The apothecary colour range is called 'Vintage-Chic', which combines the company's Glass Polymer with a range of different shades that aim to increase shelf appeal and distinguish products and point-of-sale. The newly developed polymer, EB062, is said to offer the thick-walled alternative to glass that claims not to compromise clarity and also maintains a high level of design flexibility.
An important issue for many cosmetic companies is that the clarity and sheen of glass polymer is as good as, if not better than, glass. Eastman says that this is what it has managed with both of these latest glass polymer launches, with the added advantage of increased design flexibility.
The apothecary colour range is aimed at personal care and cosmetic brand owners in six different 'retro-inspired' colours. Vincent Gugumus, global market development manager personal care/consumer care said of the apothacary line:
"The old adage 'everything old is new again' is truer than ever. Eastman's apothecary colour series mixes trendy with the retro appeal of your old-fashioned, neighbourhood pharmacy. The colours allow brand owners to create a stand-out look that increases shelf appeal."
The apothecary colour series is available Cobalt, Sepia, bright-green Spring, Azure, Aqua; and clear Crystal.
EB062, on the other hand, is said to have a look and feel that is close to glass. However, the advantage is that it is lighter and more resistant to breakage than other conventional plastic material alternatives. This polymer allows for the production of more complex shapes, as well as more than 75,000 different colour combinations.
"It used to be that cosmetic brand owners who wanted to design a transparent bottle had few alternatives for the material selection," said Gugumus. "Most plastic material alternatives solved some of these needs, but with severe limitations for the design's wall thickness. EB062 is specifically developed for extrusion blow moulding this thick-walled material, without sacrificing qualities such as water-clear clarity, excellent chemical resistance and ease of processing, and therefore, it creates new possibilities for cosmetic packaging design."
Both of these new glass polymer offerings have been launched onto the global market this month by Eastman Chemical, a US-based chemicals manufacturer with a global presence and a US $5.8 billion (€4.3bn) turnover.