Starting from June, the face care products of the Nivea Naturally Good product range will be released in 30 countries featuring a jar made from certified renewable polypropylene (PP). The range will thus be switched from fossil-based virgin plastic to renewable plastic. For this, Beiersdorf will use the certified polypropylene (PP) from SABIC’s Trucicle portfolio, derived from tall oil, a by-product of the forestry and paper industries.
High requirements on the quality
While aiming to increase the sustainability of its products’ packaging, Beiersdorf wanted to avoid any ay compromise on the quality. The company therefore started with a comprehensive analysis of the market for alternative plastics.
The packaging had to fulfil many requirements, beginning with the " visual and tactile features that our Nivea consumers are acquainted to,” explains Michael Becker, Head of Global Packaging Development at Beiersdorf.
The other important criteria were the packaging recyclability and the raw material from which the final packaging would be derived. Indeed, Beiersdorf chose to reject any material derived from sugar cane or corn or any other source of food.
“The certified renewable plastic we source from SABIC has no visual effects or other adverse properties. Accordingly, the jar made of renewable PP is neither visually nor haptically distinguishable from the previous packaging. In addition, SABIC pursues a holistic sustainability approach with its feedstock concept. That convinced us," explains Hannah Rasel, Senior Packaging Specialist at Beiersdorf.
Rapid market introduction
To accelerate the transformation of their packaging towards more sustainability, Beiersdorf has brought SABIC to work directly with Berry Global, a long-time partner of the group for the production of face care jars. This collaboration allowed a rapid market introduction, where between the first idea to the implementation, it took just nine months.
"We are now getting involved much earlier and deeper in the supply chain,” says Isabel Hochgesand, Beiersdorf’s Chief Procurement Officer.
Climate neutral products
Converting the packaging to renewable plastic has the benefit of conserving fossil resources, but also reduces carbon dioxide emissions. According to Beiersdorf, 76g of CO2 are saved per jar, with a reduction of around 60% compared to the fossil-based jar. This project contributes to the company’s climate target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% absolutely across the entire value chain by 2025. It completes Beiersdorf’s initiative to produce with 100% energy from renewable sources since 2019.
Any remaining emissions that cannot be avoided or further reduced during the manufacturing of the product are - for the first time - climate-neutralized via carbon offsetting, through afforestation projects. This step is new for Beiersdorf and its largest skin care brand. The Nivea Naturally Good face care range comprised of eight products will be clearly recognizable as ‘climate-neutralized’ on pack and on shelf.
