Procter & Gamble is demonstrating the performance of recycled high density polyethylene in personal care packaging using its Aussie, Head & Shoulders and Pantene Pro-V shampoo bottles as reference examples. In this context, the quality requirements for regranulates are high because products such as shampoo and shower gel involve direct contact with skin. This necessitates very high material purity alongside consistently high material quality. The company links successful implementation to innovative recycling technologies and strict quality control, showing that rHDPE bottles can satisfy demanding specifications in these sensitive applications. According to the brand examples shared by the company, several bottle bodies are produced from 100% rHDPE, with exclusions that typically cover caps, dyes and selected additives depending on the product and market.
Quality and process considerations
"An essential step toward more sustainable plastic use is increasing the share of recycled content in products like household and personal care packaging. Achieving this requires collaboration across the entire value chain. One of such initiatives is CosPaTox (CosPaTox Consortium – Cosmetics, Packaging and Toxicology), a voluntary guideline for PCR use in such types of packages. Next to Mechanical and Chemical Recycling, P&G is also developing multiple solvent-based purification processes - like Dissolution Recycling, a plastic-to-plastic recycling process offering high quality recyclates with lower carbon footprints vs virgin/Chemical recycled resins. It’s great to see initiatives like EREMA’s ‘Edvanced Recycling’ campaign, which help showcase what’s possible with recycled materials." says Gian De Belder, Technical Director, R&D Packaging Sustainability, P&G.
Shampoo bottle specifications
- Aussie shampoo: 100% rHDPE bottle, excluding dyes.
- Head & Shoulders shampoo: bottle made of 100% recycled plastic (rHDPE), excluding cap, dyes and additives.
- Pantene Pro-V shampoo: 100% rHDPE bottle, excluding caps and dyes.
- Pantene Pro-V (China) shampoo: 100% rHDPE bottle, excluding caps and dyes.
