CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com spoke with Rik Nuijen, manager of innovation and development at the Netherlands-based Plasticum Group, who stated that sustainability is one of the key matters nowadays when developing a packaging concept.
He was speaking following the launch of Plasticum’s new integrated closure and tube solution entitled Clube, which is produced by bi-injection moulding.
Lower costs and carbon footprint
“One of the key benefits of this [the Clube] is we are able to design a product which is much lighter and uses less material – which has both ecological and pricing advantages,” Nuijen said.
“People want to pay less and lower their carbon footprint nowadays, so by using less material the Clube design is more economical, as well as sustainable and functional.”
Plasticum developed and patented the technology to manufacture bi-injection moulded tubes with integrated closures, using a material formulation and tooling techniques.
This production process – in contrast with the traditional extrusion process – enables to produce the complete product including In-Mould-Label in one production step.
Since the tube shoulder has been eliminated, up to 40% material is saved.
Integrated closure aids better performance
The integrated closure also also allows for better performance due to only having one operational step, according to Nuijen.
“There is great variety in the shapes we produce, specific to customer demands – we have form freedom, which is great from a commercial and marketing aspect,” he said.
Nuijen also explained that customers have the possibility to switch from the current regular tube to the Clube with ease, due to design similarities.
The Clube production will be revealed at the K 2010 in Dusseldorf, which starts today and runs until 3 November.