are polymers based on advanced (chemical) recycling technology from our supplier Plastic Energy who converts end-of-life plastic waste streams into pyrolysis oil feedstock.”

Plastic Energy is at the forefront of the use and development of advanced recycling technology. Plastic Energy’s recycled oils, branded under the name TACOIL were the source material for LyondellBasell, which was then allocated to the product for tubes and caps using a mass balance approach. 

A lifecycle analysis* conducted by independent sustainability consultants concluded that plastics made from Plastic Energy’s TACOIL have a lower climate change impact than virgin plastic. 

“Advanced recycling can effectively process contaminated or multi-layered plastics and films that pose challenges for mechanical recycling, making it a complementary solution to help address global plastic waste,” said Carlos Monreal, Founder and CEO of Plastic Energy. “Our advanced recycling process transforms these difficult to recycle plastics into TACOIL, a virgin quality feedstock meeting standards for use in food-grade, medical-grade and cosmetic packaging.”

Albéa Tubes

Packaging specialist Albéa manufactured the actual cosmetic tubes and caps for L’OCCITANE en Provence. As an early signatory to the Ellen McArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment, Albéa has pledged to make all its tubes recyclable by 2025, and increase the use of post-consumer recycled resins.

“The Almond Shower Scrub is the holy grail in terms of responsible packaging today. The tube and cap are designed for full recyclability and made of 93% recycled polyethylene (PE) content. On top, both are made of PE for higher-quality recycling, confirmed as recycling-ready by recycler associations in both Europe and the US. This packaging is in effect closing the loop, and that’s quite a breakthrough!” adds Gilles Swyngedauw, VP of Sustainability and Innovation with Albéa Tubes.

L‘OCCITANE en Provence

Regarding L’OCCITANE, the company believes consumption must evolve into regeneration. As an international beauty company, they have committed to ‘cultivating change’ at every level, starting with the design and production of their packaging. As part of these efforts, in 2019 L’OCCITANE signed up to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment for a new economy for plastic.

“We are accelerating our circular economy journey and are engaged to reach an overall 40% recycled content in all our plastic packaging by 2025. The use of advanced recycling technology in our plastic tubes is an exciting step forward. Collaborating with LyondellBasell and Albéa was key for success. The new tubes strictly follow ISCC Plus guidelines with a mass balance approach in order to satisfy our two clients: Customer and Nature,” says David Bayard, R&D Packaging Director, L’OCCITANE en Provence.

* Plastic Energy Lifecycle Assessment - Plastic Energy