SABIC Announces Collaboration with Estée Lauder Companies and Origins

SABIC, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), Origins Natural Resources Inc. and beauty packaging manufacturer Albéa have announced a collaboration on an advanced beauty tube package to be launched by Origins in 2021. Origins will be the beauty brand introducing the bestselling Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask in a tube package format, using certified circular polyolefins from SABIC's TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio. Origins will use tubes made from certified circular polyolefins produced by SABIC as a result of an innovative recycling process. The cap of the new packaging will be made from certified circular polypropylene (PP), while the tube structure will be made from certified circular polyethylene (PE). SABIC's advanced recycling technology converts difficult-to-recycle plastics that would otherwise be incinerated or disposed of into new materials. This technology breaks down these materials into purified chemical products, which are then used as feed stock to recreate high-performance plastics similar to new materials—in this case, polyethylene and polypropylene.

SABIC's groundbreaking certified circular polyethylene and polypropylene are part of the TRUCIRCLE circular solutions portfolio. By utilizing this innovative technology, Origins, ELC, SABIC and Albéa are accelerating the pace of progress needed across the value chain to drive a circular plastics economy.

Sushil Iyer, Vice President Global Packaging at Estée Lauder Companies, said: "At Estée Lauder Companies, we approach sustainable design options for our prestige and luxury packaging with a spirit of collaboration. We are proud to partner with SABIC and Albéa alongside Origins in driving sustainable packaging innovation in the industry, as we advance our focus on reducing the potential environmental impact of a package throughout its lifecycle. Exploring the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials is an incredible resource to achieve our sustainable packaging goals, and we are excited to bring a more advanced recycled PCR solution to market." This strategic partnership, aligned with ELC's sustainable packaging goals which include increasing the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in its packaging, will further advance the commitment to make at least 80% by weight of Origins' packaging recyclable and refillable by 2023. The leading beauty mask brand's long-term goal is to convert all existing mask tube packages to contain recycled plastic by 2023. Origins' investment in sustainable packaging solutions, a true pioneer in the naturals category, genuinely reflects its core values. The brand continues to seek the strongest materials from nature, identify safer alternatives, and use breakthrough science to create and deliver transformative results, while continuously making decisions that help reduce environmental impact for 30 years.

Francesca Damato, Vice President Global Marketing and Product Development at Origins, said: "Respect for our planet is embedded in our brand's DNA. It guides everything we do and is reflected in Origins' offerings, so we are excited to partner with SABIC and Albéa and offer our consumers a safe, high-quality and sustainable packaging solution that reduces our impact on the environment.

Together, we have an exciting opportunity to define how the prestige beauty industry can create attractive and responsible packaging that pleases both consumers and the planet. This is a significant step in transitioning to a circular economy and helps close the cycle of plastic waste." Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, adds: "The new Origins packaging is the result of genuine collaboration and innovation, and another important step forward in closing the loop on used plastics. We are committed to collaborating with partners across the value chain to work toward a more sustainable, circular future. This innovative high-quality resin source paves the way for advanced recycled, post-consumer waste to be transformed into prestige beauty packaging. This joint development also underscores the importance of partnership and commitment across the value chain, which is critical to accelerating the transition to recyclable and reusable packaging." SABIC's TRUCIRCLE product range covers a broad spectrum from design for recyclability services and mechanically recycled materials, through chemical recycling of used plastics to certified circular products, and from bio-based feedstocks to certified renewable polymers. SABIC's certified polymers are based on a mass balance approach. This widely recognized international sustainability certification program verifies that mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. Additionally, it provides traceability across the supply chain from feedstock to final product.