2024 Recycling Regulatory Trends: Resin Identification Codes & What They Mean for Cosmetic Packaging
As regulatory trends and consumer preferences shift towards more sustainable packaging, cosmetic brands must understand the importance of resin identification codes (RICs) and their impact on recyclability.
Resin Type | Common Areas of Usage in Cosmetic Packaging | Properties | Recycling |
---|---|---|---|
PET (1) | Bottles for lotions, shampoos, containers for creams | Clear, strong, solvent-resistant, good barrier against gas and moisture | Widely recyclable; accepted by most recycling programs |
HDPE (2) | Containers for shampoo, conditioner, body wash | Sturdy, resistant to chemicals and moisture, opaque | Widely recyclable; accepted by most recycling programs |
PVC (3) | N/A (Rarely used for cosmetic packaging) | Flexible, durable, can be clear or colored | Less commonly recycled |
LDPE (4) | Squeeze tubes, bottle caps, dispensing bottles | Flexible, tough, transparent or opaque | Recycling availability varies; not as widely accepted |
PP (5) | Containers for powders, some pump bottles | High melting point, resistant to chemicals, often opaque | Increasingly being recycled |
PS (6) | Compact cases for powders and blushes | Rigid, can be clear or foamed (as in styrofoam) | Limited recycling options; often not accepted |
Other (7) | Specialty packaging | Varies widely due to inclusion of different materials (e.g., polycarbonate can be very tough, bioplastics are compostable) | Varies widely; generally accepted by fewer recycling programs |
Are there any specific regulations that encourage the use of one type of resin over another?
As of April 2024, there aren’t any specific regulations that explicitly encourage the use of one type of resin over another. However, regulatory trends and market dynamics are increasingly favoring resins that are more recyclable.
European Union. On November 30, 2022, the European Commission proposed revisions to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) to ensure that "all packaging on the EU market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030". (Source)
United States. There are currently no federal-level mandatory targets for the recyclability of plastic packaging that dictate a specific percentage of recyclable materials that must be used.
However, some states have enacted their own regulations. For example, Washington State has set the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentages for plastic containers used in personal care products:
2025 - 2027: No less than 15 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight
2028 - 2030: No less than 25 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight
On and after 2031: No less than 50 percent postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight (Source)