Launched in 2003, SUQQU’s skin care and makeup products are centred on delivering a “glow from within” and a complexion that looks increasingly better over time.
The brand’s parent company, Kao, has been a long-time user of global specialty materials company Eastman’s products for its packaging.
In February, SUQQU introduced a new setting powder housed in a compact crafted from Eastman’s Cristal One copolyester. It is available both in stores and online in Japan, as well as in overseas markets.
According to the company, the product has “exceeded expectations”, reaching over 187% of its monthly target sales since its release.
SUQQU’s partnership with Eastman comes from the need for a suitable alternative to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in the base plate of its signature compact.
ABS is a non-biodegradable plastic, whose production results in heavy energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and is challenging to be recycled due to its complex composition.
Tara Cary, marketing manager for cosmetic packaging at Eastman, said that Cristal One not only fulfils SUQQU’s stringent requirements for performance and functionality, but also maintains a luxurious aesthetic.
“The copolyester demonstrates superior performance compared to other candidate materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), particularly excelling in drop impact resistance after secondary processing.
“It is able to create a perfect shape while providing a deep, glossy black finish that enhances the product’s luxury appeal. This could not be done with the ABS the brand previously used.
“Consumers love that the product is beautiful, durable, and reusable. It allows them to do their part to contribute to the environment. The product is also designed to look like a fashion accessory so beautiful that you just want to show it to everyone,” she added.
Solution for sustainability
Eastman’s Cristal One provides an end-of-life packaging solution for cosmetics brands, as the specialty PET is recognised by both the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and RecyClass as being compatible with the Resin Identification Code 1 (RIC 1) stream.
This means that the material can go directly into most municipal recycling systems.
As global sustainability regulations continue to evolve, SUQQU has designed its compact to align with the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and is continuously working towards achieving full compliance.
“Consumers are increasingly expecting brands to deliver sustainable options for their beauty products, but are unwilling to give up on the elegance and design aspects of the packaging.
“By adopting materials such as Cristal One, brands like SUQQU meet these aesthetic demands and also exercise environmental responsibility,” said Cary.
