Choosing recycled PET
The launch of the new line of R’PET caps for perfume illustrates the underlying objectives of the eco-active strategy begun by VPI, a French company specialized in plastic injection. "Our positioning is to be a source of proposals, for our customers by concentrating all our innovative efforts on substitute materials which are at the same time, eco-friendly, cost effective, efficient and marketable", explains Gilles Pauget, President of the company.
In this context, VPI has chosen to prioritize the use of R’PET a recycled material resulting from PET bottles collection. According to VPI, because of its high quality in terms of brightness and transparency, R’PET offers aesthetic results compatible with the cosmetics and perfumery sector requirements. Depending on the options chosen by the brand owners, it is possible to display or not, on the packaging, the fact that the product is made out of recycled PET. "In other words, brands have a wider scope for their communication. In fact, according to their marketing strategy or to their sustainable development policy, they can highlight or not the fact that the material comes from recycling", the company declared.
A sustained innovative effort
With 3 kg of CO2 saved for every kilogram of R’PET processed, VPI is convinced that this type of material provides an ecological advantage. But its use was not that obvious in the first place. VPI had to learn first, how to master the processing of this material "which was not originally intended for plastic injection".
Currently, the range of available R’PET closures offered by VPI includes covers for cosmetic jars like the one designed for the Naya movement, perfume caps, pump covers , collars or boxes, either in standard or specific shapes.
Keeping the same logic, VPI has designed boxes with recycled polycarbonate from collected car headlights as part of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
This is very much part of VPI’s innovation policy, the company having undertaken the creation a large portfolio of projects, including in particular the Ice cube project approved by the Pole of Competitiveness Plastipolis, which focuses on the development of the three layer injection process for the production of massive parts made from Surlyn offering a perfect look. Some other projects concern ceramics charged injection, glass molding or 3D in mould decoration (IMD 3D).
These projects, which are backed up with shareholders’ equity or by a joint investment with clients, represent more than half the company’s investment capacity, ie 3% of its turnover, which should reach 12 million Euros for the current fiscal year (ending late April 2010), ie an increase of 5% over the previous year.
