The resin, Biomax PTT 1100 contains up to 37 percent content from renewable sources and is being aimed at those in the luxury market who are concerned with sustainable development.
“A polyester resin has two main raw materials, an alcohol and an acid. Here we are using an alcohol from a renewable source, corn, which is why we cannot go over the 37 percent limit,” explained Arnaud Mastain, market development manager for packaging and industrial polymers at DuPont France.
Mastain told CosmeticsDesign that although the renewable sourcing was the original marketing angle for the product, the improved performance of the new material has become the focus point.
“As we are using a different raw material, the properties of this product are different. The one extra carbon in the chain has led to a new plastic,” he said.
Some of these new properties include a good resistance to scratches and cracks along with a high shine surface and a resistance to most cosmetic formulations; making it perfect for luxury cosmetics applications, the company claims.
Furthermore, DuPont claims that the resin can be mixed into the recycling waste stream with PET and therefore poses no problem to current infrastructure.
New decorative technique
The trade event in Monaco will also see the showcasing of one of the company’s newer decorative technologies – an overmoulding technique that can be used with DuPont’s Surlyn resins.
DuPont claims this technology, which was first launched at LuxePack last year, is a big step in the company’s aim to go beyond glass and gives packaging suppliers more choice in decoration.
Different materials can be used for the internal structure and the number of coats can be varied depending on the decorative effect desired and the barrier properties required, explained the company.
The new technique allows the creation of complex forms and decorative effects, going from crystal transparency to a frosted look, Mastain explained.
“In addition, glass has been totally eliminated, so the flacon is safer and more resistant, light and very easy to produce,” he added; qualities that make it perfect for luxury ‘on-the-go’ products.