Cosmopack North America (CPNA) celebrated its 20th year as cosmetic packaging suppliers gained new ground in meeting brand and consumer demands for features from sustainability to glitz. 

CPNA is known as “the beauty industry’s leading B2B exhibition” and marked its 20th-anniversary edition at the Las Vegas Convention Center from July 11-13. Cosmopack NA—dedicated to packaging and the entire supply chain—was where Beauty Packaging spent most of our time, although visiting the brands side was a real treat with many innovative new products and entertaining surprises.

According to show organizers, 2023 attendance grew 20% over last year, “welcoming thousands of retailers, distributors, investors, and media and more than 1,100 exhibiting beauty brands, all brought together to learn about exciting product launches and industry trends, build their business networks and strengthen collaboration opportunities.”  Visitors and exhibitors from 108 countries were represented.

Thomas Hammond, director, global package development & engineering, Revlon, said, “2023 Cosmoprof Las Vegas was a success! Some of the most renowned suppliers, fillers, and brands were in attendance showcasing the latest and greatest innovation. This show is an inspiration on another level.”

At contract manufacturer, Colep Consumer Products, Pierfranco Accardo, CEO, declared CPNA a success, saying, “We had back-to-back positive and quality meetings with numerous influential industry professionals from North America and around the world, that were actively seeking the next big thing in the industry." 

Accardo continues, "We showcased our cutting-edge technologies, breakthrough formulations, and product innovations and we received a lot of positive feedback and excitement around our offerings. Overall, Cosmoprof North America exceeded our expectations and reinforced our brand’s reputation as an innovative and reliable ODM manufacturer.”

Packaging Trends Spotted at the Show

Cosmopack and Cosmoprof were co-located in the same hall this year, so it was easy to locate both brands and suppliers. Organizers say the designated Cosmopack area hosted 279 exhibitors. As usual these days, many offered sustainable solutions.

According to a recent study from Research and Markets (‘U.S. Sustainability in Packaging Market Report’), “Ongoing sustainability efforts continue to significantly impact the U.S. packaging industry.

Driven at least in part by public pressure, packaging producers and end users are increasingly concerned about the environmental effects of their products. This has sparked a variety of key trends and targets in the packaging industry, such as source reduction, improved recycling rates (especially for plastics) and the increased use of biodegradable and/or compostable materials.”

Molded Pulp, 'Recycle Ready,' Airless Packaging & More

We found evidence of these trends and targets as we toured the show floor, including a rise in attention to secondary packaging, such as items made of molded pulp, and papers in alternative materials including cartons created of sugarcane bagasse.

“Recycle-ready” was a popular term used for both secondary and primary packaging, in efforts to make things as easy as possible for consumers wanting to be eco-friendly. Some suppliers told us that more and more brands are inquiring about PCR and FSC certifications.

An ever-growing assortment of airless options, from refillable bottles and jars using glass inners to others with plastic inners, held a large presence among primary packaging exhibitors. There was also a noticeable rise in flexible packaging, such as plastic pouches.

As cosmetic purchases often rely on stunning colors and packaging decoration, there was no shortage of options, from palettes to graphics.

Here, we bring you highlights from the many suppliers we spoke with during Cosmoprof NA. The companies have been listed in alphabetical order for easy accessibility.

Accoje

Accoje (“beautiful” in Korean) is a Korean natural cosmetics brand that specializes in turnkey products. According to Agnes Choi, general manager, all Accoje products are made of natural plant extracts and ingredients that are grown and produced in Jeju, South Korea’s “beloved” largest island.

The entire production process takes place in Jeju, from cultivating the ingredients to producing the complete product. As far as the packaging, Choi says, “The oriental-inspired container design is inspired by the Jeju landscape.”

Organically shaped “free-form” caps instantly get the message across for both the locally sourced pure plant ingredients and the volcanic-inspired packaging. Accoje developed the attractive patented package, which is currently PP/PE, but does not yet use recycled materials.

AJG Packaging

AJG Packaging’s team spoke to visitors about their packaging, design, and turnkey manufacturing capabilities. Matthew Grimaldi, founder, AJG Packaging, was focusing on their ISO bottles—when you align two ISOsceles triangular bottles (say, 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner), they form a square, “enabling you to double the number of containers on a truck.” Four colors are currently available. AJG also showed molded pulp bottles and closures, refillable jars with molded fiber pods; even a molded fiber handle for a razor.

Allta International

“The Allta story at CPNA (their largest footprint) this year is like we’re at an art gallery,” said president and CEO David Berkman, showing that “they are a custom cosmetic house with a wide range of capabilities in both bulk and palette.” A wide array of colorful palettes was on display.

APC Packaging

APC’s Refillable Glass Jar (JRGP) is designed for high-end beauty and skincare brands. It has a heavy wall glass outer jar and replaceable and recyclable inner cups that snap into place. According to Erin Gallagher, head of marketing, PCR can be incorporated into the design to further decrease your brand’s carbon footprint.

