THE ESSENTIAL USE OF PLASTIC IN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY
“Cosmetics are probably as old as humanity.”
That’s right, the search for products that could preserve the body and enhance its appeal has ancient roots. The term “cosmetics” has Greek origins and comes from “kósmos”, meaning “order”, which in turn gives rise to the term “kósmesis”, meaning “to put in order”.
Each era has seen a particular aspect of this science flourish, which literally “puts in order” the appearance of human beings.
The first archaeological evidence of cosmetic use dates back to ancient Egypt, but there is evidence scattered throughout the world that shows how both men and women were engaged in creating and using products that could modify their physical appearance in an attempt to preserve youth and beauty.
Throughout the centuries, cosmetics have assumed different roles and facets depending on the needs of each era, taking giant steps and becoming, in modern times, a real industry and one of the most prosperous and innovative sectors.
The 20th century, known in general for its great technical and scientific advances, was also an innovative century for this field, especially regarding the packaging and marketing of cosmetics.
Undoubtedly, plastic has been the undisputed promoter of this exponential turning point. Lightweight, durable, versatile, and economical: these featurings have made it a perfect ally for cosmetic product manufacturers but not only for them.
Bottles, tubes, or jars are certainly among the first items that come to mind when we talk about plastic in the cosmetics industry, but there are other items, always made of plastic, that work “behind the scenes” but have an equally important role, such as parallel protection plug.
Used by tattoo artists to contain small quantities of ink in order to avoid waste, used in cream jars to block the leakage of product, or as caps to preserve the scent of air fresheners… there can be multiple uses and many available sizes.
At the same time, those in our industry know very well that, in addition to everything that is strictly related to cosmetic products, there is a world of plastic items used for everything related to them.
We are talking about binding screws for color swatch books of nail polish or hair dye, screws and/or fasteners for assembling product displays, ties for closing bags or clips for gift boxes… and many other solutions.
We have certainly mentioned items that, at first glance, we cannot consider primary for the cosmetics industry, but they are significantly present in the supply chain, and because of its peculiarities, plastic often proves to be the first choice!
