Metal packaging is increasingly attractive for brand owners, as high levels of recycling appeal to consumers who prioritize sustainability. Exclusive new data from the Smithers report – The Future of Metal Packaging to 2029 – shows that in 2024, sales of metal packaging will total $152.82 billion worldwide.
The principal metal format in the personal care segment is aluminum aerosol cans. Across all segments, these are projected to reach a value of $5.30 billion in 2024. Smithers forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% pushing global value to $6.23 billion in 2029, at constant pricing. For personal care, there are significant differences in global markets. The sector accounts for 60% of aerosol fillings in Europe, but this is much lower in North America – less than 25% – due to the popularity of roll-on deodorants.
Innovations in Aerosols
Innovations in aerosols are now principally focused on their dispensing fixtures, and making them more planet-friendly. For example, last year Aptar introduced its twist-to-lock system, which eliminates the need for a separate overcap. Beiersdorf meanwhile was able to achieve a reported 58% reduction in the carbon footprint of its spray deodorant packs, via a combination of light weighting and incorporation of more recycled metal.
New markets are developing, noticeably where beauty and cleaning brands are trialling more sustainable refill-at-home sales platforms. These require more durable metal base units, as well as dispensers that can endure a longer service life. Both Ball and Trivium are prominent advocates of aluminum refill containers for personal care and bathroom products, such as shampoos. Smithers data shows that cosmetics and personal care products will have the fastest adoption of these re-use/refill formats over the next 5 years, with metal increasingly the preferred material choice.