CoValence Laboratories

John Stanek, director of marketing and product development, CoValence Laboratories, said they are experiencing a resurgence of interest from customers. “They’re taking the temperature of the industry due to supplier focus,” he said. CoValence is FDA-registered and ISO-compliant. Many projects are done full service, (mostly hybrid turnkey) from the ground up—working from client briefs for custom development.

At CPNA, CoValence highlighted their new Zero G SPF 30 Broad Spectrum mineral sunscreen featuring Reflect Complex. Stanek said this ultra-lightweight formula delivers broad spectrum SPF 30 protection by way of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Unlike other 100% mineral formulations, the texture of Zero G provides comfort without felling chalky or drying. Additionally, the bio-ceramic properties of Zero G’s Reflect complex deflect and scatter common urban/office aggressors like HEV, blue light, and infrared wavelengths away from the skin’s surface.

Elcos

Elcos, specializing in airless refillables, offered lots of refillable and sustainable options, including a new PCR twist-up and refillable, patented bottle. Another refillable had a glass outer and PCR inner. The options were presented in beautiful blue and green tones, emphasizing the watery-sustainability idea.

Element Beauty Group

At Element, the conversation was about carbon capture, biodegradable makeup palettes, and AI/AR innovations. Element Packaging offers a wide variety of packaging options from sampling to turnkey (working with labs in South Korea, Italy and contract manufacturers in the U.S.). They are now specializing in home care as well as skincare, color and sexual wellness. David Pina, executive design director, gave me an enlightening look at what the company is doing with AI, creating everything from packaging models and graphics ideas to client presentations and more. Adding that all these assets “add to the value of what we provide,” Pina said: “Creativity and optimization of textures and colors is now instantly and easily available.” Element’s partnership with Oco, a carbon upcycling consumer brand, offers a patent-pending material made from captured carbon emissions. 

Fusion

Brady Bacchus, marketing manager at Fusion (part of Aptar), told Beauty Packaging that they are launching North American offerings via Aptar’s facilities in Mexico. So Fusion is able to offer NA-made bottles, tubes and sprayers. They can be produced in 100% PP or 100% PPR, and are expanding more packaging operations there.

Bacchus showed Beauty Packaging some new innovations—including new tottles, specifically the Max-Out Tottle with “simple squeeze technology.” Fusion has facilities in China and Aptar has additional facilities in Italy, France, NJ, and elsewhere. Fusion also has a new CEO—Eva Ehn, from Aptar.

General Bottle

Located in Southern California, General Bottle provides stock packaging solutions, custom mold development, and decoration for a wide range of products. Rod Vilencia, director of creative development at General Bottle, showed Beauty Packaging refillable glass airless bottles.

The bottles have an internal chamber made of tube glass that are “lightweight and completely recyclable.” The company says they are “the wave of the future for sustainable airless packaging.”

Vilencia also pointed out a new massaging head for tubes made of 502 grade steel “that can withstand any solution.” The supplier has an in-house package development team.      

Identipak

Identipak offers blister packaging, in addition to several other sampling options. They are now certified for medical devices, so can produce dispensers for medical ointments, wound care, and more. They also now do aluminum tube crimping.

K-1 Packaging Group

K-1 Packaging Group specializes in secondary packaging and is now doing more in Beauty as far as primary packaging. Frank Tsai, VP of sales, told Beauty Packaging that they excel in their variety of boards and printing capabilities, including paper palettes, folding cartons and flexible packaging. They also had lots of interesting sustainable solutions in PCR, pulp, etc. 

Tsai commented: “Molded paper pulp is a hot topic as it tells a good story with 100% compostable using PCR and good product protection for both packaging purposes as well as shipping.” You can use a decorated outer sleeve for added pizzazz.

K-Laser

At K-Laser, Balla Murillo said they are getting a lot of newer brands who are looking for a truly “wow” effect in order to penetrate the market—and one that’s sustainable, too. The company’s laser-graphics focused design labs can take a project from start to finish—tweaking the artwork to get the best image. They can also create artwork and take a project from concept to print.

Liquiglide

Liquiglide EveryDrop is a coating applied to the inside of a tube during filling to ensure complete evacuation for various products, including water-based creams, lotions, gels, hair conditioners, and more. Liquiglide is now moving into the private label business with a range of full-service products in 50- and 100ml sizes for skin, including peptide mask, hyaluronic gel, body cream.

Marchesini Group

The team from Marchesini Group Beauty, the cosmetic division of Marchesini Group, was talking to visitors about its custom solutions for companies of all sizes—from small indie brands to multinational corporations. The Italian company manufactures machines and lines for the processing and packaging of cosmetic products.

The Italian supplier’s cosmetic division includes the following brands/specialties: Axomatic, process machines and fillers; Cosmatic, specialized production technologies for lipsticks and lip balms; Dumek, process solutions; V2 Engineering, secondary packaging; Rejves Machinery, filling and capping machines; and Vibrotech, feeding and orientation systems for automated industrial process.

