In recent years, consumers have actively made purchase decisions based upon brands' efforts to be as sustainable as possible. 89% of consumers are very likely to support beauty brands using plant-based materials, while 57% reported using a plant-based product at least once a week. With the demand for conscious packaging increasing, companies are making efforts to fit these desires. A recent development in this area of the industry comes from Finnish cosmetics brand Lumene, who has partnered with material innovation start-up Sulapac to package their products from a sustainable standpoint.
It’s a fitting collaboration given the recent acquisition of Lumene by tech and sustainability-focused investment firm Verdane. Sulapac, who has previously worked with brands such as Chanel, is on a mission to limit plastic waste by working with like-minded, purpose-driven companies.
The partnership sees two of Lumene’s most popular skincare products, Nordic-C [VALO] Glow Reveal moisturizer and Nordic Hydra [LÄHDE] Intense Hydration 24H moisturizer, packaged into jars made from FSC-certified wood chips. The jars have been designed by Sulapac with the intent to replicate nature, made as small as a piece of wood left on a forest floor. The packaging is a worldwide beauty industry first, with the inner lining of the jar consisting of never-before-seen barrier technology for cosmetics. The material is compostable and breaks down when meeting natural microbes, eventually falling apart and leaving no waste behind. Having undergone four years of scientific development and testing, the jars have been manufactured sustainably and made industrially compostable, breaking down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, creating no harm to the environment.
Essi Arola, Head of Research and Development, Packaging at Lumene, commented: “Up until now, the main challenge of using bio-based material in jars has been the fast evaporation of moisture, which is why it hasn't been deemed a workable solution for water-based cosmetics. Through this pilot, we are making an investment towards the future of innovation in the cosmetics industry.”
With both brands originating from the Nordic country popularly known for its clean and beautiful nature, Lumene and Sulapac routinely use side-stream materials created from other industries during the process of their product manufacturing. Many of Lumene’s skincare collection products use cloudberry seed oil and seed extracts, which grow naturally in Finnish swamp environments and must always be collected by hand. The brand has sourced from side streams for two decades, with the intent to become carbon neutral by 2025. “We obtain cloudberry oil from the press cake leftover in berry juice production from several local companies. It brings a significant sustainability advantage: the berries don’t have to be picked just to supply the cosmetics company. By using side streams, we also promote local partnerships and reduce waste,” adds Arola. Dr. Suvi Haimi, CEO and co-founder of Sulapac, comments, “Lumene is an iconic Finnish brand with ambition for international expansion. Our philosophies of respecting natural resources and a strong science-based approach complement each other very well. Powerful brands also pressure decision-makers to invest in laws and regulations, which support the widespread development and adoption of sustainable solutions replacing plastics.”
The products are available internationally on Lumene’s online store and in selected stores in Finland.
