ORGANISERS of London Packaging Week have revealed how exhibitors are helping beauty brands tackle packaging waste through refillable packaging.
With an increased focus from cosmetic brands and manufacturers on more sustainable packaging choices, refill solutions are gaining traction.
For consumers, refill formats are said to answer demand for less waste without sacrificing the quality expected from beauty products. For brands, refills can drive repeat purchases.
Adoption of refill solutions continues to lag behind awareness, with brands battling mess and hygiene concerns as well as consumer perception that a refill holds less value than the original.
This is making design, functionality, and premiumisation a priority for brands choosing refillable packaging systems.
During London Packaging Week 2026 on 16 & 17 September at Excel, a wealth of refillable solutions will be on show.
The Pinard Beauty Pack Pin Pack is offered as an alternative to flexible pouches while offering a 100% recyclable solution made from PET or RPET, combined with a PP light capsule. The range of bottles is available in 400ml, 500ml and 1l sizes and made from PET or Recycled PET.
Amcor offers spouted pouches as a refillable option for the beauty and cosmetics markets. AmPrima spouted stand-up pouches are available in recycle-ready versions made with PE and/or PP, with versions containing biomaterials or post-consumer recycled (PCR) content available upon request. Another option is Amcor’s Exclusive Refill stick, made from 100% polypropylene (PP) and available with Amcor CleanStream post-consumer recycled (PCR) PP, which is suitable for contact-sensitive packaging applications.
Curve Pack offers a refillable bottle designed for high-end skincare and cosmetic products. Combining a glass or aluminium outer bottle with a airless pump system, this pack is designed with a refillable screw structure. The bottle is described as allowing for easy replacement of the inner PP container. PCR content is also included upon request. Available in 30ml and 50ml sizes, the bottle suits serums, lotions, emulsions, and other skincare formulations.
Baia Refill, meanwhile, from Lablabo is an airless dispensing system that uses a refillable pouch. Baia Refill is a complete set composed of a 30ml or 50ml recyclable glass bottle, a recyclable PE pouch, a pump for dispensing high viscosity formulas, a collar and a cap. With each dose delivered, the flexible bag retracts. There is no air return in the system, preserving the integrity of the formula and allowing the pouch to retract. After use, the pouch can be removed by unscrewing the top part of the assembly, and the user can then insert a refill and reuse the rest of the system, with only the pouch discarded and recycled.
Spectra Packaging worked with Fuss Free Shaving (FFS), a razor subscription service designed for women, on the development of bespoke 150ml and 50ml bottles of shave cream designed to a maximum thickness of just 22mm, enabling products to be delivered through standard letterboxes as large letters rather than parcels. The packs are manufactured using 35% Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP).