Moquin Press

Moquin Press is a California-based company, located outside San Francisco, that produces print, packaging and labels in-house–all out of tree-free upcycled packaging made out of 100% bagasse, a bi-product of sugar cane processing. Juliana Lopez, marketing director, said, “It can be used like any other paper.” It is now being used for folding cartons, and the company is also developing labels. They can print in any color, coated or uncoated—so any finish, all recyclable, compostable, biodegradable.

The company started 5 years ago producing secondary packaging for Biossance, which also uses bagasse as an ingredient in their products. Moquin Press can provide all sustainable info on trees saved, energy use calculations, and more. They use UV ink for deco; all coatings are water-based; and available in soft touch.

Pretium Packaging

Pretium Packaging (which includes Alpha and Olcott) had brought along their team from Mexico, “where they produce a lot of cartons,” said Julie Perilla, director of sales & marketing distribution, Health & Personal Care. Pretium has more than 20 facilities in NA—with duplicate assets, so Perilla said they can run the same containers across many regions—including moving production within the U.S. for efficiency and cost. Matte finish double-wall jars were catching people’s eye “for a luxe, prestigious look without a fancy custom mold.”

QRS (Quality Resourcing Services)

The QRS team told Beauty Packaging that they thought it would be a great idea this year at Cosmopak to not only show some of the great complete packaging they offer, but also share a bit of their turnkey offerings by showcasing some of their innovative products from hair care to skincare and body care, which were all very well received.  

QRS develops, sources and supplies complete packaging and full turnkey for those without the infrastructure, personnel, technical expertise or desire to handle product and package development on their own. Whether customizing stock packaging or creating custom tooling, QRS ensures that all of its supplied components work both functionally and aesthetically.

Samhwa

Samhwa says their refillable airless products specifically target the beauty industry’s need for “leading edge eco-friendly design and function.” Patented glass airless bottle and jar systems combine the luxe feel of glass with all PP sustainable componentry. With 9 SKUs ranging from 15- to 150ml, there are plenty of options to choose from.    

Seacliff Beauty

Seacliff Beauty offers a large array of packaging made with sustainable materials—including Eastman Cristal Renew. Featuring high levels of recycled content, Amanda Greuel, senior marketing manager, Seacliff, says, “Cristal Renew provides the clarity, luster, color compatibility, and durability that cosmetics brands demand from their packaging.” Made using Eastman’s molecular recycling, these materials provide “significant environmental benefits” such as landfill diversion, resource conservation, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Eastman Cristal Renew co-polyesters, are available with 30- and 50% certified recycled content. 

SMCG—Somang Glass

SMCG Co., also known as Somang Glass, was showcasing their sustainable solutions for fragrance packaging. James Jin, sales director, said they are the No. 1 glass bottle company in Korea, a certified supplier for major cosmetic brands—and have paved the way for the use of PCR glass in Korea. A variety of glass bottles and jars in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes was on display.

Droppers, pumps and roll-ons are also available; even a glass “tube.” Jin said there’s a growing demand for glass for bath and body, but consumers don’t want breakable glass, so SMCG offers outer PCR plastic with inner glass. PCR glass bottles can be up to 60% PCR depending on clarity. With no embossing on the neck, the caps close easily and smoothly. They’re available in 30- and 50ml.

Viva Packaging

Melanie Gaudin, business development manager, Viva Healthcare Packaging (Canada) Ltd., told Beauty Packaging that the company is following the sustainable solutions path by “getting into bio-resins for jars, tubes and sticks.” Viva flow-control valve caps are drip-free for clean dispensing—and are available in two sizes, and especially good for thinner serum-type consistencies.

Metal-free airless pump tubes made of up to 90% PCR and mono-material recycle-ready tube, pump and cap are also available. Viva’s deodorant options are also growing. In addition, Viva is developing a bottle (a new category for them) that “offers the full benefit of in-mold deco,” according to Gaudin.

XJ Beauty

XJ Beauty featured an array of full-turnkey “TikTok-ready” products including peel-off lip stain, beads for skincare products, colorful serums, instant dissolvable masks, skincare serums in hypodermic-style plungers, and more. Bill Xiang, president, told Beauty Packaging, that they “specialize in creating stories for brands with ongoing innovation.” He also showed us what he said is “the only totally transparent SPF—SPF 35.”

Save the Date for Cosmoprof & Cosmopack 2024

The next edition of the Las Vegas event will return to Mandalay Bay, July 23-25, 2024.

In the meantime, the premier edition of Cosmoprof/Cosmopack Miami will be held January 23-25, 2024. It is billed as “the B2B Gateway to Latin American Beauty Markets,” and will be located at the Miami Convention Center.

Internationally, Cosmoprof/Cosmopack Bologna will run March 21-24, 2024.