Aptar, the US packaging manufacturer, has developed the company’s first fully recyclable mono-material pump for beauty and personal care products.
Despite increased consumer interest in sustainable packaging, most traditional bottle pumps are unsuitable for recycling streams due to the mixed materials, such as metal, that is needed to create the dispenser.
Aptar's new solution, named Future, is designed using only polyethylene (PE) mono-material, a commonly used plastic, and is also available in post-consumer resin (PCR).
“The ideal situation for the complete value chain is to have mono-material packaging where the container, the closure or dispensing system is made from the same material family," said Christophe Marie, Product Sustainability Director at Aptar.
"This was the big challenge our innovation team overcame with the development of Future.”
The pump has also been designed with e-commerce in mind. It contains a locking system and a 360° degree actuator, which is said to be suitable for the STA 6-Amazon protocol.
Future is designed to be suitable for the risks associated with transport and distribution as well as carton and paper packaging.
According to Aptar, Future is certified by Cyclos-HTP, the institute for Recyclability and Product Responsibility and the company Aptar Beauty + Home obtained an International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for its European production.
Sabine Bouillet-Lubot, Global Strategic Marketing Director at Aptar Beauty + Home, added: "Our ultimate goal was to have the final consumer be able to take their body lotion, shampoo or shower gel and easily put the empty packaging in their recycling bin.
"This way, it enters a circular life cycle and can be turned into another product."
