SHANGHAI, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – SK Chemicals is expanding its presence in the cosmetic packaging market by promoting recycled materials designed specifically for containers. At the 2025 China Beauty Expo, the company presented its sustainable packaging solutions, emphasizing innovation, recyclability, and premium quality.
A Major Presence at Asia’s Largest Beauty Trade Show
SK Chemicals (CEO Ahn Jae-hyun) officially participated in the 2025 China Beauty Expo, held from May 12 to 14 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). Now in its 29th year, the event is Asia’s biggest beauty trade show, drawing over 400,000 visitors from more than 80 countries. This year’s expo featured over 3,200 exhibitors and 10,000 brands, showcasing trends and technologies in cosmetics, packaging, and logistics.
A Sustainable Theme: Ready-Made Solutions for a Greener Future
Exhibiting under the theme “Ready-made Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” SK Chemicals focused on commercially available recycled materials. These materials are already being used by global cosmetic brands to manufacture premium containers, many of which were on display.
The company’s booth highlighted its collaborations with global brands, showing off cosmetic packaging made with advanced recycled copolyesters. These included skincare and lotion bottles, cream jars, powder cases, and various caps, all made from ECOTRIA CLARO® and ECOTRIA CLARO-CR70®.
High-Performance Copolyesters for Premium Packaging
ECOTRIA CLARO® is a copolyester that can be sorted and recycled in the PET recycling stream, making it suitable for mainstream recycling systems. ECOTRIA CLARO-CR70®, introduced last year, contains up to 70% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Despite its recycled origin, it remains recyclable after use, enabling a closed-loop recycling system.
These materials offer mechanical strength, transparency, and flexibility across different container shapes and sizes. Unlike traditional plastics like PET, these copolyesters maintain excellent clarity, even in thick-walled containers, making them ideal for luxury packaging where visibility and quality are key.
Expanding the Sustainable Materials Lineup
Beyond ECOTRIA, SK Chemicals is also introducing other sustainable options, including:
SKYPET CR: A circular PET material for large body care product bottles.
ECOTRION: A 100% bio-based polyol sourced from plants, used in air cushion puffs and synthetic leather accessories.
These solutions align with the growing global demand for eco-friendly materials in the beauty industry.
Building a Global Circular Ecosystem
Kim Eung-soo, head of SK Chemicals’ Green Materials Business Division, addressed the environmental impact of cosmetic packaging:
“Nearly 60,000 tons of cosmetic containers are discarded worldwide each year, and about 90% are non-recyclable due to mixed materials.”
He added that SK Chemicals plans to expand depolymerization-based recycling technologies and deepen partnerships to build a sustainable closed-loop system for cosmetic packaging.
Strategic Collaborations with Industry Leaders
SK Chemicals is already making progress through partnerships. In October 2024, the company joined forces with luxury packaging company Toly to release containers made with CLARO CR70®. Earlier, in 2023, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with key global players including Estée Lauder, Yonwoo under Kolmar Korea, and COSMAX, a top ODM manufacturer. These partnerships aim to drive joint innovation and further the use of sustainable plastic in beauty packaging.
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