L’Occitane creates 100% biorecycled PET bottle

L'Occitane has created a 100% biorecycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle, in partnership with recycling firm Carbios. The transparent bottle is made entirely from enzymatic recycling for a shower oil from L’Occitane en Provence’s Amande range.

It is made in collaboration with packaging firm Pinard Beauty Pack, which has a shared desire to build an efficient European recycling sector to meet brands’ commitments to more sustainable packaging solutions.

The bottle will be on display at Carbios’ stand (D02) at “Edition Spéciale” by LuxePack, the trade show dedicated to sustainable premium packaging, to be held on 4-5 June at the Carreau du Temple, Paris.

The bottle’s production began with the local supply of PET waste (already collected, sorted and prepared) to the Carbios’ industrial demonstrator in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The waste used consisted of coloured bottles, multilayer trays and mechanical recycling residues, none of which are currently recycled using traditional technologies.

Carbios deconstructed PET waste into its original monomers using its biorecycling technology. The resulting monomers were then re-polymerised into new, fully recycled PET resins within Europe.

In Oyonnax, France, the resins were blow-moulded by Pinard Beauty Pack to create the shower oil bottles. according to L’Occitane’s specifications, and then filled with the shower oil at its Manosque plant. L’Occitane was founded in Manosque in 1976.

This European approach optimises the environmental benefits of the technology and the life cycle analysis (LCA) of each product by reducing transport distances and integrating local collection and production processes.

To meet the needs of international brands, similar chains will have to be established worldwide, drawing inspiration from L’Occitane and Carbios’ example.

Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of Carbios, said: “Carbios’ innovation accelerates the transition to a circular economy by offering an alternative to petro-sourced PET and a circular PET recycling solution that reduces CO2 emissions by 57%. But to create an efficient recycling sector, all players in the value chain have their part to play and must work together. The long-term partnership between Carbios and L’Occitane is a testament of this shared desire to promote more responsible consumption. The bottle produced with L'Occitane and its converter Pinard illustrates how the industry is moving forward.”