Garnier partners with Loop to reduce plastic waste

Garnier partners with Loop Industries, Inc., a technology company that aims to accelerate a circular plastics economy by manufacturing 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.

Materials that used to be considered unrecyclable waste, or low value plastic such as coloured or opaque plastic bottles, can now be transformed to create 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable virgin-quality PET plastic³. Garnier, one of the world's largest mass market beauty brands, will pilot this technology in the brand's first Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 bottle made of plastic waste previously considered as an unrecyclable material¹.

By revamping Garnier's bestselling Micellar Water bottles to be made of 100% recycled PET plastic² from previously unrecyclable plastic¹ by Loop Industries, the ambition of both companies is to accelerate the circular plastics economy. Plastic is a useful material because it is affordable and convenient, more so than glass and metal for example. However, its mechanical recycling process is limited by various technical constraints. The depolymerisation technology developed by Loop Industries is a major step in tackling the low level of recyclability of plastic and opens new opportunities for industry players.

The Loop logo, featured on the front of this packaging innovation, serves as an anchor to highlight Loop's revolutionary technology, the quality of materials and the bottle's recyclability. The inclusion of Loop branding on the packaging strongly supports Garnier's sustainability goals by promoting the infinitely recyclable potential of the product and brings awareness to PET plastic circularity. This packaging innovation will first hit the shelves in April 2023 in Garnier's largest market, the US and the brand's home market of France.

Loop’s depolymerisation technology

Québec-based Loop Industries developed a depolymerisation technology that utilises low heat and no added pressure to convert low value plastic and polyester fibre waste into 100% recycled virgin-quality Loop™ PET resin. Loop™ PET resin is suitable for both food-grade packaging and polyester fiber applications and, if sorted correctly, is infinitely recyclable.

This future-facing partnership and pioneering recycling process will help Garnier save PET plastic waste that cannot yet be recycled within conventional recycling processes. By combining its iconic Micellar Cleansing Water and Loop Industries' innovative technology, Garnier is taking another step forward in the brand's long-standing commitment to increasingly create more sustainable packaging for their products.

Together, Garnier and Loop Industries work to create value out of difficult to recycle PET plastic waste and will explore new avenues to develop innovative initiatives for both the people and the planet.

Adrien KOSKAS, Garnier's Global Brand President, said: "Garnier stands for Green Beauty For All Of Us, consistently working towards concrete actions to become a more sustainable beauty brand. We are proud to be working with Loop Industries to launch the first Garnier Micellar Water bottle made of previously unrecyclable PET plastic waste. This technology has the potential to change the game when it comes to recycling and our partnership demonstrates our continued efforts to bring to market more environmentally friendly packaging, as part of our bold commitment to encourage plastic circularity."

Daniel SOLOMITA, Founder and CEO of Loop Industries, added: "At Loop, our mission has centered around building a circular economy in which PET waste is not sent to landfills or incinerated but is infinitely recycled. This partnership with the Garnier brand is an important step towards making circularity the norm and showcasing that today's waste can be tomorrow's resource. We are proud to work with forward-thinking partners such as Garnier, who are determined to make a positive change."

¹ Considered as a lost resource, as not taken into account by existing recycling streams
² Except cap, labels and additives
³ If correctly sorted