Last fall L’Oréal and Albéa announced their partnership in the development of a breakthrough innovation in packaging—the first cosmetic tube to incorporate paper board. The tube was recently launched and is being used for La Roche-Posay’s Lait Hydratant Ultra Protection Ultra Resistant sunscreen, and is said to use 45% less plastic compared with existing options and is made of FSC-certified cardboard.

Although the component is not entirely recyclable, as it still holds several plastic parts, the new tubes allow significant environmental gains. The environmental benefit of this innovation was evaluated with a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)—an advanced tool for comprehensive assessments of products’ environmental impact. The carbon footprint of the new Anthelios 200 ml tube is “the lowest in its category,” according to La Roche-Posay and Albéa’s LCA.

“We have adapted our manufacturing process to incorporate this new technology, replacing part of the plastic in the tube with cardboard. This is a first,” said Barbara de Saint-Aubin, Albéa Tubes Europe’s Managing Director.

The launch is expected to be the first of many new cardboard tubes created by L’Oréal and Albéa. The two companies are also committed to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which promotes a circular economy. This project illustrates how collaboration between industry experts is essential for developing breakthrough innovations.

“Albéa’s commitment to sustainability goes back 15 years and is reflected in our broad range of responsible packaging,” said Gilles Swyngedauw, Vice President Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability at Albéa. “Our ambition today is to accelerate the development of innovative, responsible solutions, to dare break the codes, to aim for breakthroughs.”

Last year, L’Oréal said in a statement announcing the development of the first paper-based cosmetic tube that they are “long committed to reducing our environmental impact and improving the footprint of our packaging.”