Circular Packaging in the Cosmetics Industry—A Systematic Review on Challenges and the Current State of Sustainable Strategies and Solutions

The largest share of plastics is used for packaging of goods (almost 40 % in the EU), resulting in a correlating impact on resource use, carbon emissions and landfill. The application of sustainable strategies to packaging should help to reduce negative impacts and promote the development of sustainable consumption. The authors of this chapter set out the need for a fundamental change in cosmetics packaging with its exacerbated requirements, which is already mirrored by relevant regulations that will take effect soon. Established cosmetics packaging design strategies do not meet these requirements. A shift to sustainable circular packaging is needed in the sector. A systematic literature review is conducted that analyses the body of research on the circular packaging design in the cosmetics industry. The authors identify current challenges for sustainable packaging that are specifically exacting in the cosmetics sector e. g. due to functional and hygienic requirements. In addition to the functions and current standards of packaging, packaging alternatives are presented, which are categorised according to the R-strategies Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Subsequently, the aspects of customer acceptance and decision-making are discussed as a relevant factor for the success of circular packaging solutions in the cosmetics industry. It is found that there is a gap between known sufficiency strategies of sustainable circular economy and its implementation in cosmetics packaging, as it is in packaging in general.