![10 products from Expo East kicking plastic packaging to the curb 10 products from Expo East kicking plastic packaging to the curb](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/bltdea5c36fd06771cc/64ff17a836cbad5e631cd877/cardboard-packaging.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Oceanly Phyto-Glow Radiance Solid Face Serum with Vitamin C This new, 100% plastic-free launch from Attitude is a line of solid skincare products packaged in eco-friendly FSC Certified cardboard push-up tubes. The tubes are printed with biodegradable ink and have a biodegradable protective coat. Oceanly is also following the waterless trend, which will continue to gain momentum as a winning factor in sustainability. Concentrates and powders, which are much lighter and easier to ship, don't require bulky packaging and create less waste. Retailers also love these products because they take up less shelf space. Formulas that aren't diluted are also more potent and last longer, as well.
Froth Bombs Pacha designed these adorable bath bombs to look like Easter eggs, but it would be great any time of year. A paper egg carton is a great, sustainable way to transport and store the bath bombs; the carton is also recyclable. In addition, these froth bombs, made with sunflower oil, Epsom salts, lavender and blue tansy, will soothe the skin and relax the mind.
Organic Immunity Potion Bulk Carton Say goodbye to single-use wellness juice shots with Drought's carton. Instead of using endless plastic bottles, consumers can pour their daily dose through a convenient tap. This cold-pressed juice is USDA Organic certified and has an impressive 120-day shelf life. Each 1.5 liter bag in a box contains the equivalent of 25 daily shots.
Reset Probiotic Created by a women's health nurse, Binto offers a personalized supplement regimen with pure and effective ingredients. Gut health is a hot topic in the supplement space. The Reset probiotic strains are even more exciting because they support female vaginal, urinary and uterine health. This shelf-stable probiotic also takes a sustainable approach, as it's packaged in a cardboard tube instead of plastic. In addition, Binto partners with TerraCycle for a recycling program that consumers can use for all of Binto's products. Binto is also working to become 100% compostable by the end of the year.
Tiny Tony's Pieces The newest innovation Tony's displayed at Expo East was its plastic-free Tiny Tony's packaging. The new packaging has a unique and fun hand feel, almost like construction paper. Tony's is on a mission to end inequality and exploitation in cocoa, and it is great to see the company doing it without plastic. These salted-caramel, milk chocolate pieces are the brand's No. 1 global seller.
Dish Tabs Another waterless product, these dishwasher detergent tabs have an effective, super-concentrated formula of more than 93% plant- and mineral-based ingredients. The three-in-one (pre-soaking, cleaning and rinsing agent) tabs come in a water-soluble pouch made from biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol and are free from fragrances, dyes, phosphates and chlorine. Packaged in a lightweight, recyclable, cardboard box, this product has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than liquid dish soap or tablets packaged in plastic tubs.
Tree Free Paper Towels Caboo's redesign means its tree-free paper towels are now entirely plastic-free. In addition, the sustainable product now comes in sustainable, recyclable, paper packaging. Caboo is a vertically integrated manufacturer of bamboo products, which means the brand has direct relationships with it bamboo farmers. Caboo and its farmers always take sustainable measures that require less carbon dioxide and water and are FSC certified.
Silk Floss New Hope has loved this all-natural floss for its simple ingredients: silk, beeswax and natural mint. What we love even more is that it now comes in 100% biodegradable packaging that consumers can compost in their own backyards. The natural floss already prevents miles of plastic string from being thrown away, and now it's packaged in post-consumer recycled paper coated in an eco-friendly aqueous. The sachet that keeps the floss spool sanitary is made from wood pulp, and the package doubles as a dispenser. As a result, all the packaging and used floss will biodegrade without leaving a toxic trace.
Chamomile Laundry Detergent Strips The packaging on these quick-dissolving laundry strips is too cute. The product looks lovely sitting on a retailer's shelf, packaged in an attractive booklet. Nantucket Footprint takes child safety very seriously and has created a child-lock function automatically engages whenever the box is closed. The product is 100% biodegradable. In addition, the packaging is made with 85% post-consumer recycled content and is 100% compostable.
Palo Santo & Frankincense, Original Formula, Deodorant Many deodorants that use cardboard tubes still line the inside with plastic, which means it will not break down and it is not compostable. This solid deodorant from Humble comes in 100% biodegradable packaging, down to the printer ink and the lack of a plastic lining Humble also partners with 1% For the Planet and is committed to full ingredient traceability and transparency with cruelty-free formulas.
Palo Santo & Frankincense, Original Formula, Deodorant Many deodorants that use cardboard tubes still line the inside with plastic, which means it will not break down and it is not compostable. This solid deodorant from Humble comes in 100% biodegradable packaging, down to the printer ink and the lack of a plastic lining Humble also partners with 1% For the Planet and is committed to full ingredient traceability and transparency with cruelty-free formulas.
The world of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) needs to become plastic-free. While plastic may be lighter and easier to ship, it can be recycled just two or three times before it is no longer usable. On the other hand, paper, glass and aluminum are all infinitely recyclable.
While there is no-one-size-fits-all solution or perfect material, there is room to make up for the difference. More options are available, and it goes noticed when a brand chooses not to make an effort to determine the more sustainable option. New Hope Network recognizes and applauds transparent brands in their efforts because waiting for the perfect material at the ideal time will only come too late.
The new X factor
Many Natural Products Expo East attendees took advantage of educational sessions around the future of packaging and sustainability. At The Compostable Packaging Landscape: Materials, Policy & Infrastructure, Gayle Grindley, retail director of new business at Grove Collaborative, said stand out packaging is beginning to differentiate products from their competitors. Using the highest quality natural ingredients to create effective products is now the standard in the natural products industry. Adding responsible packaging, though, takes a product to the next level.
Natural products retailers and consumers want to spend their dollars on products that support their values, particularly when it comes to the environment. Frankly, recyclable packaging just isn’t good enough.
While the natural products industry has successfully created healthy and high-quality products, improper packaging can negate these mission-driven brands' positive efforts. In the session, What Chemicals of Concern Are in Your Packaging?, Reyna Bryan, president of RCD Packaging, Kelly Magurany, principal research toxicologist at NSF International, and Cynthia Barstow, founder and executive director of Protect our Breasts, discussed the negative impacts of chemicals in common packaging materials. Bryan said that standards are needed so manufacturers do not harm human health. Bryan also acknowledged the challenge of ensuring new materials can be integrated into the supply chain and effectively assembled on the machinery line.
The packaging landscape is changing every day, but not quickly enough. In the meantime, the natural products industry can be a steward of eco-conscious, sustainable packaging CPG solutions. Using paper and cardboard in place of plastic use is an excellent start because, when done correctly, it is recyclable, compostable and, in the proper environment, biodegradable.
Click through this gallery to see new products from Expo East that use paper and cardboard packaging.
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