Since the invention of plastic, there are more than 300 types of plastic. However, no more than 10 types are commonly used in cosmetic plastic packaging: PET, PETG, PE, PP, PMMA, AS, PS, ABS, MS and PCR.

The unique chemical and physical properties of each plastic affect its application in cosmetic packaging, resulting in different materials being suitable for each cosmetic packaging product. This also results in different packaging costs for different products.

Today, we want to help you choose the best material for your product packaging by giving the characteristics, applications, advantages and disadvantages of these 10 common cosmetic packaging plastics.

Plastics Used In Cosmetic Packaging

Plastics have the following significant advantages over wood, metal and glass in cosmetic packaging:

1. Lightweight and portability

- Lightweight: The density of plastics is much lower than that of glass and metal, which reduces transportation costs and improves user experience (especially for travel packs).

- Drop resistance: Not easy to break, better than glass and ceramics, suitable for daily carry.

2. Cost-effectiveness

- Raw materials and production: Petroleum-based raw materials are low in cost, and the injection molding/blow molding process is efficient, which is more economical than metal processing or glass blowing.

- Transportation savings: Lightweight reduces logistics costs.

3. Design flexibility and functional integration
- Various shapes: Can be injection molded into complex shapes (such as pump heads, hoses), with rich transparent/colorful effects (imitation glass texture).
- Functional innovation: Easy to match with droppers, air cushions and other components to meet special cosmetic needs (such as vacuum preservation).
4. Durability and safety
- Corrosion resistance: Unlike metals, it is not easily oxidized and avoids reactions with cosmetic ingredients (such as acidic products).
- Sanitary protection: It can be modified to have antibacterial properties and good sealing properties (such as PET bottles are leak-proof).
5. Environmental adaptability
- Mature recycling system: PP, PET, etc. have recycling channels, and biodegradable plastics (such as PLA) are gradually being used.
- Reduction design: Thin-wall technology reduces material usage, and the carbon footprint may be lower than glass (full life cycle assessment is required).
Shortcomings compared to other materials:
- Wood: It is easy to get damp and breed bacteria, and the processing accuracy is low.
- Metal: It is heavy and costly, and the thermal conductivity may affect the stability of the product.
- Glass: High energy consumption (melting temperature > 1500℃), high risk of breakage.
Trends:
Sustainable upgrading: The application of bio-based materials such as recycled plastics (r PET) and sugarcane PE is increasing, and the environmental impact is further reduced in combination with light weighting.
With the above-mentioned comprehensive advantages, plastic has become the mainstream choice for cosmetic packaging, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods field; the high-end market tends to prefer a "plastic + glass" hybrid solution (such as essence with a dropper).

  So, how to use the unique properties of plastics to help us choose product packaging materials is what we need to know.