Thermoplastics are sustainable because they conserve resources. They are lightweight, versatile, durable, and recyclable. This makes them ideal, eco-friendly packaging solutions. The Powder Company has recognized this as well. Its new water-free product line, eaudry, comes in an elegantly designed, reusable Silac dispenser bottle.
Plastics are environmentally friendly packaging masters
What requirements must product packaging meet? On the one hand, it must protect the product—whether during transport, storage, or everyday use. It must shield the product from physical impact, oxygen, germs, heat, and light. On the other hand, it must also make a good impression in terms of design. After all, the packaging represents the brand to the outside world and reinforces the company’s corporate identity.
Plastic packaging is sturdy and durable. It does not break as easily as glass bottles, for example, and is lightweight compared to other packaging materials. This is a significant advantage, especially during transport. After all, lighter weight means lower fuel consumption and, consequently, lowerCO2 emissions. Furthermore, thermoplastics can be shaped in any way. After being heated, they remain soft and pliable—flexible or rigid. Depending on customer preferences, plastic molds can even be combined with metal components. These are ideal conditions for creating exceptional designs.
Thanks to efficient manufacturing processes, production costs can be kept low, which ultimately has a positive impact on the product’s retail price. And once the plastic packaging has served its purpose, it can be 100% recycled and transformed into a new product. No wonder plastic performs better than other materials in life cycle assessments and is therefore considered the packaging material of the future.
Swiss Quality for a Better World
Not far from Silac AG is the headquarters of The Powder Company. Based in Einsiedeln, this Swiss cosmetics company develops and manufactures high-quality powders and salts for the international cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The Powder Company is committed to the responsible use of resources and a strong dedication to greater sustainability. It underscores this commitment with the launch of its own product line, eaudry.
eaudry’s soaps and shower gels contain no water. Water is intentionally added by the user just before use. This allows eaudry to use less packaging, which in turn means less storage space is required. Furthermore, the small and, above all, lightweight packaging results in lower shipping costs and, consequently, fewerCO2 emissions. It’s a well-thought-out concept in the spirit of sustainability.
The sustainable eaudry products have been very well received. All eaudry products—including the Starter Kit with a dispenser and concentrate, as well as the Refill Kits in various scents—are already available at Manor just a few months after their launch.
Sustainability Starting with Production
The commitment to sustainability is reflected not only in the final product but also in the product development and production of eaudry packaging. Environmentally friendly materials and short supply chains were key criteria for The Powder Company when selecting a partner. Silac AG was able to win over the cosmetics company not only with its unique regional proximity but also with its many years of packaging experience and strong spirit of innovation.
The list of requirements for the eaudry dispenser included the following points:
- Large opening for easy filling of the concentrate
- high structural integrity of the vessel
- lightweight
- timeless design
- high functionality
- surface with a pleasant feel
Key Design Phase
The reusable dispenser is much more than just a simple product container. It must evoke emotions and promote the eaudry brand to the world. The shape, size, colors, fonts, opening mechanism, and material must all be coordinated and harmonize perfectly to achieve the desired effect on the end customer.
An interdisciplinary project team consisting of product designers, brand developers, product managers, and Silac plastics engineers was formed. The team’s proximity within the region and their shared language proved to be a major advantage during the critical design phase, which required extensive exchange of expertise, open communication, and seamless collaboration. In keeping with eaudry’s brand values, the goal was to achieve a clean and minimalist look that not only uses minimal material but also offers functional excellence and protects the contents.
The Powder Company benefited not only from Silac AG’s extensive material expertise but also from the use of state-of-the-art simulation software capable of identifying potential design flaws as early as the design phase. The various prototypes enabled the project team to test and compare different product variants before actual production began. In this way, the ideal dispenser for eaudry was identified within a reasonable timeframe.
“In Silac AG, we have gained a regional partner that shares our high standards for innovation, quality, and sustainability. Especially during the critical design phase, we were able to benefit from their extensive packaging experience and state-of-the-art simulation software. Thanks to close collaboration and a high degree of flexibility, we were able to achieve our goal quickly,” said Alexander B. Zurkinden, Managing Director/CEO of The Powder Company.
Positivecarbon footprint
The high-quality eaudry reusable cup is made of polypropylene, a sustainable thermoplastic made from ethylene and propylene. Polypropylene is a commonly used plastic in the packaging industry. The material is very durable and ideal for the intended long-term use of the soap and shower dispenser. Furthermore, it releases virtually no harmful substances that could contaminate groundwater or harm the environment. The cup is therefore dishwasher-safe and completely odorless, which would otherwise could impair the effectiveness of the soaps and shower gels for the end customer.
The dispenser is manufactured at our production facility in Euthal. This has a very positive impact on the product’scarbon footprint and, at the same time, reinforces the cosmetics company’s Swiss philosophy of quality. eaudry—a clear commitment to greater sustainability. You, too, can choose plastic—the packaging material of the future!
-> Product sheet: eaudry soap dispenser
